The Village of Great Neck Plaza Board of Trustees voted to approve conditional use permits for two new businesses at its Wednesday, March 18, meeting.
The board approved Sweet Sugar to operate a bubble tea store at 10 Grace Ave and L&L to operate a beauty spa at 47C Middle Neck Road.
Deputy Mayor Lawrence Katz voted against the permit for Sweet Sugar, and Deputy Mayor Pamela Marksheid abstained.
Katz objected to what he called the owner, Min Li’s, lack of planning to successfully operate a bubble tea shop at the same location where two others went out of business in the last three years.
“I feel very uncomfortable that we’re setting this situation up for another failure,” said Trustee Michael DeLuccia, who ultimately voted to approve the permit. “When there is turnover, consistent turnover, I don’t think it benefits the village.”
Min Li, who was assisted in translation by his friend, Xishan Jin, said he believed his prior business experience demonstrated a proven track record of success.
“He has his first store in Flushing already, and the store has been doing pretty good. You know how competitive Flushing is for bubble tea and desserts,” Jin said.
Marksheid also noted that two other bubble tea locations recently closed and that Li will face steep competition with around eight or nine other locations in the area.
Li said he plans to sell bubble tea, desserts, and pre-made sandwiches, which he will heat in the microwave. Trustees expressed concern about his plan to cook eggs in a waffle machine, since the location has no kitchen.
The board approved for Li to operate his business from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, and for the business to have two full-time employees and one part-time employee.
Lin Li, the owner of L&L, also required translation from her architect, John Ren, and the board debated hiring professional translators for applicants who needed it.
Li provided a cosmetology license to the board, but Mayor Ted Rosen said the business itself was required to have an appearance enhancement license, which it did not.
Ren translated for Lin Li, saying she has over 15 years of experience managing two other spas. Li said she plans to offer scalp, foot, hair-washing, and facial massages using various skin products.
The board approved for L&L to have up to three full-time employees and two part-time employees and to operate the business from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
DeLuccia abstained from voting, but all other board members voted in favor of issuing the permit, conditional on Lin Li providing cosmetology licenses with photographs for her and her employees, and securing an appearance enhancement license for the business.
The board unanimously approved a $25,200 contract with Barlett Tree Experts to plant 18 trees on Middle Neck Road of three different species.
The village also moved to apply for a $9,950 grant from the state Department of Environmental Conservation to “address flooding along South Station Plaza and Shoreward Drive.”
Rosen said this was part of the federal Sea Grant program, in partnership with Cornell University.
“The purpose of this grant is to come up with a study and a plan, perhaps we would then share with Nassau County and the Long Island Rail Road,” Rosen said.
The board also heard plans from members of the Vigilant Engine & Hook & Ladder Co., Inc., to build a two-story garage on its property at 83 Cutter Mill Road.
Vigilant proposed a 30-foot-tall, 2,340-square-foot floor steel building with garage space for additional fire engines on the first floor and training space on the second floor.
“There’s more equipment needed, and we’re looking for space,” said Vigilant firefighter David Weiss.
Weiss said they are not currently in a financial position to build this, but they wanted to start the process and hope to begin the project in five years.
“Does it make sense to go forward with the process at this time?” Rosen asked.
Building Department Superintendent Richard Belziti said a conditional use permit requires the applicant to begin work within a year.
Rosen suggested that the firefighters return to the board’s June 3 meeting with more specific plans, so they could alert the community and allow residents of Great Neck Plaza and nearby villages to provide their input.
The board also heard from Edward Yakubov, the owner of Shop Delight at 4 Welwyn Road, who petitioned to continue a permit to operate a nearby storage facility he uses to hold dry goods.
Katz expressed concern over trucks unloading at the front entrance of the storage space.
“I walk past there and drive past there all the time,” said Katz, who said the space should be used as a storefront instead.
“It’s a systemic problem in the village,” said DeLuccia. “You can’t control where the trucks come.”
“I do appreciate that you cleaned up that space because it was a mess before,” Marksheid said.
Yakubov said he hears Katz’s concerns.
“I’m gonna talk to my driver,” he said. “It’s not gonna happen again.”
The board also heard a noise complaint against Chiyoda Kosher Sushi at 20 South Station Plaza, where police were called twice to ask the owner to quiet a party the restaurant was hosting.
“That night we had a party, 100 people for a synagogue,” owner Shi Zheng Wen said.
“Perhaps you might have to limit the number of people,” said the mayor. “It’s very important that you take adequate measures to keep the noise from the restaurant below a certain level so it doesn’t disturb the people living in the village.”
The board cancelled its Wednesday, April 1, meeting due to Passover and will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, April 15.
