New Hyde Park Village Board Considers Proposed Limo Storage

A Queens-based limo company may be storing its vehicles in New Hyde Park if a special use permit is granted to utilize a now-vacant lot and storefront on Jericho Turnpike.

Anthony Regusa, president and principal owner of the company, came before the New Hyde Park Village Board Tuesday night saying that his company – Whitestar Limousine, which was founded in 1952 by his grandfather – needs a larger space to move into with 12-15 fleets of limousines, Rolls Royce and antique cars.

The lot in question is that of Villaggio Realty Corporation, which is located at 2 Jericho Turnpike. Regusa is also seeking to rent a vacant store at 20 Jericho Turnpike to utilize the space for his corporate offices.

“The business will be in accordance with the general uses of the neighborhood,” Regusa said. “There will be no discharging or picking up passengers on the site and the cars will not idle for more than 5 minutes. Operations will be mainly on weekends from 5 p.m. on and some weekday evenings.”

Attorney Matthew Tedone, who represents the four landlords that own Villaggio Realty, explained that this is a good situation for both tenant and the landlord.

“There will not be a problem with parking any of these vehicles; they will not be parked on the street,” he said. “The property at 20 Jericho Turnpike has been vacant for 7 years and will be a good corporate office space for Whitestar Limousine.”

However, Mayor Daniel Petruccio expressed his concerns about quality of life issues for the neighborhood, saying that one resident had submitted a lteer to the village board “and wants to be assured that her property is not damaged and I want to be assured that double decker buses will not be on the lot.”

Concerned about aesthetics, including painting the poles on the property, use of lighting and licensing issues were paramount to deputy mayor Robert Lofaro.

“We put shielding, which is a fence with vegetation in front of many businesses in New Hyde Park,” he said. “Usually it’s approximately 4-feet high with some type of plantings; such as a row of violets. It helps with neighbors liking the business.”

Regusa said that he was open to any suggestions made by the board, agreeing to paint the poles and noting that he would look into fences.

Regusa was also questioned as to if he had any provisions set in place to protect other cars while entering and exiting the lot on Jericho Turnpike.

“Approximately 90 percent of my vehicles have backup cameras and sensors with warning signals,” Regusa said, noting that the entrance and exit would be on Lewis Avenue.

The board labeled the case an unlisted action with a negative declaration, referring it to the Nassau County Planning Commission, who has 30 days to respond if the case has any adverse impact on the surrounding area. If none exist, the village board will be able to make a ruling on the permit.