Residents Debate the Use of Vernon Boulevard Backyard Space at Community Board Meeting

At the last Community Board Two meeting, LIC residents debated whether or not Vernon Boulevard restaurants should be able to open their backyard spaces for patrons. As it stands, CB2 requires those bars and restaurants to keep their backyards closed if they want to get a liquor license — although there’s an online petition arguing that the rule is unfair. LIC Post reports that residents who live adjacent to the restaurants strongly pushed to keep the spaces closed, citing noise concerns. Those who support the use of backyard space, according to LIC Post, “claimed that Long Island City is no longer the sleepy neighborhood of yesteryear but one that is evolving into a hotspot such as Williamsburg.” Supporters also argued that CB2 does not do a good enough job of advertising its public hearings and meetings, putting the general public at a disadvantage.

The chairman of the board said that CB2 is typically more responsive to those directly affected by the issue, meaning the adjacent homeowners. Do you side with the residents, who don’t want to listen to the noise of a restaurant’s backyard space, or do you think the shift toward a neighborhood like Williamsburg is inevitable for LIC?

Residents Weigh in on Whether Vernon Blvd Restaurants Should be Permitted To Use Backyard Space [LIC Post]
Should Restaurants Along Vernon Boulevard Be Able to Use Backyard Space? [Q’Stoner]

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