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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZBA-07/29/1992 HEARINGTRANSCRIPT OF HEARING SOUTHOLD TOWN BOARD OF APPEALS REGULAR MEETING OF WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 1992 Board Members Present: Chairman Gerard P. Goehringer Members: Doyen, Grigonis, Dinizio, Villa Secretary for ZBA: Linda Kowaiski and approximately 40 persons in audience. the APPEAL $4116 Applicant(s): Linda Taggart Location of Property: 68320 Main Road, Greenport, NY County Tax Map No.: 1000-53-2-2 (Map of Peconic Bay Estates Lot Nos. 185 & 186 The Chairman opened the hearing at 8:30 p.m. and read the Legal Notice and application for the record. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: The most recent site plan is dated July 24, 1992. And, the most recent survey I have as February 20, 1992. And I have a copy of the Suffolk County Tax Map indicating this and surrounding properties in the area. Who would like to be heard concerning this? Mr. Cuddy, how are you tonight? MR. CHARLES CUDDY, ESQ.: Fine, thank you. I am Charles Cuddy, represent Linda Taggart, who is the applicant. First, I would like to say that you should give us some points for not having to go through LaColla and this one on the same night. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Yes. MR. CUDDY: Linda Taggart is the owner of a parcel of property, which you just said was fifteen thousand two hundred eighty-five (15,285) square feet. On the south or southwest side of the Main Road, as you go to Greenport, just before a road known as Pipes Neck Road. The parcel is in the Light Industrial (LI) district. She has owned the parcel for eight (8) years. Six (6) years in her own name. The Board has I think, the Chairman indicated a site plan, I have some exhibits that I would like to hand up, I'll hand up three (3) au a times if I may, and then go PAGE 2 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. CUDDY (con't.):through them with you in connection with the applications that we have. We have two separate applications--one is for an area variance, the second one is for a special exception. And I would first like to address the area variance. And if I may, I would hand out three (3) maps and to examine them. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I purposely did not open the Special Exception. MR. CUDDY: But, I just am alluding to it. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Okay. MR. CUDDY: I am not dealing with CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Okay. MR. CUDDY:Can I ask that these be give~ out, I have one for everybody. Maybe I don't, Linde is going to be short. The first map that I handed you is a tax map of this particular area. This has writing on the top of it, it says 1000 Southold, which is the district number. And this is a tax map that shows this lot as Lot ~ 2, it is the second lot in from Pipes Neck Road. That is the lot that is. in question tonight. One of the reasons I give you this map is because I wish to show that the lots in this area are basically either the size of this lot or some of them smaller. You will note, that No. 1 on the tax map, which is slightly larger; No. 2, which is ours; No. 15.3, which is North Fork Welding, which is slightly larger; 17.1 and 18. are either the same size or smaller; 19.1 and 20 are both small. The second map that I have given you is a map prepared by VanTuyl, which shows a three hundred (300) foot radius on the various properties around. I think that reinforces the point that I am making. It also shows that the zoning for this area, on this side of the road that is on the south side, is Light Industry (LI). And on the north side is Limited Business (LB). The third map, I think shows that more graphically, it shows all of the zoning in an area approximately a half a mile or more in distance. I would like to address the question of the area variances. Basically, we are asking for an area variance for the rear yard. The rear yard as shown on a map, I believe all of you have from VanTuyl, and it shows that the depth of the building, on the back building line to the end line of the lot is forty-seven (47) feet. In the LI district we need seventy (70) feet. We cannot place our building at any more advantageous site that what we have, because with fifty (50) feet back, which is the minimum requirement. We meet the side yard requirements. And we meet obviously, the front yard requirements. I also Would point out to the Board that the frontage is probably a little bit bigger than indicated on the map, because there are two courses in distances, so the course along the Main Road is about ninety (90) feet. But, at the set back line, we are more than one hundred (100) feet across, so we also need that. We are building a nine hundred (900) square foot building, which is six percent (6%) lot coverage on this lot. And we are asking the Board, essentially for two variances. We are asking, one that we get PAGE 3 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. CUDDY (con't.): a sixty-five percent (65%) variance, which is for forty-seven (47) feet; and two, we are asking for something of greater consequence, and that is that this lot of fifteen thousand two hundred and eight-five (15,285) feet be utilized as a separate lot. And the reason I say that, is, there came a time in 1984 when Linda Taggart, then known as Linda Schoenstein, purchased this lot with Joseph Schoenstein. When this lot was purchased, the Schoenstein's also owned the adjoining lot, which is shown on this 15.3 on the tax map. For a period of time, twenty-three (23) months, the lots were merged. That was not known to the Schoenstein's at that time. Subsequently, on advice of their attorney, they conveyed out that lot, so it is just now in Linda Shoenstein's name and is has been for the past six (6) years. And I would hand out to the Chairman two deeds, which I represent ~ our t~ue copies of the first page of the deed showing the conveyance into the Schoenstein's and then showing that Linda Shoenstein has owned this~ for the past six (6) years. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Who owned the property Mr. Cuddy, prior to... MR. CUDDY: It is on the top on that deed, I believe, it is Pekunka's, it is the correct pronunciation. And they conveyed it to the Schoensteins. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Did they own the adjacent property Schonstein .... MR. CUDDY: The Schoensteins at that time owned it, Pekunkas did not. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Okay. MR. CUDDY: The reason I bring that to the Board's attention is that, obviously, there could be a merger for a period of time. But significantly, at the time they bought this property, which is 1984 through 1988 and 1989, the zoning then in-effect was Light Business (LB) for that area. That is, it was "B" Business. I would only end up in another series of general things to you, but, I think it is important to know that when they bought this, the zoning was twenty thousand (20,000) square feet, and the use was retail use. And that is 'shown in the old ordinance. And I have obtained copies of the old map and also copy of the bulk schedule in that map. I would like to hand those up too. of CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: You said this.was "B" Light or General Business "B-I" ? MR. CUDDY: I am sorry, I probably said "B" Light, because I thinking .of of something else, but I think it was the "B" Business district, whatever I handed out... CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thirty thousand (30,009) square feet. was PAGE 4 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. CUDDY (con't.): "B" Light. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Okay. MR. CUDDY: In the twenty thousand (20,000) square feet, it would have had more than seventy-five percent (75%) of the necessary coverage. They also would be getting into something that we are going to talk about later, would have been in the retail business. The reason I bring this to you your attention is because at that time I have no doubt, that without any problem whatsoever, the Board would have permitted them to have an area of fifteen thousand (15,000) sqnare feet. I find that hard to believe that because of what I t~nk of an ugly zoning doctrine, which is a doctrine of merger, that they would have a less situation today, then they would have then. Because what that does is penalize the unwary person who purchases a lot, simply by accident, puts it in one name instead of another name. And that is all that happened here. That happened for a period of time, which I think is relatively short--twenty-three (23) months. I am saying to you that what she wants to do is put a nautical/antique and decorator gift shop of nine hundred (900) feet on the lot that is fifteen thousand two hundred and eighty-five (15,285) feet, in an area that has many lots that size. In an area that is zoned for a much heavier .type of use. In an area that has immediately across a street from it, a craft shop. And it has in its vacinity all types of petty uses. I believe that it's appropriate to ask the Board for the two (2) variances that we are asking for. One--which is a sixty-five percent (65%) coverage question, which is forty-seven (47) feet back and two--to give us an area variance based on the ownership that we've had and obtained; And I would point out to the Board something else. I think that it is important to know, that what we are going through is a series of applications. This is a woman who is investing some time and effort in the Town of Southold. You get a small antique shop in the Light Industry (LI) Zone, she is going to make seven (7) separate applications--one for the Zoning Board, the Planning Board, for the NYS DOT, for the NYS DEC, for Health Dept., she is going to end up in the Building Department, and she's finally going to end up before the Building Department and the Planning Board. That is a lot of applications to put up a small shop and would hope that Southold would encourage people doing this type of thing. We certsi~ly not asking the Board do a lot, but I think this minimum request should be granted. There are other people here, who I know want to talk on behalf of this, and before they do, I would like to hand up a letter from one of the adjoining owners, who is Otto Schoenstein. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you. MR. CUDDY: I would ask Mr. Chairman that Linda Taggart be heard. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: How do you do? LINDA TAGGART: Good evening. I would like to introduce myself, I am PAGE 5 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 LINDA TAGGART (con't.): Linda Taggart. When I bought this property, way back, it was the intent that eventually in the future I would put a small shop on tl%at land. But, funds weren't available at that time to do so. I did operate an antique shop for many years on the lot right next door to it. And, at that time, I never caused a disturbance in the Town and, you know, everything went fine. I did leave that area, because Joe Schoenstein and I had a divorce. And, the property is now owned by him and his brother, but, in my divorce settlement that property was a part of my settlement, so that I would be able to have my antique shop next door, when I could get the funds to put up a small building. So, at the time when I bought it, I didn't know that all these problems existed or the merger. I thought that we had taken care of that years prior. I just wanted you to know that's all I intend to do was a small little shop, which is very attractive to the area, more so than an empty overgrown lot that is there now. I will have at least five (5) parking spaces available. And, at no time did my business warrant more than that. If it did, there would be more antique shops I think. But that is all I intend to do. I am going to operate it myself, I'm not putting a rental in there or anything of that nature. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: This is a one-story building Linda? MS. TAGGART: Yes, it is. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Okay, before you sit down... Do you have anything else to say? MS. TAGGART: Pardon me? No. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: No, okay. Before you sit down, does anybody have any questions of Mrs. Taggart? No, okay. Thank you. MS. TAGGART: Thank you. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: How do you do sir? Could you kindly state your name for the record? MR. FRANK DOBEK: My name is Frank Dobek. And I live about three hundred (300) feet from the property of Linda's. That property of Linda's and my proper~y that I have now, which I built a house on in 1959 belonged to the same person. And in 1959 til 1977 my in-laws, which owned the property, and I raised a garden on that lot. And, it was a beautiful garden. We had about fifteen (15) different vegetables. The people used to go by, the people used to go by and take pictures of the garden. And, now, and now, it is full of weeds. It is overgrown with weeds, poison ivy, poison oak and included wood ticks. I would like to have this cleared up. If Linda built this nice little building with a lawn and shrubbery, it would beautify the whole neighborhood. Thank you. