By Pete Stidman
News Editor

Another chapter in a long standoff will open at the Zoning Board of Appeals Dec. 4. Star Five Oil will once again ask the city permission to park their oil trucks on the Geneva Cliffs urban wild.

The company acquired 303 Geneva Ave. for $20,000 from the city in the early 90s, when Geneva Cliffs, next door, was considered a neglected vacant lot. Today, it has become a site for amateur astronomy and community events. Construction for an over $400,000 renovation is due to begin next week, blazing new trails, erecting cozy benches and finishing a stargazing area.

The Mayor's office and the Boston Redevelopment Authority have tried to work with the company periodically, identifying potential relocation sites, said Jim Hunt III, Boston's chief of environment and energy services.

"Our assistance is always open," said Hunt. "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't force it to drink."

"They came and talked to us," said James Patterson, one of the five Patterson brothers that started the company in the late 80s. "We tried to work with them. If we could try to find a place to park our trucks that was economical we'd be open to it."

The Inspectional Services Department originally denied Star Five a permit for five trucks, two tractors and other equipment on the wild in January, and denied a second application to park three trucks on it on Aug. 9. The appeal hearing coming up could be their last chance to legalize the extra parking.

ISD has cited the company several times for parking trucks on the wild this year. And according to Hunt, ISD counsel has filed a civil complaint seeking injunctive to force the company to pay for the violations and stop the illegal parking.

"That's only because the community has been on the case of the city for quite a while," said Davida Andelman, an activist in the Bowdoin-Geneva area. "They [Star Five] have parked numerous vehicles there on a regular basis"Andelman suggested the city take the land back from the Star Five by eminent domain.

Patterson argues that Star Five should be allowed to stay because they never did anything wrong.

"We was here when nobody was even concerned about this place," said Patterson. "There was a lot of crime and prostitution. We ran them off and now they're trying to get us out of here."