July 20, 2010
Updated -- Community News
Harley Davidson seeks to expand repair garage
Planned project would increase structure by 47 percent
By Deirdre Krasula
Scott Brinton/Herald
The Town of Hempstead Board recently heard an application by Harley Davidson of Bellmore to expand its garage.



Updated: 2:47 p.m., July 21. The sounds of motorists along Sunrise Highway in Bellmore may soon get a little louder. At a July 13 hearing, the Town of Hempstead Board heard an application for the expansion of a repair garage for Harley Davidson Motorcycles.

Harley Davidson, at 2428 Sunrise Highway in Bellmore, at the corner of Newbridge Road, is owned by Toby Liz Realty, Inc., according to documents filed with the BZA. The application to expand, first filed in 2008 and obtained by the Bellmore Herald, calls for the construction of a 4,457-square-foot, one-and-a-half story addition to the existing building. In order to create the addition, a small building on the west side of the property must be demolished; with the addition, the total structure would jump from 9,471 square feet to 13,928 square feet, increasing its size by 47 percent.

The application also calls for use the setback along Brevoort Place for parking.

The Harley Davidson already has a repair garage. A 2004 resolution proposed by town Councilwoman Angie Cullin, a Republican from Freeport, states that:

•No motorcycles awaiting repair will be stored in the parking areas on the subject property, and all repair work will be done inside the building

•Motorcycles cannot be tested on residential side streets, only on Sunrise Highway.

•The hours of operation for repairs will be no earlier than 9 a.m. and no later than 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. No repairs can be made on Sunday.

At the July 13 hearing, the town board reserved its decision on Harley Davidson's application, according to Susie Trenkle-Pokalsky, a town spokeswoman. The board may choose to approve or reject it, and the town board may reserve its decision for a number of months before acting on it, Trenkle-Pokalsky said. If Harley Davidson has its application rejected, it may choose to appeal the decision before the town Board of Zoning Appeals.

At press time, a representative of Harley Davidson could not be reached for comment.

Comments about this story? DKrasula@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 236.