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you sir. Is there anybody else? Oh, Mr. Cuddy? PAGE 6 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. CUDDY: I was remiss in not mentioning also that we have to go before the Trustees. This application has already been sent to the New York State DEC and the to Town Trustess. And both are considering at this time. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you. MR. BRUCE GOLDSMITH: My name is Bruce Goldsmith. And I just like to go on the record just hoping that Linde can get this use of this property. Thank you. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you Bruce. Is there anybody who would like to speak in favor of this application? MR. FRED SCHOENSTEIN: My name is Fred Schoenstein. My brother and have the property to the south of Linda's piece of property. We have the welding shop there. And I would like to say that it would be nice to see Linde be able to do Something with this piece of property. I have known her for quite sometime. She is a very hard worker. And I knew wken she had bought this piece of property with my brother, at the time when they were together, that her intentions were some day to put a building on it and sell antiques and whatnot. It is unfortunate that it's taking this long to be able to do it for her, but, it sure would be nice to see her able to do this. It is the Main Road, so [ mean, it is not like it is some side street in a residential community. It is business property. It's on the Main Road. I couldn't think of a better place to have something like that. And,'I would like to say with the economy the way it is, I am sure there will be plenty of masons, electricians, carpenters willing to jump in there and get some work out of this. So, it would be nice to see some activity in the neighborhood, and I wish you all the luck. I hope that you people let her go through with it. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you very much. MR. JOSEPH SCHOENSTEIN:I am Joseph Schoenstein and I would like to say something in reference to this. When Linde and I did buy the property, we had tried to buy that property prior to that for more space. And I did want it as an investment, by all means. But earlier when I first bought the property from Mrs. Pekunka, I couldn't afford anything else at that time. And, that's the truth. When I first bought the property from her, I had all to do just to handle that. And, of course to start to run a business and make a business successful. And, I struggled for a while, and I, as I started to get my feet on the ground and make a little bit of money, I went to her to ask her if that pieca of property was going to be available again. And she had given it to her children in Connecticut, I believe, and she said no, they are thinking of coming here possibly some day and 'building on it. And I said, okay I understand but if you ever want to sell it,-please let me know. I guess it was a couple of years when she came to me and said that the children in Connecticut wanted to sell the piece of property and she was offering me PAGE ? PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. J. SCHOENSTEIN (con't.): first chance on it or a chance to divide it, if necessary, if I wanted it. And she told me the price she was asking. And I told her we were very interested and by all means, I could use the space, absolutely. For the welding business, as an investment, whatever. I really feel that that doesn,t have a tremendous bearing on the situation, but I definately wanted to buy the piece of property as an investment. My wife at the time was Linda and it was her . money that actually bought it from an inheritance, which, at the time of the divorce there wasn't a question about the property what so ever. I mean it was a deal with her and I that she would get the property back. It was her inheritance that bought it and it worked out for us, but I did have intentions by all means, I don't want it to be misleading, to use the property in one way or another, and I want it for storage and I have stored welding supplies or some equipment, some stuff from a commericat fishing boats that we have worked on, on the property with tremendous pain. But that's.., it has gotten to the point where it hasn't been worth it to use it for that. And, I just hope tO see that Linda is going to be able to buiId on it. 'It is a business zoned piece of property. It is on a M~in Road, she didn't know it was going to change to Light Industrial (LI) or else, we wouldn't had, I wouldn't have had problems with the welding shop years back, if it was industrial zoned. At the time it was B1 Zoned or Hgh~ business. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I think we know you guys pretty well, don't we? MR. J. SCHOENSTEIN: Yea, but I wish we had the property. But we don't and it's hopefully going to go to some good use and it is a clean use, it is a neat use. I would think it would be in the Town's behalf to consider it. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: It is really nice of you Joe to come up here and tell us that, really. Thank you very much. MR. J. SCHOENSTEIN: Thank you very much. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Okay, is there anybody else who would like to speak in favor? Anybody like to speak against? How do you do sir? Could you state your for the record please. MR. NICOLETTI: I am Mr. Nicoletti. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: How do you do? MR. NICOLETTI: My land borders her land by two (2) sides. And, what I am mainly interested in here is the lot from what I understand isn't a legal size lot to build. Now, I got a few maps here, that differ from each other and that is what I am concerned about. Can I approach you people with it? . CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Sure. PAGE 8 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. NICOLETTI: This map here is one I had made up, this is all my land in here. This is Joe Schoenstein, this is my piece of land, which is wetlands. I am only paying.. BOARD SECRETARY: You have to speak loud enough so everybody can hear you. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: You are referring to Lot # 190. That's yours, that is what you say is wetlands. MR. NICOLETTI: That is mine and that is considered wetlands. I am paying, I'm uaxed on it as wetlands. Their building is suppose to go in here somewhere, but they don't have the proper clearance from the wetlands. And then somebody made this map up, it was amended, this map was amended April 1992 and all of a sudden there is a little dotted line through here that gives them the clearance to the wetlands. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: No, no, that is not the clearance. I have the same map, okay. That, they are just showing the distance to wetlands. MR. NICOLETTI: This line here... CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: That is their property line. They are not... That is your property line, I mean, that is the end of their property line, okay. And it is forty-seven (47) feet. That is the issue the attorney was bringing up tonight. MR. NICOLETTI: But, this is the wetlands here, where this line... CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: That is correct. MR. NICOLETTI: Okay, that is what I was concerned about. This line looked like it was just put in. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: No, no, the Trustees would ask them what is the closest wetland and they would., that is what they did basieally. BOARD SECRETARY: You can't see it on that one, it is not... MR. NICOLETTI: It's not on this one either. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: No, it's not on that one. MR. NICOLETTI: The on just to give them.. back to the mike. fact that I saw amended and I thought that was put That cares care of that. In addition to, go CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Yes, please. MR. NICOLETTI: In addition to that sir, we don't know whether she has a legal deed to this land yet. The Town submitted these to her, a PAGE 9 = PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA MR. NICOLETTI (con'tJ): Mr. Kessner, let me show you. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Kassner. MR. NICOLETTI: These things that were suppose to be brought to her, brought to you people and they haven't received anything yet. In other words, the land is still under both their names. She isn't suppose to legally do anything with it, unless she has a deed to the land. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Mr. Cuddy, might I give this gentleman a copy of the deed that you gave me tonight? MR. CUDDY: Yes. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: This is a copy of the deed. It appears that it was deeded from Joseph Schoenstein and Linda S. Schoenstein to l,inda S. Sehoenstein, okay. Of course now she is Linda S. Taggart. Okay. You are welcomed to take that, I will get anotheb one from the attorney. MR. NICOLETTI: I don't know, we just.. The Town said they didn't receive one. BOARD SECRETARY: The Planning Board doesn't have it yet, but we had it in our file. MR. NICOLETTI: Oh, alright. In addition to it not being a legal lot, the main thing here is we have a lot of neighbors here, it is the traffic. The traffic is horrendous. That oraft shop that she was talking about across the street turned out to be a lucrative business. There's more ears stopping there than we expected. I have a fire plug in front of my house that is constantly bloeked. We had east bound traffic pulling right over on the west bound side. And the neighbors in the area can't get in and out of Pipes Neck, no how, especially on weekends. And that is, and this, like Linda said she hasn't been there for a couple of years, we can see the difference without her antique Shop. The two (2) years of traffic is still bad, but not quite as bad. And in addition to that, you have people mulling back and forth across the street. It is just a matter of time before somebody gets killed there. We live right on that corner, we can hear brakes squealing and it is probably going to be some young kid. They stop on my side and the kid bolts across the street and will crash out. And as far as the parking goes, they have been digging to pull up in her place. I don't know whether you's ever pulled into that "7-11" here in Southold, you know that short area, it is very dangerous and that would be similar. I wanted her to put a driveway on the side of her property and my property, going out to the Main Road to pull my boat in and out. I don't dare do it on a weekend. We just can't get in and out of Main Road and to have cars pulling off her property onto Main Road like that, that seems pretty dangerous too. But, like I say, the traffic is the main factor here with the people in the neighborhood. PAGE l0 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA ?/29/92 CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I see. MR. NICOLETTI: What is the distance from wetlands? The proper distance to build? CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: 239.4. We don't have jurisdiction over wetlands okay, but from water, okay, on the bay side would be seventy-five (75) feet. MR. NICOLETTI: Seventy-five (75) feet. BOARD SECRETARY: The Trustees are seventy-five feet. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Yes, the Trustees are seventy-five (75) feet. MR. NICOLETTI: This line that I showed you on there, it wasn't on any Town maps or anything, this new map, this amended map. I was looking on the Town maps. I was wondering if that line could be moved another fifteen (15) back, then I will have a buildable lot. That whole piece that I own in the back wouldn't be wetlands either. