A Staten Island research firm is seeking Zoning Board of Adjustment approvals that will allow use of a South Avenue building to find means of detecting minute amounts of explosives.
At its present location, Energy Research Co. has approvals from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the New York Fire Department for its operations and according to information its application to the Plainfield ZBOA, is the only vendor in all of Staten Island that is allowed to store explosives overnight.
Its work for the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies is to “develop methods of detecting minute quantities of explosives in order to prevent ingress into the country by terrorists bent on committing acts of aggression with the use of explosives.” According to the application for variances here, it is an “inherently beneficial use” and is not a threat to the public.
However, Plainfield’s zoning code forbids the “presence of explosives,” so a variance is needed. Other variances sought include relief from fencing in the front yard, buffering of a loading area and a curb cut and driveway that exceed the maximum width allowed. A public hearing has been advertised for 7:30 p.m. Sept. 7 in City Hall Library at the zoning board’s regular meeting.
The vacant building that the company wants to purchase is on a block bounded by South Avenue, Atlantic Street and Pacific Street between Leland Avenue and Terrill Road. It is behind a produce market that fronts on South Avenue. Traffic from residences on Atlantic and Pacific streets must pass the building to access South Avenue.
The company plans to have a sprinkler system, containers for explosives, a security system and automatic fire alarms for the building. The application lists more than a dozen explosive solids and eight explosive liquids that would be used in the research.
The current Neighborhood Commercial zoning permits offices, which the applicant said fits in with “75 percent” of the proposed use. Company representatives have held preliminary meetings with officials from the city Planning and Fire divisions, as well as the construction official. All documents for the application are on file in the Planning Division in City Hall and are available for inspection between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., according to a legal notice published this week.
--Bernice
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Great to be getting businesses to Plainfield, but sounds like a very risky type of business they'll be operating. The site is way too close to residental neighborhoods, day care centers and schools. This type of company belongs in an industrial area. I hope everyone with a say in this matter thinks long and hard before they grant a variance.
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