184 spot truck parking and storage lot approved for Staten Island

A truck parking and storage lot with 184 spots has been approved on Staten Island after the NYC Planning Commission dismissed all violations.

The 16 acre plot of land along a winding portion of Arthur Kill Road in the Charleston neighborhood of Staten Island, New York was approved for use as a “trucking terminal to serve the niche need of industrial/manufacturing/logistics tenants by providing overflow parking, as well as short-term and long-term storage for tractor trailers” in March.

According to SILive, the project was approved by the NYC Planning Commission after $25,000 in fines were handed to the property owner, Arthur Englewood LLC, for removing hundreds of trees without permission. The NYCPC dismissed the violation and any unresolved land use action after a hearing. The developer is now free to proceed with the site construction, which will feature enough spaces to accommodate 184 tractor trailers. 

The project’s urban planner, Phil Rampulla, who represented the developer at the violation summons, says that his clients are “good guys” who “didn’t know anything about anything” related to unauthorized tree removal. 

“Community Board 3 will continue to collaborate with Borough President Vito Fossella to oppose this truck stop and protect our quality of life,” a rep from the Community Board said about the city’s decision. “The board has provided evidence through photos and videos demonstrating that Arthur Kill Road, which has only one narrow, winding lane in each direction, is insufficient for accommodating tractor-trailers. We are particularly concerned about diesel emissions, especially considering the nearby public school with children and the senior residents at the Tides of Charleston.”

The organization has several more weeks to file an appeal.