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Well, I can't indicate that, what you would have to do is bring a topo into the Trustees and ask them. So that they understood exaetiy what was available' there. You would have to make an application to the Trustees, because we don't have jurisdiction over that particular aspect. I am not trying to give you a "cop out" here, I am just trying to give you that indication. What else can I tell you? What can we, at this point, put your mind at ease at any one particular issue here. I understand the traffic on the Main Road is bad. There is no doubt in my mind. There are opinions, and I am not speaking for my fellow Board members concerning this particular application. We have had testimony from one-half of the prior owner. When I say one-half~ I mean the couple--Mr. Schoenstein, who- indicated that he had stored equipment on the property. The Light Industrial (LI) use is a much heavier use than what this lady is applying for. I want to be honest with you and I don't want you to leave here tonight thinking that we want to take all your concerns. I don't have, myself, a particular problem with this application, because it is a lesser intense use. Now, again, I don't know how my fellow Board members feel, okay. I don't know what I can do for you in reference to the traffic on the Main Road. I really don't. The site plan that they have supplied to us appears to be a fairly adequate site plan. The cars get off the road, they park in front of the building. I don't do site plans, we are very simply creating or not creating this particular piece of property, allowing or not allowing this particular use on this particular piece of property. I use the phrase it would be unkind of me because it would be unkind of me to leave you tonight and tell you that I was ready to deny this application, and I am not ready to deny it. We are going to open the Special Exception after the culmination of this hearing. And, if you have any other thoughts, any other concerns that we can interject, imbody into this particular application, I would be very happy PAGE I1 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER (con't.): Mr. Nicoletti, to hear them. And understand your concerns, I sincerely do. I don't even know if the craft shop or what you are referring to across the street is even legal, alright. I really don't. I have no idea what kind of permit they have to operate it. I don't know if it is pre-existing, I know I've seen it up there on the weekends, and I have seen cars, you know, stop, and they stop abruptly because they see it. And then they step abruptly. This doesn't, and I'm not supporting this, but this does not look like that kind of operation, okay. At the same time, I do concur with what you are saying and I concur with the fact that it definately is going to add some traffic to the area. There is no doubt in my mind, okay. I concur with you one hundred percent (100%), but as for that, I don't know what else to say. I am not trying to illicit any information from you, I am just trying to tell you that I'm not necessarily against it. MR. NICOLETTI: I appreciate that, it's just that, if it is a buildable lot, then I... It is alright with me, but the fact that she is asking for clearance on my side and in the back, that is my property in the back. And I thought, if I had anything to say about it, I would say no, because these cars are going to be pulling into her place, they are going to be pointing right into my back yard. I am right there. I have a deck in the back, now I'm going to have cars swinging in and out of there. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: That can be taken care of through screening, you would like up to deal with that aspect, I have no problems with that at all. I just want to... MR. NICOLETTI: If it comes to that, yes. I would definately want something like that. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I just wanted to, it brings me back, and no am I comparing this, but it brings me back to the original application, we have a funeral home on the Main Road 4n Cutchogue. Well, this Board agonized for exactly five (5) hours over every tree that was placed within that site plan. We spent five (5) hours just in placing trees. I have no problems with that, I will be perfectly honest with you. And we can embody that into the Special Exception aspects of this application. And that doesn't mean that I am asking her to go and buy one hundred and fifty (150) trees either, you know, because that would be unrealistic, the site is much smaller than that. That is a concern, that is a legitimate concern that you just brought up, and I can understand that. Because you have a residence and this is a business, there is no question on my mind. So, we will open the Special Exception aspect of it and you continue to think if there is anything else that your are concerned with... MR. NICOLETTI: When will that be. way CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Right now. This is only the variance aspect, now we are going into the Special Exception, whieh is the actual use aspect PAGE 12 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER (con't.): of it, okay. MR. NICOLETTI: Oh, I appreciate your time and we have some more people who would like to say something. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Oh sure, let them say it right now, if they whether they want to wait for the Special Exception, it is entirely up to you. How do you do ma'am. like, NANCY FOGARTY: My name is Nancy Fog'arty and I am on Pipes Neck Road. And I would just make a suggestion that you come on a Saturday or Sunday and take a look at the craft shop there and see the amount of traffic that's there, because it goes practically down to Drossos. And it's very difficult to get in and out of there on the weekend. And I would suggest that all the Board members go and take a look at that traffic. And, if you can say that that's fine, then okay; or come down Pipes Neck Road and try to get out there on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon and see how difficult it is. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you. Anybody else like to speak? Yes ma'am. PATRICIA ECKHARDT: I believe, just to clarify it, it's not so much the moving traffic that we are concerned with, that we have no control over, but it is the parking on both the east and the west. You cannot see what is coming in either direction. And there is a "No Passing" zone between Drossos and the craft shop and that is where the greatest danger is. I have had to pull my car so the nose is out past the white Hne in that lane. If they can stop the parking, it may alter the whole situation. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Could I just have your name for the record ma'am. PATRICIA ECKHARDT: Patricia Eckhardt. t live on Pipes Neck Road. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you. Hearing no further questions, I make a motion... Yes sir? You have something else you would like to add Mr. Cuddy, go ahead sir. will MR. LATSON:My name is Latson, I Hve out on Island View Lane, part of the Association and I don't... I am President of the Association, but we just made it and there hasn't been time to get information on this and to discuss it with people so I don't speak for them. I only speak for myself and the few people that I've talked to. And we do have, we do wonder that the ninety (90).day law about having no building within ninety (90) feet of wetlands. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: It's seventy-five (75), sir. PAGE 13' C HEARING -CCLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. LATSON: What is ninety (90)? CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I have no idea. MR. LATSON: Well, the seventy-five (75) feet then, how that can be forgiven to somebody and not to everybody, unless there is extreme hardship involved. We all live under our rules and there have to be exceptions sometimes for hardship reasons, but I don't see that here. The traffic we know about, that has been spoken of often, and t won't mention that again. The size of the land, is that not one-acre zoning? And to build on the, instead of forty thousand (40,000) feet, it is fifteen thousand (15,000). Why can everybody build on fifteen thousand (15,000) with a little excuse or reason or a complaint or something. Or do we have a rule--one acre, and you must have one-acre if you are going to build. Maybe this is grandfathered in some way, but I don't think legally it would .... Anyway, that is all I have to say. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: For the issue of the seventy-five (75) feet that you are referring to that I corrected you on, this is approximately seventy-eight (78) feet from the meadow. Although the meadow happens to be on Mr. Nicoletti's property. I am not laughing about it, but I mean it is seventy-eight (78) feet. The edge of the building is seventy-eight (78) feet from it. MR. LATSON: I see, I saw it forty-seven (47) feet from.. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Forty-seven (47) feet to the back, to the rear property line. That is your property. MR. LATSON: That is where the wetlands begins. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Is that where the wetlands starts, right at the end of the property. I understand, okay, now. MR. LATSON: So, it is forty-five (45) feet instead of seventy-five (75) feet. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER:Yes, forty-seven (47) feet instead of seventy-five (75) feet. Okay, I understand now. That is what I said to you, not having a tope, I am referring to Mr. Nicoletti now, not having a tope of your land, I can't tell you where the wetlands starts, you know what I am saying? MR. LATSON: That is a matter for the .... CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Trustees, Town Trustees MR. LATSON: Thank you. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you. Mr. Cuddy? PAGE 14 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. CUDDY: I just want to point out to the Board that there is a certain irony in the complaints from residents because this land is zoned by this Town as Light Industry (LI). Houses, residences, are non-conforming uses. They are not permitted uses. These are people complaining they have a non-conforming use and they essentially don't want a permitted use in that particular district. That is an unusual irony, it probably happens very, very seldomly. I would also point out to the Board that Mr. Nicoletti, who owns two lots, owns them singularly and separately, has never merged them. And has done the very thing they talk about the astute, sophisticated buyer doing. He purchased one in his name and his wife's name, and he purchased the second in his name. And he holds them that way to date. So, for him to complain about our lot, that may have merged, when he is holding his [ors so they will not merge. And holding a small lot is very unsinuating. I offer these two (2) deeds in evidence to show his holdings. (TAPE CHANGED) CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Okay, just Mr. Nieoletti, I know you want reflect on that, Mr. Dinizio, I am sorry Mr. Villa just has one quick question and we will be right back to you, okay. As soon as Mr. Cuddy sits down, don't lose the answer, airight? Or the question, excuse me. MEMBER VILLA: Knowing my previous background, you mentioned you friend at the Health Dept., how are they looking at this lot? MR. CUDDY: No, I said we have an application. We haven't gotten... MEMBER VILLA: You haven't gotten there yet, because Article VI, which went into effect in 1980, that if they were in common ownership, they would be looked at as one (1) lot and considered an illegal subdivision. MR. CUDDY: I understand that would be the position of the Health Dept. would probably take, and we would have to ask them to consider an appeal and then go through the same process that we are going through now. BOARD SECRETARY: It is also shown as a separate lot on the County Tax map too. And I think they give waivers for that. They don't anymore? They used to. It is on a 1980 County Tax map. MR. CUDDY: I would point out that continuously this lot has been shown at all times as a separate tax map, never changing. I just thought of one other thing, that we have no objection, in fact, it was our intention to put sereerHng on this lot. I think it would, again use a word too often, but I think it is correct, it would be an irony to have this lot be an extension of a welding company, when you could have an antique shop. It just absolutely wouldn't make sense to me. But, nevertheless, if we can get approval we intend to screen the side of it, so there won't be the problem that Mr. Nicoletti and others are concerned about. Thank you. to had a PAGE 15 PUBLIC. HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you. Mr. Nieoletti? MR. NICOLETTI: If what the attorney said about that piece of land that I bought in the back under my name separately. I bought that land knowing it was wetland and that I could never do anything with it. And I don't intend doing anything with it. I just bought it because it is a piece of land, just in case, later on somebody might say you can fill it in or something. I just bought it for a buffer for myself. I don't intend doing anything with that land, ever. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you sir. MR. NICOLETTI: And then... That is that piece of land, you have got that. That is all I have to say. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you sir. Hearing no further comment, make a motion closing the bearing, reserving decision until later. MEMBER GRIGONIS: Second. All in favor - AYE. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I am going to take a short break here, while move into the next hearing Lorraine A. ~Her (Transcribed by tapes recorded on 7/29/92) PAGE 16 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 APPEAL # 4117SE Applicant(s): Linde Taggert Location of Property: 68320 Main Road, Greenport, NY (Map of Peconic Bay Estates Lot Nos. 185 and 186) County Tax Map No.: 1000-53-2-2 The Chairman opened the hearing at 9:17 p.m. and Read the Legal Notice and application for the record. