Board says 'no' to basement for Trump restaurant

After a seven-hour public hearing, a state board voted to prohibit Donald Trump from building a basement for his planned catering hall and restaurant at Jones Beach. Hundreds of Long Island residents

News 12 Staff

Mar 5, 2008, 3:31 PM

Updated 6,122 days ago

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After a seven-hour public hearing, a state board voted to prohibit Donald Trump from building a basement for his planned catering hall and restaurant at Jones Beach.
Hundreds of Long Island residents flooded the hearing Tuesday. The hearing, which took place at the Cradle of Aviation Museum, was supposed to begin at 11 a.m. but was delayed an hour as a decision was made whether or not to allow cameras inside. Additional chairs were brought in to accommodate the crowds.
Donald Trump is behind the development, which involves renting the restaurant space from the state Department of Parks and Recreation and operating a restaurant and catering hall - to be called Trump on the Ocean.
Trump's business partner Steve Carl says the parks and recreation department has already approved the plans for the basement but the environmental panel has to sign off on it. A basement already exists on the property, but Trump and Carl wanted to expand it.
After deliberating for more than an hour, the board felt there was insufficient evidence to warrant a permit and too many concerns about possible flooding.
Carl says a lawsuit against the state is possible.
AP wire reports contributed to this article.
Click for more on the state?s efforts to shut out the media
Statement by Donald Trump on board's decision
Trumpon the Ocean official Web site
Suit presents roadblock for Trump's JonesBeach plan
Plans to open Trump restaurant outrage locals