303-12-BZ CEQR #13-BSA-037K APPLICANT – Eric Palatnik, P.C., for Tabernacle of Praise, Inc., owner. SUBJECT – Application October 25, 2013 – Variance (§72-21) to permit the development of a sub-cellar, cellar and three story church, with accessory educational and social facilities (Tabernacle of Praise), contrary to rear yard setback (§33-292), sky exposure plane and wall height (§34-432), and parking (§36-21) regulations. C8-1 zoning district. PREMISES AFFECTED – 1106-1108 Utica Avenue, between Beverly Road and Clarendon Road, Block 4760, Lot 15, Borough of Brooklyn. COMMUNITY BOARD #17BK ACTION OF THE BOARD – Application granted on condition. THE VOTE TO GRANT – Affirmative: Chair Srinivasan, Vice Chair Collins, Commissioner Ottley-Brown, Commissioner Hinkson and Commissioner Montanez ..........................................5 Negative:..........................................................................0 WHEREAS, the decision of the Brooklyn Borough Commissioner, dated September 28, 2011, acting on Department of Buildings Application No. 220137233, reads, in pertinent part: 1. District boundary in rear lot line R Zone: 30’ shall be provided within C Zone, contrary to ZR Section 33-292; 2. Height and setback and sky exposure plane (slope) is contrary to ZR Section 33-432; 3. Parking is contrary to ZR Section 36-21; and WHEREAS, this is an application under ZR § 72- 21, to permit, on a site within a C8-1 zoning district, a three-story community facility building to be occupied as a house of worship (Use Group 4), which does not comply with distance from a district boundary, height and setback, sky-exposure plane, and parking regulations, and is contrary to ZR §§ 33-292, 33-432, and 36-21; and WHEREAS, the application is brought on behalf of Tabernacle of Praise, Inc., the owner of the site and the occupant of the proposed house of worship (the “Church”); and WHEREAS, a public hearing was held on this application on September 10, 2013, after due notice by publication in the City Record, with a continued hearing on October 29, 2013, and then to decision on May 6, 2014; and WHEREAS, the premises and surrounding area had site and neighborhood examinations by Chair Srinivasan, Commissioner Montanez, and Commissioner Ottley-Brown; and WHEREAS, Community Board 17, Brooklyn, recommends approval of the application; and WHEREAS, Senator Kevin S. Parker, 303-12-BZ CEQR #13-BSA-037K the safe room, offices, a waiting room, a nursery, and restrooms; and, at the third story, the 1,580 sq.-ft. terrace garden, and three offices; and WHEREAS, the applicant states that the following are the primary programmatic needs of the Church, which necessitate the requested variances: (1) to accommodate its membership, which currently consists of approximately 1,500 members but is expected to increase to approximately 1,700 by the time the proposed building is completed; (2) to provide for regular adult religious education classes and community and youth group activity space; (3) to hold special events such as weddings, funerals, and baptisms; (4) to provide the necessary sanctuary and worship space for the members; and (5) to provide space for a Christian bookstore to further the Church’s publishing work; and WHEREAS, the applicant notes that the main sanctuary will be used for two Sunday services and for holidays, and that when the main sanctuary is filled to capacity, the chapel and the banquet space will be opened for simultaneous worship via telecast; and WHEREAS, the applicant states that the accessory spaces are necessary as follows: (1) the banquet hall will allow members of the Church to celebrate life events in the same space in which they regularly worship; (2) the bookstore will enable the Church to provide education and dissemination of its messages to the wider community; (3) the dance studio will provide space for Church members to practice song and dance, which the applicant states are essential components of members’ religious activ

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