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: The final hearing on the Linde Taggert Special Exception reads as follows: Upon application, the applicant 4116SE... The Special Exception, Article VIII, Section 100-131(B) as referenced from article. That were in the other file and this file and the same County Tax Map indicating this and surrounding properties in the area. And, we will ask Mr. Cuddy if he would like to continue with this hearing. MR. CHARLES CUDDY:Yes, I again appear for the applicant, Linda Taggert. Basically I think the argument of the applicant here is' that the use as the Chairman indicated is much less intense. The property that Mr. Nicoletti owns is residence, The property that is to the west of the Taggert property, is a welding operation. It would appear, I would think to everybody's benefit, to have not the welding in Mr. Nieoletti's back yard, but to have an antique shop. I think if you look at the Zoning Code and in particular, also the Zoning map, that the Code to start with, that in the LI district going back to the LIO district and going back to the General Business District, which is the way the Code is written, that there can be sale of marine equipment, there can be sale of boats, you can have contractor's yards--plumbing, electrical, lighting contractors. You can do things that are much more intense and yet are the same coneeptuai type of thing, that is the selling of goods. If you can sell heavier goods, you certainly must be able to sell lighter goods in the same district. And I would point out again that the earlier Code, the one that was enforced when she bought this lot, was in force until '89, says that in the Light Business District, you can essentially do all the types of things that she is doing, you can essentially have a retail type of use. And, we believe that it is an appropriate use at this spot. We believe that the area is zoned for this and for other similar uses. If you note, on the north side of the road, it is an LB District or Limited Business District. If you note further down, there is an existing motel that has ali sorts of operations incidental to the retail type sales there. I believe that it is appropriate, I believe under the Code, that I am going to hand. up, the old Code. But under both the old and the new Code that this was an intended use at this particular site. Now, I will hand up to you again a copy of the old Light Business District which was in effect until just two and one-half (2 1/2) years ago. The other thing I would ask the Chairman, I believe it is part of PAGE 17 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. CUDDY (con't.): file, but if it is not, I would make it part of the file and that is the response that was made to Mr. Orlowski, the Chariman of the Planning Board's inquiry by Mr. Lessard, who is the Building Inspector that the proposed use is a committed use within the Special Exception authority of the Zoning Board of Appeals. And that letter, although it is not dated, was sometime in June because it replied to a Planning Board member, when June, I believed was received, during the month of June. So, it is a June 1992 memo. Do you have that? CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: We have it in the file. My only comment to Mr. Cuddy is that ff we are successful in mustering three (3) votes on this Board, this special permit is, although it goes along with the land, is for that lesser use. So, any intensive use over and above what is granted by this special permit would mean that any future owners or any other use that Mrs. Taggert was intending to use this property for would then have to come back before the Zoning Board of Appeals. you MR. CUDDY: I understand. I also would put on the record that this is one use by one user. It is not our intention to rent it or divide the building er use it for any other purpose. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you. Is there anybody else who would like to speak in favor of this application? Anybody like to speak against the application. Yes ma'am. How do you do? ANNA PEKUNKA: My name is Anna Pekunka and we sold the property to Joey and Linde. And we sold it with the understanding that that property was going to be used, he was going to use it for his machines there, nothing about any buildings see. And, this part that she says that we intended to build there, that is not so. When he bought this property from me, I am going to face you, I am talking Joey, that you said you wanted to put like extra parts that you had, had no room to put it there, right? But nothing about a building, right? RIGHT or wrong? Joey, .answer me. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Pardon me, Mrs ..... MS. PEKUNKA: You said there was going to be no building, it was going to be just for parts. I just want to ask you to answer. He was going to answer it. So, anyway, besides that, that road there, there is a lot of traffic right now, because a couple, not a couple, but'a few years back my son and my brother-in-law were coming home from playing golf and they stopped to make a left turn. They couldn't get across, the got hit in the back. My daughter was coming from Greenport with the two children and she stopped, she got pushed way over in Nicoletti's yard. The other man landed up into Rempe's yard, which used to be a vegetable stand there right? So that.., now with this small business going up, which she wants to put there, I don't know how we are going to get across. When I want to go to Southold, I have to go to Greenport turn around and come back again. I can't get out. You can't see over the ears. And my car is a smaller ear. It's just, I don't know what we are going to do. So please take that into consideration, because I hate to see somebody get PAGE 18 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MS. PEKUNKA (eon't.): killed there. Thank you sir. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you. Yes sir? MIKE PEKUNKA: My name is Mike Pekunka. I am a resident of Pipes Neck Road. ~While I think that Miss Taggart's efforts to start a new business are very commendable, I think the situation right now, on the corner of Pipes Neck Road and Houte 25 is a serious traffic situation. And that the Basket Boutique on' the north side of the road, there are cars they park right up on the shoulder of the road. Not on the side of the shoulder, but right up to the line. And they don't park twenty or twenty-five (20 or 25) feet from the corner, they park right up to the corner. Okay? And I think the addition of another business right in that same area is going to compound problem of traffic and parking, okay. Now, I certainly believe that if Ms. Taggart starts a business, I don't th~k she is going to ask people when she has a full driveway of cars, would you please go drive around the block and come back and have parking spaces. Those people are going to be parking right up on the side of the road. I think you are going to have a dangerous traffic situation that one day might lead to a tragedy. I was rear ended there, I have had a sister almost rear ended. I don't want to see somebody hurt or killed, it could happen. Thank you very much. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you sir. Anybody else Like to speak? Joey you have a question, a statement you want to make? MS. REMPE: I won't get in front of the microphone. talk. My grandson, Freddie Rempe, was riding a bike, up on Mrs. Nicoletti's lawn. I would like to he got cornered CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Could I just have your name for the record ma'am? MS. REMPE: Rempe. Eleanor Rempe. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you. Yes, Joe. MR. J. SCHOENSTEIN: I would like to just respond to something that was said tonight about.the property. It is true, I was looking for property absolutely. I needed the space desparately. We were able to buy a piece of property in a rear yard, which you guys know about, that gave us much more easable access to and use. And, that was after buying the piece of property from Mr. & Mrs. Pekunka. It was after, we came up, we were able to buy it and it is much more useful and much safer. And, another thing is I have tried to use that piece of property before Linda and I divorced, but between the DEC and the Police and the problems, I didn't think it was worth the anger with my neighbors over using it commercially. Okay, which I did try and to do that. And, it has been sitting there idle, basically, except for a few things that have been stored on it. I will say something. I don't think that, what Linda wants to do here is going to create a major traffic problem, because of the parking facilities. She was my wife, she did have an antique shop. PAGE 19 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. J. SCHOENSTEIN (con't.): And I used to watch, because I used to be there every Saturday working while she had her shop. And antique shop does not attrack the people that a craft shop does. It just doesn't. There's a certain people that go to antique shops. Craft shops attraek everybody. It's gifts for' everyone, it's, everyone has Httle doodads in their houses, in baskets, and so on and so forth. An antique shop is really more of a specific item. And that is all I would like to say. Thank you very much. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thsnk you Joe. Mr. Nicoletti? MR. NICOLETTI: I'm interest with what Joe said about it, being an antique shop. We have one, an antique shop, just about a mile down the road. What this is going to cause is people walking across the streets a lot. They will stop at the craft shop, they stop mulling across... I saw it when she had it.. That's when my wife heard a lot of brakes squealling. Because she has people going up and back across this Main Road. Another thing about Joe, a thought in my~ head, the DEC was given trouble with that piece of land, it was because he dumped something like eight (8) truck loads of dirt on the wetland in back. I complained about it and they made him scoop it out. And he put right along my property because he knew I complained, ten (10) foot high, one hundred and twenty-five (125) foot long of dirt that the DEC made him take off the wetlands, ~vhieh is my property. He dumped about eight or nine (8 or 9) truck loads of dirt there. Because I complained, that is what started this feud, I guess, against him and he deliberately put it along my property. And everybody knew this was going to get my hax up. But that is why he had trouble with the DEC with that piece of property. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Is that dirt still there? MR. NICOLETTI: No, no, he had it taken out. The dirt, he just scraped it out level with Linda Taggart's land now. That dumped down real Iow, the water used to always come in there, just on the moon tide. Now, it's scraped off, you have all backfill in there, that is not clear fill. It is big chunks of cement and everything. MRS. NICOLETTI: You know, I don't think that is very nice of laughing like that. You did that the last time to us too. I am sorry sir. you CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I am watching your husband, I am sorry Mrs. Nicoletti, I didn't see him. MR. NICOLETTI: That is all I have to say. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Yes, it becomes counterproductive.. MR. J. SCHOENSTEIN: It is a shame. I realize that. It is a shame that this has to happen. I never meant any harm, I never tried to cause trouble. When we built our building, we dug out all the material and PAGE gO PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. J. SCHOENSTEIN (con't.): put it on that piece of property. I got in trouble because I definately made a mistake, I had Terry Latham put it right in the middle of the piece of property. But it was too close to wetlands. Terry picked it up and moved it over within... The DEC came there, you know the local guys came down, the police guys, they staked it out and they said to me you got to be so many feet. We stored the fill there, and we put it right back where it was suppose to go when the building was done. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you. statements to be made Mr. Cuddy? Alright, is there any further MR. CUDDY: To some extent, I think we may be loosing track of the special permit application. The special permit application is to comply with certain standards as forth in the Code. And, I think this one does for all of the obvious reason that we have been talking about; that is, the type of district that this is, the fact that is not going to change the district, the fact that the type of uses that are near by are very similar to this. And I wish to point out, and I don't think that we, and I am talking about Linde Taggart, should be the bane of their existence, because there is traffic on the Main Road. They live on the Main Road, they live in a Light Industrial (LI) District. That district on the map that I gave you called Taggert LI Zone shows that it goes over a half a mile to the east of this. On the other side of the road, the limited business goes the same distance. They're in a business district, they are on the Main Road. And for them to ask us to cure that, I think is real wrong. All we are saying to you, is that we are going to have off street parking on our parcel. We can't cure the craft shop across the street, we can't cure the problems that are on the Main Road. We can do everything that the State asks us to do, everything the Town asks us to do as far as taking care of our own property and propose to do that. I really don't believe, and I think it goes a long way to be imagining it to say that an antique shop with nine hundred (900) square feet, is going To cause enormous traffic problems on the road. If it's there, it's already there, we are not going to contribute that much additional to it. Thank you. