New Haven Independent

But the Board of Zoning Appeals voted anyway to deny an application to open the shop, whatever you call it. The unanimous vote came at Tuesday night’s monthly meeting of the board.

Variest (pictured) addressed the board on behalf of Harold Forbes, who sought to open a business buying and selling jewelry at 775 Dixwell Ave. He applied for a special exception to open a “swap shop” in a BA zone.

Forbes — who was also at Tuesday’s meeting — had laryngitis and could not speak, Variest said.

Variest said she was confused why the store had been labeled as a “swap shop” by the City Plan Department.

“You’re buying jewelry, correct?” asked Tom Talbot, deputy director of zoning.

Correct, said Variest.

“That is why it’s a swap shop,” Talbot said.

Board Chair Cathy Weber asked for clarification about the distinction between the proposed business and a pawn shop.

Variest, who operates a pawn shop at 1058 Dixwell Ave., explained that a pawn dealer buys items and holds them for a certain time period during which the seller can buy back the items. Then the pawn dealer has to advertise the items in the paper. “In no way is this related to that situation,” she said.

You have to be 18 years old to sell jewelry to a store, Variest said. The store would be required to check ID and keep records of purchases, she said.

“We’re not looking to run a shady business down there,” she said.

Seven people stood in opposition to the jewelry store plan. Four spoke. Among them was Bishop Samuel White of the Grace Chapel Church of the Living God at 777 Dixwell Ave., next door to the proposed jewelry store.

As White made his way to the front he was greeted warmly by Weber. “Bishop, you can sit down. How are you?”

When White stood to speak, Weber asked, “You and the lord doing all right today?”

White (pictured) allowed as how he and the lord were doing fine. He then questioned the long-term intentions of Variest and Forbes.

“‘Swap shop’ has a number of definitions,” he said. “It could mean almost anything.” It could include an open-air flea market or even “an amusement park with drive-in movies,” he said.

If jewelry is to be bought and sold over the counter, “I’m wondering why it’s called a swap shop,” White said. “It sounds more like a pawn shop. … I’m just wondering what the intent is.”

The store could start off selling jewelry, then move into furniture, appliances, and even “huge tires,” White said.

Grace Chapel church members Deborah Conyers and Cheryl Hurdle expressed concerns that the jewelry store would not be right for the neighborhood. Hurdle said she WAS concerned about the possibility of a “criminal element” associating with the store. “Jewelry is eye candy to people that don’t have good intentions,” she said.

When it came time to vote, Weber brought up the fact that the City Plan Department’s report advised the board to deny the jewelry store proposal. The report noted that the jewelry store would be within 120 feet of two churches and a school and that the plan was “not in accord with the public convenience and welfare.”

The board voted unanimously to deny the application.