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Hearing no further comment, I make a motion closing this hearing, you have a question? MEMBER VILLA: Yes. I have comments. And I would like to preface what I am saying, I like to go into antiquing. My wife and I go to auctions [ am a craft person and what have you. But I have problems with this on the basis that I don't think the code allows wholesale and retail sales, other than for boats and boat repairs in the LI zone. And I think what we're, what you really should be doing is looking for a change of zone to Light Business, if that is what you are looking for, because as you just said, the LI zone goes for a half a mile and if we grant this, even though it sounds like it is a limited us'e and a lesser use, it just opens the door for the next application, and the next application, and we are going to have a strip zone, going for that whole mile with PAGE 21 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MEMBER VILLA (con't.): retail sales. And I jus~ don't think that is what the Code entails. I wasn't on the Board years ago when these gentlemen evidentally came to you when they were zn the business zone looking for an industrial zone. And, it was granted. And under the current Master Plan, they recognized that and they made it a Light Industrial zone. And, now, I think what you are looking for is to go back to a business zone with retail sales and I think we are just going to have a strip mall from there to Greenport. I don't like to be the bad guy, but I think that is what is going to happen. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Mr. Taggart. MR. TAGGART: To the Board, I was under the impression that Light Industrial means that if I wanted to run a grinding shop, metal fabricator, blacksmith shop, I could. I would draw people, if I was a blacksmith. People would come in, I would do the work and they would go back. The whole purpose of me coming to you is not to create this, which to me, if I was you and you lived next door to me, if I had a blacksmith shop where I was pounding metal all day, I don't think you would be too happy with it. This, a Light Business, a retail store is not going to cause you any problems. If you look at this site plan and, our building plan is a very nice looking building. It is not a junk looking square cement building. It is a nice looking building. There is going to be no noise. There will be traffic, yes, but we are not all the problem. You have other businesses that are going to be applying too. I would would join with you. It is a State Road, I think our problem is to talk to the State. The State would govern the speed limit there and maybe, there is a possibility, maybe the State can lower it, I don't know. If there is a petition for it, Linda and I would be glad to sign it with you. We don't want to see anybody hurt either. We are good people. Thank you. MEMBER VILLA: Just to answer you. I recognize that and as I say, don't like to be the bad guy in this whole situation. But, whatever this Board does in this application, they have to be consistent, they have to do with others. And, then, if this then goes all the way for a half a mile to the east, we got a strip mall offering retail sales. MR. TAGGART: Again, I say to you, if it is better, why would you object to it. MEMBER VILLA: No, it is not better, I mean. The people that live this letted business on one side and industrial on the other hoping that it would be a lesser use. to MR. TAGGART: Again, these are residential people. I am asking you as my neighbor now, would you rather me have a light industrial banging business, grinding noise; or would you rather have a nice retail store? MEMBER VILLA: That is not the question here, although. The question is what kind .... PAGE 22 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. TAGGART: I am sorry, maybe I don't understand, okay... MR. CUDDY: I always take issue when somebody says that the Zoning Board by one decision sets a precedent in another decision. Excuse me a second. There is a case in the Court of Appeals, the Cowan Case, that says specifically that a zoning board does not each time has a decision set a precedent for something that is similar. And that is what you are saying. But, I think more particularly to address what you are asking here is that maybe you can tell me, because it is my opinion in looking at the Cod~ that you can have a plumbing business here, contracting, that you can have people come to that contractor's yard, I'm thinking of Blackman in Riverhead, doing a contractor's yard in this site, the Light Industry site, and having people come in and purchase. I believe that can be done. If that can be done, having an antique shop with a few people coming in, certainly has to be included within the realm of that. And., I believe absolutely that that can be done, there should be no question. I believe that What we are asking for is something very similar to what could be there. You could have a long distance of that, that is true, hut. I believe those are the things that are allowed in this particular district. That is why we are here saying what I am saying. But, I take issue with it that you could not do the type of thing that is here. The Building Inspector, by the way, sent a memo believing that also you could do this. So, and I think that he is correct because of the reason I just gave you. MEMBER VILLA: Well, we had an internal discussion upon that. MR. CUDDY: I can understand. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: That internal discussion has now changed whole possibilities of the realm of which we are dealing with these applications when they come in in reference To an interpretation or an opinion. I have told that To the Code Committee of the Legislative Committee also. the Mt{. CUDDY: I do wish to assert vigorously that I believe the type of use that she is asking for is a use that is contemplated by that section of the code basically by going back into other sections. You can do the very same thing. MEMBER VILLA: You are the lawyer, I am not a lawyer, but when you at Section 8 under B, where is says wholesale and retail sales and repair of boats and marine items. It is very explicit that the wholesale that the wholesale and retail sales only applies to the repair of boats and marine items. And, it is my contention that if they wanted wholesale and retail, they would have left it in for the whole section and not been explicit with just for boats and marine supplies. look MR. CUDDY: One of the problems with zoning codes is that they can't be exhausted, I think we both agree. You could start listening and never end listening. But I think within an area, you are talking about what PAGE 23 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. CUDDY (con't.): can be done. And I am saying the very type thing that you are talking. Whether you are selling marine goods or you selling plumbing goods or electrical goods, it is very s~milar to what she is talking about. If you can do that, you can do this. That is essentially our argument. Thank you. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Hearing no further questions again, I motion closing the hearing on this Special Exception reserving the right to make a decision in the future. make a MEMBER GRIGONIS: Second. All in favor - AYE. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: We thank you very much for coming in everyone. And we thank you for your courtesy and we will do the best we possibly can. There certainly will be no decision tonight. We have at least two (2) more hearings after this. Thank you again, safe home. Lorraine A. Miller (Transcribed by tapes recorded 7/29/92.) PAGE 24 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 APPEAL # 4118 Applicant(s): Gladys J. Milne Location of Property: 240 Knoll Circle, East Marion, NY County Tax Map No.: 1000-37-5-15 The Chairman opened the hearing at 7:35 p.m. and read the Legal Notice and application for the record. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I have a copy of a sketch of the survey, actually it is the whole survey, dated December 23, 1989, updated or amended on April 4, 1990, and then again on May 7, 1990 indicating this somewhat pie-shaped parcel, which there is an existing one and half story frame house. The nature of the application is a deck with steps to the bulkhead on approximately the west side of the house. And I have a copy of the Suffolk County tax map indicating this and surrounding properties in the area. Is there anybody here who would like to speak in behalf of this application? Mrs. Mi]ne. GLADYS MILNE: I'm Gladys Milne. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Is is Milne, I apologize. the mike. Could I ask you to use MS. MILNE: Sure. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: It is very rare that we receive an application that requires almost a zero line or building constructing almost on the property line. Could you explain to us why you want to do th,at? MS. MILNE: If I had more room, believe me, it would be good. I am on a sloped plot and I just felt if I could level it off with a deck, it would be more or less ground level. I could put a chair, table and maybe enjoy it, get something out of it. Right now, it is useless. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: When I was there, I think you were insta]Hng a new cesspool at the time? MS. MILNE: Not I. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: No, okay. Two houses down, so I missed it, didn't go to the right, so I will have to come over this weekend and take a look at it again. so I MS. MILNE: Somebody was here. CHAIRMAN GOEHRONGER: Two houses to the .... PAGE 25 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 It is to the south, you were in the west side of that Knoll Circle, this would be to the south. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: So, I want to go more to the south, okay. MS. MILNE: The head of the Knoll Circle. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Actually, at ~he head end, alright. MS. MILNE: There isn't a lot of room, I .wish there was, I wish I had more property. Just as I say, to give us someplace to go outside and sit, where it is level. Grey house. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: It was Sunday morning and it was relatively early When I was there, so I didn't bother anybody, okay. MS. MILNE: Well, We get up pretty early, anytime .... CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I'll stop over Saturday morning, probably around 8:00 a.m. or so, you don't have to get up though, you know, just know that I will be there. MS. MILNE: That will be fine, I don't know what else I can tell you. It's really, to me, no big deal, other than to put a table and chairs out there. We have a brick patio forward a little bit. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: That is the one that is indicated as patio. MS. MILNE: Yes, and that is kind of even collapsing and fall~ug and the dirt is not staying. That is why I felt that wood perhaps would be more permanent. It is very difficult to get dirt, you have to shovel it from one end of the property to the other. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Now, the portion of it that you are anticipating to be wood, is the portion directly adjacent to the house. Is that correct?. MS. MILNE: Yes. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: The brick one is going to stay brick. MS. MILNE: No, we are just going to go over it.. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: YOU are going to go over the top of the bricks. MS. MILNE: Right over the brick because that is kind of falllug in. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Okay. MS. MILNE: It will be over the brick and that is the side between the two homes. PAGE 26 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Okay. The path that is shown on side side of the house, is that a path for the houses in the back? has the right-of-way over that? the opposite Who MS. MILNE: It is path for all of the people in Gardeners Bay Estates to go the beach. It is a ten (10) foot right-of-way. CHAIRMAN GOEHRiNGER: Alright. Because the the Board is that of having acces's ag~{n to your yard area, but since you have the path over there. first initial concern of basically your rear MS. MILNE: Oh, yea, we have room on the other side of the house. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Okay. I have to admit on the record, I have more trouble finding the houses in Gardeners Bay Estates. What I usually do, is go over to Warren Sanbach's, but it was too eariy thai time. MS. MILNE: Well, go down Old Orchard LanE... CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: No, no. 'to the wrong house. I know how to get there, because I was MS. MILNE: You know now? Okay. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: That is absolutely baffling because the road, some of the them are in the same name. I just stop a~ Warren's house and ask him all the time. I say "Warren, can you give me better directions". MS. MILNE: Well, we usually tell people to go down Old Orchard Lane. I tell them six houses for a right and a left, and then get there. And it works out pretty well. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Let us see if there are any other questions. Does any, Bob do you have questions of this lady. MEMBER VILLA: No, I was there. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Anything you would like to add for the record? No? MEMBER VILLA: No, except as you say, lit goes right up to the property line. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Jim, do you have any questions? MEMBER DINIZIO: No, other than it is a small lot and you know, it's, as long as it is .like somewhat to ground level, I don't know what would.. MS. MILNE: I don't want it in the air, I want it as close to the grass as we can put it, easily to build.. I just want a little place to put PAGE 27 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MS. MILNE (eon't.): a table and chairs. MEMBER DINIZIO: I think you put concrete there, you would have the same problem. It would just slide off. MS. MILNE: If we put concrete, we have, I have to build a retaining wall. MEMBER DINIZIO: To build it up. MS. MILNE: Yea, and I think that would maybe be more difficult. MEMBER DINIZIO: Yes, I agree. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Okay, I will come back and, I won't discuss it with you, but I will take a look at it. MS. MILNE: I don't want to change too milch, really, just sort of level the thing so we can use it. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: And, your neighbor on that side of the bulkhead? MS. MILNE: I just saw him the other night and the one on the other side and he didn't mind at all. Both of them. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Okay. Yes? MR. ED BIRDIE:I am Ed Birdie, I live in Gardener's Bay Estates behind Warren. Warren is at the eireus tonight, that is why he is not here. I am President of the Association and I speak for the Assoeiation. And we have no problem with the deck with regard to the right of way whieh is the Association's property, which is next to Mrs. Milne. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Very good, thank you so much sir. I about the mix up, I apologize really. Next time, I will go at 10:00 and I will get Warren up... am sorry MR. BIRDIE: It is to the right of the right of way, it is the house on the right of the right of way. MEMBER VILLA: Jerry, just one thing.. You were waiting for something from DEC, did you hear anything from them. MS. MILNE: I had to send them more information. Three copies of a plan and a photograph, that it was still a functioning bulkhead, and how to get there, a road map. So, I don't know. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Well, we have had an application before the DEC for the last one hundred and twenty (120) days in Mattituck for the Mattituck Park District and still have had no activity on it, so, I don't know how long you will hear either. PAGE 28 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MS. MILNE: They sent me to send more information, but other than that.. I think maybe if I live long enough, maybe I will get it. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Is there anybody else who would like to speak in favor of this application? Anybody like to speak against the application? Questions from Board members? ~Ve will make a motion closing the hearing, reserving my right to go back and reinspeet and we thank you both for coming down. We will have a decision for you probably within two to three weeks. MS. MILNE: Thank you, see you soon. MEMBER GRIGONIS: Second. All in favor ~ AYE. End of hearing. Lorraine A. Miller (Transcribed by tapes recorded 7/29/92) PAGE 29 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 APPEAL # 4115 Applicant(s): Stephen and Ella Schmidt Location of Property: 340 Bay Haven Lane, Southold, NY County Tax Map. ~No.: 1000-88-4-24. The Chairman opened the hearing at 7:45 p.m. and read the Legal Notice and application for the record. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: ...indicating this one-story frame home and its approximate placement in the center of the property, a little bit closer to the rear yard, then it is the front yard. And, I have a copy of the Suffolk County Tax Map this property and surround properties in the area and showing the deck as it appears. Is there somebody who would like to be heard? How do you do, Mrs. Sehmidt? How do you do. Is there anytking you would like to add for the record? MRS. ELLA SCHMIDT: Not really, I just want to say before anything else that we have a dog warning. It is a big dog around, that be's my daughter, and she hasn't been able to use the backyard at all. That is what we are doing it for. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Is there anybody who would like... Any objection against this? Anyone like to question Mrs. Sehmit about? Bob, do you have any questions? No. Anybody? This deck is to remain, unroofed, right? There will be no roof over it. MRS. SCHMIDT: No roof. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Okay. Is there anybody else who would speak in favor of the application? Anybody Hke to speak against the application? Hearing no further questions; I make a motion closing the hearing, reserving decision until later. like to MEMBER GRIGONIS: Second. All in favor - AYE. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: We hope to have a decision for you shortly. Thank you very much. End of hearing. Lorraine A. Miller (Transcribed by tapes recorded 7/29/92) PAGE 30 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 APPEAL ~ 4023 AND 4022SE Applicant(s): Cellular Telephone Co. d/b/a Metro One Location of Property: (415) westerly side of EHjah's Lane and northerly side of Main Road, Mattituck, NY County Tax Map No.: 1000-108-4-part of 11. The Chairman opened the hearing at 7:50 p.m. and read the Legal Notice and application for the record. Member Dinizio left room for this hearing. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Mr. Smith do you trave any objection if I open both hearings at the same time. I know you want to address the issue of one particular hearing. MR. ALLAN SMITH, ESQ.: I do not mind Mr. Goehringer, as long as you allow me to reserve the points made in my correspondence to you, that we have a standing objections to the opening of the Special Exception. We believe that that has been resolved and was finalized between the parties. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Okay. Thank you. We have a copy of a new plan that we have just received on July 27, 1992 indicating the major concerns of the Board through the prior hearing process and. they are still indicated and after a discussion with attorney Bill Moore, they shall remain and have remain, thank God. And I have a copy of the SuffoLk County Tax Map indicating this and surrounding properties in the area. We are all set Mr. Smith, I apoligize for the timely that it took to read the Legal Notice. site MR. SMITH: Thank you Mr. Goehringer, thank you To the Board for opportunity to again appear before you. As a preliminary matter, I have reduced ~the testimony of the professional that is involved in the height issue to writing. And, I will submit his testimony and he will also speak. Additionally from a previous hearing, you had before you Mr. Papay, who is the structural engineer, although I do not intend to have him add to the testimony that he has previously made in this matter should, in the context of the height consideration, an issue arise with reference to structural safety Of the tower, he can step forward and answer those questions. I will pass up his resume and Mr. Scott Fox's testimony. the CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you. (Mr. Smith hands up papers.) fine. You owe me one more. Oh, we do have it, I apologize. Six is MR. SMITH: Mr. Goehringer, I would renew the motion, if you will, that is contained in various correspondence that I have sent to you over the PAGE 3I PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. SMITH (con't.): past several months. That in fact, in that this is a radio tower, as has been defined by the judgment between the parties, which is now pliant as between us. That the exemption contained in your code for heights of such structures makes the hearing on a might inappropriate for this evening. In support of that, I will file with the Board several documents. One is the certification of Mr. William Moore reiating to a record of the Southold Town Planning Board relative to the review of the NYNEX tower that was built up by the dump, wherein, you will see the following language: "height of the tower exempt from the variance under Section 100-230(d) of the Code of the Town of Southold", which is the section I h~ve cited to you in several pieces of correspondence. Secondarily, I will offer to you a certified copy of the fins] judgment as between the parties, which in its findings defines this particular tower as a radio tower, which is the language used in that particular section. Additionally, I would offer copies of the action of the Board with reference to the NYNEX Mobile, excuse me, NYNEX Mobile Communications application with Arthur V. Junge, Inc., which additionally reinforces the position that the hearing this evening is unncessary and inappropriate. (Hands up documents). Is the Board prepared to make a ruling as to whether or not this particular code section has absolute power? CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: No, I have had a discussion, well, firstly, let us go back to square one and just discuss the situation entirely. And I do feel badly, okay, and I know Mr. Baxter is here and I have known Mr. Baxter, in fact I was fighting a fire on his property and I had seen him this past him this past summer, being a member of the Mattituck Fire Department. Originally, this application ~came before us and we were processing the application as if we were going to approve the application. The main concern of the Board was that, we no longer had a more intensive business use, we now had a lesser intensive business use, as of the new inception of the new Code in 1989. And that's were the concern came to be. I am going into this issue. Now, from that particular point on, there was litigation. The Town lost the litigation. We are at this parti~niar point now dealing with a reaffirmation so to speak. When I had a discussion with Mr. Moore on the telephone approximately a week or so ago, he asked me the reason for the Special Exception, I'll get into the height in a' minute, okay. And, I told him at that particular time that we would like to incorporate everything, get it all nicely done, packed up and dealt with so that we know exactly what we are dealing with at this particular time. And that is my particular feeling on the whole situation. In reference to the height, I had a discussion with him on the phone,, and it is the same discussion and I bring that to the record that one of the major concerns and you did a very superlative job in presenting this application the first time around. And I did feel very badly about ruling against it, okay. And you indicated the need for fire and emergency services over this telephone system. And, I realize that it's of extreme importance in the rural area that we live in. At the time same time, being a fireman in the Town of Mattituck or the Hamlet of Mattituck for some twenty-four PAGE 32 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER (con't.): (24) years, I have also gene to many plane crashes of planes that have never made it to or from Mattituck. It is not a landing field, it is not an, whatever you want to call the airport so to speak which is, and that is what our immediate concern is. I did mention that to Mr. Moore. So, not withstanding the fact of our opinions concerning should we be here or shouldn't we be here tonight, we're here to complete the process. I am not here to rule against this, I am not here to put stumbling blocks in the way of this particular situation. The fall down area is there, we don't have to drive to Laurelton to see the antenna, because I assume it is similar to the one that NYNEX has constructed and so on and so forth. We are merely here to ask two or three questions and deal with that, I am in any case, I have no idea on how the rest of the Board, so I can't answer that question at this point. MR. SMITH: As long as I reserve my rights, I' am ready to go forward. Our position is that the height issue was exempted by your Code and you respectfully disagree, that's what makes ho~se races. So let us go on. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Does that answer your question? I didn't want .to be in a round about matter in this situation. MR. SMITH: I have answers for the questions that you have raised and I intend to share them. Going forward, I would like. with the permission of the Board to incorporate the testimony of the prior proceedings into this proceeding. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: No problem. MR. SMITH: I have provided you with a certified copy of the Order. I should offer, although I sent down to you by hand, the drawings S1 and S9. that came to evidence to this hearing. Lastly, I would share with you the FEA detern~dnation, which was an open issue last year and has since been decided. I guess that while 'I am introducing things, the other thing that I would put in and I am not sure I put it in this stack, but I WIll get it for you. We do have a letter at this time from the Mattituck Fire Department confirming the advice that I gave you in the earlier hearing relative to the telemetry of the head, I guess it is the head of rescue. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: And the ambulance. MR. SMITH: And ambulances. Last time I did this verbally, put it in writing. this time I CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I had discussed that issue with the Chief, who at that time was Norm Reilly and he had indicated me, of course, we have a new chief, chief George Lessard and he had indicated to me that since the construction of the antenna at the Highway Dept, the Fire Department has not had a problem with transmission. PAGE 33 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. SMITH: The experience that has occurred, although I am not witness, I am a volunteer, the experiences that have occurred and one we have needed the eeliuar services have been on those occasions of having to establish a command center, such as for' the brush fires over on Riverhead-Moriches Road for the Eastport Fire House and/or with reference to those, volunteer ambulance services that provide a AEMT services and they need the telementry all for the EKGs through the County system out to I believe it is South Side or Mather, where they get obstruction on desHng with heart patients. With that being said, I will introduce you to Mr. Scott Fox, as you can tell from Mr. Fox's resume, he is the chief of engineering and can explain to you the issue of height as it relates to this type of a service. Mr. Fox would you explain to these folks how this works, why it has to be the height it has to be. MR. SCOTT FOX: Good evening Mr. Chairman and members of the Board, just in very simplistic and to start the discussion I wanted to just reiterate, I know it has been on some of the prior record, hut just in very simple terms, celluar telephone .is based on a radio technology. It is very much radio based. Radio waves at the frequency that we are talking about travel line of sight. In our business, unlike many other businesses, we, the optimal height of the antenna is critical to the success of this system. And by optimal I don't mean the higher the better. In our case, we need to be at a certain height, that is high enough to provide coverage of the community, yet not too high so as to cause unwanted coverage, which we would refer to as interferrence into adjacent communities. Basically, celiuar again works on the premise, I think you probably heard the term in previous testimony of frequency reuse, where' cells sitting right next to one another use different frequencies, and maybe the next cell over uses yet another frequency. And the next one uses that same frequency again. So basically, again height is a critical requirement for' the proper design of the celtuar system. In our case, I am very, very much familiar with this case, the design criteria is to provide what we call overlap with the adjacent cell which is the Peconic cell site. We also refer to this as Southold Cell Site. to the northeast of this location. It is about four point two (4.2) miles, I believe from the Mattituck Cell site. Ag~n, the design criteria is to provide just enough signal strength so that there is sufficient overlap to ensure a hand-off to the next cell. And, one of the things that I wanted to stress this evening is that a~{n unlike other technologies, it's in our best interest not to be too tall. Too tall is bad for us, and so we have every incentive to be at and designed for just high enough to provide what we call that effective hand-off. As you are traveling from community, or as you are traveling down a roadway, or as you are walking from place to place, as you walk away from one eel] site, the signal tends to fade, very much as if you are driving outside of the coverage area, say from a FM station. The signal gets weaker and weaker and weaker to the point where it becomes unintelligible and it no longer provides the information that you need. At celluars designed such that the next cell site provides a hand off PAGE 34 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. FOX (con't.): and allows that continuous conversation to go on. As part of my submittal for the record before each of you is part of our analysis. The engineering process is an iterative process. We start at low heights, we look for again, the optimal coverage, yet we don't go beyond where we can achieve that objective. In the case of this, there were a number of enervative steps through the process, but for the sake of the explanation this evening, we've detailed four separate eases. We've looked at the Mattituek Cell Site operating at thirty-five (35) feet. And it is clear from our analysis and also again the attachments to my presentation this evening, which you have in front of you, that it does not provide proper overlap with the adjacent cell sites. The next case has shown there is an analysis performed at fifty (50) feet, again it is very clear through the ~n~lysis, not quite enough coverage for the purpose of this cell site. Seventy-five (75) feet again, the same case.' And then if you look, again it is Exhibit"A", I believe in the package. It is the one on top, you can ~ee the coverage shown for the hundred foot proposed height. To us this is the optimal height, we do not require any more than a hundred feet to effectively provide a quality signal to the community. And it truly will not work to the quality levels that we need to provide to the community at anything less than one hundred (100) watts. Thank you. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Whom might I ask in the field of endeavor that you brought for us, the question of any disturbance caused by this transmission tower. MR. FOX: I would be glad. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: We are, of course, in the world today of the East End and I can remember thirty (30) years ago and we did not trove Cablevision, and that is the reason why one of our members has left because he does work for a cable organization, alright. And some people still have regular antennas on their houses, some of them have FM antennas., some of them CB antennas, and so on and so forth, okay. Is there any interference with these? MR. FOX: That is a very good question. The FCC gave that very very careful eonsidersation when allocating us the frequencies that we operate on. We take great pains to properly engineer our system. I can state, just by way of example, I hope this would address the concern. Interference can happen, however, we are currently operating well over six thousand (6,000) transmitters within the New York/Metropolitan area with no known reported cases of interference. And we as a matter of fact have a letter from the Federal Communications Conunission stating this. It is part of the mandate of our license that we operate on an interference free basis. And, again, it's attributed to the engineering and as well as the setup. And the designation of the frequencies by the PAGE 35 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. FOX (con't,):Federal Communication Commission so as there is no overlap between adjacent services. We have our own unique frequency on which we operate we are the only ones allowed to operate on it, and we maints~n as required by our license very, very strict tolerances to those operating parameters. It's just day to day business, it is what we do. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Two other quick questions, the approximate or the exact height of the tower itself is one hundred and four (104) feet? MR. FOX: No, to the tip of the antennas, it is one hundred (100) feet. To the very top of the highest point, it is one hundred (100) feet even. One hundred (100) feet, nothing more than that. It's a very highest piece on the structure. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I' don't know if it was 'NYNEX or if it was CeHuar One, we are referring to as Celluar One now or Metro One, or doesn't make any difference. MR.SMITH: Same nose and face. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: We have two antennas that are going up like on one or two of these units, is this similar to the one that would be constructed here. this MR. FOX: Not in this case. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: It will be a flat top. MR. FOX: It will be a flat top, it does not have, like the night ... I observed the NYNEX tower, they do have an antenna protruding from the top of the structure, not at all is the case. We have nine (9) antennas around the base of the structure, that is it. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Similar to the one in Calverton or somewhere up the Island, MR. FOX: I am not familiar with that one. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Okay. And the wind resistance--150 mph wind? MR. FOX: Mr. Papay is here to address, any of the concerns therein, believe, that it's spoken to in the past, however, I am not the expert there. I CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Very good. Thank you. MR. FOX: Thank you very much. MR. SMITH: Do you want'me to have Mr. Papay address the .... PAGE 35 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Yes, just address that for anybody here that is interested. MR. SMITH: Mr. Papay I believe was sworn the last time he was here. He is a professional engineer of structures. It is his type of thing. MR. PETER PAPAY: Good evening. As I had stated previously, the design of the manifolds or other towers supporting antennas is decreed by a national standard. It has been adopted by the American NationR1 Standards Institute. It's entitled, actually it is numbered 222 current division Where they set forth the design speeds for the design of tower's manifolds. For this portion of Long Island, the design wind speed, or sustain speed, now would be 85 mph. Celiuar One has opted to design air towers or manifolds for a wind speed of 100 mph. These wind speeds are not gusts, these wind speeds are sustained speeds or the wind that would occur over a mile or more in time or distance. It will sustain gusts of higher than 100 mph and that is incorporated within the design itself. Due to conservative and the mechanics of design, it will sustain winds of even greater than gusts of over 125 mph. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you very much. MR. PAPAY: Your welcome. MR. SMITH:Mr. Goehringer, the young man that gave you the engineering ease, he said it differently the last time we were together, I believe we asked him whether or not could it blown over, he said, of course anything made by man can be blown over, but that our concern at that velocity is not the tower coming dow-n, it's your neighbor's car blowing through the side of your house. So, they are built to withstand the hurricane forces that we may see out here on Eastern Long Island. I would like the professionals answer any other questions you may have. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: My only other, I have two other quick concerns that maybe you might not want to sit down, but then you can address them. Assuming that some time in the future, Metro One/Celhiar One no longer wanted to lease this property, what would happen to the tower? And what would be the timely fashion of removing it? MR. SMITH: Yes, I can probably address that. I like to, yours is not the technology question, but it is the lease that he may have with Mr. Baxter's finite. I believe that this particular [ease, although I'm not sure I drafted it, it is a ten (10) plus ten (10) or twenty (20). The lease language states that the tenant will restore the property to it's condition prior to their entering onto the property. I'm not sure if Mr. Baxter or his heirs would want us to put it back the way it is today, but I can assume that the tower would come down and the building would be restored without the equipment in it. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: And the only other concern I have is that little PAGE 37 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER (con't.): word in the Code which refers primary, secondary. Would we construe this to be a primary use on the property since it is the newest use, or the use that will he continually used? Or would we construe this as an accessory use? MR. SMITH: Well, I'm not sure which it is, because it is not an issue that I've armlyzed for this particular presentation. I can only say that the use of the property, now as a Special Exception use, is the issue that we have already been through in this particular instance. And whether we have done it rightly or wrongly, I don't think fault to right or wrong is the issue, ttmt is behind us. The property is identified as a property upon which its use can be, however characterized and the remand of dusty soil, is for the puposes of considering height. And beyond that, I am not sure I can comment. In the abstract, I could analyze for you those things. As a professional, I don't have to here. I have a decision, I have a judgment, the judgment is final. It is not a question anymore. Thank you sir. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you. I will be right with you sir. anybody have any questions of either one of these or any of these people? MEMBER VILLA: Yes, I was looking at the attachment, Exhibit "B" guess it is, Attaehment "A & B" where you've got the 'different heights, diagrammed here with the towers with a! one hundred (100) feet and seventy-five (75) feet. It doesn't really appear to be that much difference between the hundred foot and the seventy-five (75) foot coverage, you still have areas that aren't covered by either. And what surprises me is you say you don't want to much overlap and yet, with the seventy-five (75) foot height, you come right up to the Southold cell, With the hundred foot height, you really don't show any more coverage to that east side, which doesn't seem to make much sense. It would appear to me that the seventy-five foot height would pretty much satisfy your desires here. MR. FOX: I would be glad to address that I don't know if... If you look closely and again, our design criteria is the minimal height necessary to meet our criteria. If you look very closely at the seventy-five (75) foot model, you can see that there is a stretch along Route 25 that does not meet the criteria. Also, I would say that again the contours are shown, they are not circular, as you might expect from a set up like this and that is because of the varying terrain. Terrain obviously limits radio. And so, it is not possible to cover everywhere you want To. We can't control the laws of physics and get the signals to go exactly where we want and exactly where we don't want them to go. But, I can tell you though very specifically, the decision looking at the seventy-five (75) feet is that there is a stretch of Route 25 that just is not covered, just does not meet the criteria. If you go upwards from that, just a bit more to the hundred-foot level, again you can see by the Exhibit"A" that that criteria is met through the communities major, major highway, where the majority of the traffic is at least and to Does PAGE 38 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. FOX (eon't): emergency vehicles predominately travel. As well as, again overlap between cells is not by itself undesirable. What the objective there is there is really no need for too much of it, anythi~lg beyond that becomes undesirable. So then to answer your question directly, if you look closely at Attachment "B", you can see that the Neg 85 DBM contour which this represents, just doesn't quite match up there. North and south, again, we could go higher to cover those areas and cover everything, but it gets to the point of diminishing returns, it gets to the point of where it starts interferring in other areas. And, so it is a process of trade offs in the engineering criteria. And, again I would state it's very clearly in our benefit to design just up to the height necessary to cover the target area. So, again, you can see the differences between the two. MEMBER VILLA: That leads to a question--what would be the minimum height that you need to cover that gap on Route 25? Twenty (20) feet off the tower would possibly bring it down almost a tree height, which would be less visibility. We're in a rural atmosphere, and we are trying to keep it that way and you are starting to spring these towers up all over the place. And, you know, we are going to end up looking like windmill farm. MR. SMITH: Mr. Villa so that we don't get an assumption in here that may or may not be correct. In asking Mr. Fox to prepare for this evening, I had him focus because we were talking about Southold and Southold people, but providing service with the south. You see to do the map modeling for you relative to the given site, you need Southold, which is Peconic. You gain the advantages of Southold folks probably the tower at Northville, it was involved with the Laurel side of the line. I understand your concern, but to adequately address it and. if you want to talk about dropping the tower height, you have to also ask what the effect of that may be with reference to the tower to the west. I am not cutting him off, but he should be reminded that although I have asked him to couch his testimony in terms of Southold Town, in answering this question what you do in going from a hundred to n~uety-five, ninety-eight (95, 98) whatever, has an effect upon the coverage and/or the efficiency required by his licenses to the west. And with that caveat I have a little problem with his answering the question. MEMBER 'VILLA: Well, to throw it back in that aspect, I would like to see the coverage then from the west and how it effects this cell as well? (Tape changed) MR. FOX: Well, again, it is a very good question, and I appreciate council indicating as is very much the case, eelluar design is very, very complicated. Not overly so, such that professionals can deal on the field can understand it very straight forward. However, in this case it's not possible, looking at the situation and the situation within Southold, we need sufficient overlap to hand off between cell PAGE 39 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. FOX (con.t.): sites. To go below one hundred (100) feet, fails below the design criteria for the quality which we are required to provide. There are again certain tollerances in this criteria, however, it would not be in the community's best interest or ours to construct a single cell site within the community that doesn't serve the community at really what is known through the industry as an acceptable level of signal strength. Further, again we could easily argue that we could lower the height of any towers, that is possible, I have been asked that many other times, can you lower that tower, the answer is yes. But, to provide the same quality of service as mandated by the FCC, it would require additionai towers, additional burden to the community to have to go through a similar hearing as this. The issue is, I th{nk, very straight forward for us, from the engineering perspective. At this particular height, at this particular location to provide a quality signal to the location, to the target areas here, we do need to be a hundred feet. It takes more to build a higher tower, it costs more. We are very, very much sensitive. At Celluar One are part of the communities all throughout the areas we serve. We're sensitive to these issues, we are sensitive to the community. We understand that the lower the better. That is in our best interest, the lower the better. And this is thoroughly been looked at. I can assure of that. It is a very very good question. MEMBER VILLA: Isn't this designed although for a hundred foot pole to standard kind of design? MR. FOX: I don't know what you mean by that, a standard kind .... MEMBER VILLA: I mean a hundred foot is one of your standards that you MR. FOX: Not necessarily, not necessarily. You know, even numbers tend to work out, it could have been .... Again, we are tatk~ng about degrees of differences. It could have easily have been a hundred and five feet or ninety-~ne feet, but, again, I am not exactly sure how many different iterations were looked at. But, again, as shown by the Attachment "A,, it does meet the criterion. If we could go lower and trust me in when I say that we would, because of the cost and the time, and all of the other issues, but from the engineering prospective, again, one of the objectives is to cover the main roads, the community in which we serve and the hundred feet level meets that objective and that criterion. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you sir. MR. FOX: Thank you very much. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Is there anybody else, I know you want to question back there sir,' I will be right with you. Oh, you don't want to ask a question, oh okay. Is there anybody else who would like to ask a PAGE 40 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER (con't.): speak in favbr of this application? Anybody like to speak against this application? Any further questions from any Board members? Hearing no further questions, I will make a motion closing the hearing and reserving decision until later on both hearings. MEMBER GRIGONIS: Second. All in favor - AYE. End of hearing. Lorraine A. Miller (Transcribed by tapes recorded 7/29/92) PAGE 41' PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 APPEAL ~ 4120 Applicant(s): William Goodale and Mattituck Auto Center, Inc. Location of Property: 7655 NYS Route 25, Laurel, NY County Tax Map No.: 1000-122-6-30.1 (Previously 30) The Chairman opened the Hearing at 9:42 p.m. and read the Legal Notice and Application for the record. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I guess we will address that issue first. have a ' copy of the Suffolk County Tax Map indicating this and surrounding properties in the area. And I will take the site plan out of the other application to address this particular issue. And I assume that Mr. Strang is dealing with this? I am sorry Kevin, go ahead. I MR. KEVIN MeLAUGHLIN: First of aH my name is Kevin MeLaughlin and I am here on behalf of the applicant. I would like to hand off a letter with some exhibits, it's in response to the letter that was delivered to this Board from the Planning Board and have enough copies for everyone. I apologize it's getting here at ti~s late date, but I didn't get acopy of the Planning Board letter until a couple of days ago. Part of what that letter is goes to the area variance part of it goes to the Special Exception. Basically, what we have here is, what we hope to use the property for is a new car sales and in conjunction with that used car sales on the lot. And the Zoning Code requires a twenty-five (25) foot vegetative buffer zone in the front yard area. The problem with that for us is if you require us to put that twenty-five (25) foot vegetative buffer in, we cannot park any ears along the front of the building. If we cannot park any cars along the front of the building, I submit to you that we are not going to sell any cars whatsoever. Mr. Goodale here, he will talk to the Board about his experience in the car sale business and in particularly his experience on this lot when there was a time when his ears were back away from being put out front, where nobody could see them. We're here before you today, your relief valve, we are looking for some relief. We have gone subsequent to the last time we were here, we had gone to the Planning Board and discussed with them the possibility of some modification of this twenty-five (25) foot buffer area. Exhibit "2" of my letter to you, the third page of Exhibit "2" contains a sketch that shows some saw-toothed parking, four parking spots in the front of the building. And the two pages before that on Exhibit "2" are the cover letter from the Planning Board to me and this is a submittal from them to me indicating initially what they wanted to see. In response to that, we sent them Exhibit "3", which is our sketch of the property and the parking we were hoping to be able to have in the - buffer area in front. In response to Exhibit "3", we got Exhibit "4" back and the third page of that contains their final decision as to what the property should look like, which is a full twenty-five (25) foot buffer. And in fact, what they indicated to us at a sit down work PAGE 42 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. McLAUGHLIN (con't.):session was, they in fact had never sent us Exhibit "2" or' never had authorized that to have been sent. If you look at Exhibit "2", it provides less than the setback that we provide in Exhibit "3". It does provide for less total number of parking spaces but even with the saw-toothed configuration, even at its widest point, we are talking of perhaps five (5) feet setback from the property line. Our Exhibit "3" provides for five (5) foot vegetative buffer within our property line, but in addition to that and Mr. Strang will be talking about that in more detail. Between our property line and where the extension of the curb from the Suffolk Times building next door, there is an additiorml thirteen (13) feet of space there between our property line and where the street would actually be. So under that scenario, we would be talking about cars being no closer than eighteen (18) feet to the road. We had numerous discussions with the Planning Board about incorporating that all into the configuration. And, again, what we finally got from them was the final Exhibit on my letter to you, which indicates in addition to that thirteen (13) feet, they wanted another twenty-five (25) feet. Which would put our cars basically forty (40) feet, at best would put our cars forty (40) feet off the road and I believe Mr. Strang will indicate to this Board that effectively it would · remove any possibility of parking cars in front of the building. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Could you explain something to me please? measured yesterday morning at 6:30 a.m. From inside of the sidewalk to the place, to the line, the beginning so to speak of the existing two story building, where is the property line, where does the property start so to speak.. MR. McLAUGHLIN: Maybe if I show you .... CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER:..in reference to the sidewalk and its proximity. I started with the telephone pole on the Suffolk Times building, which is approximately just inside of the... MR. McLAUGHLIN: Okay, from the front of the building to the property line is fifty-three point five (53.5) feet. From the property line to the inside edge of the sidewalk is an additional five (5) feet, so we are talking fifty-eight point five (58.5) feet. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: That is where I got the fifty-nine (59) feet. Okay, so we are talking fifty-three feet five inches (53' 5"). MR. MeLAUGHLIN: To the property line. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: To the property line, okay. What bearing the curb cut really have on the aspect of your presentation. The curb cut really to us is meaningless. I mean, I am not taking it away from you, I am just asking you what does it have to do with this... The buffer area is going to start Within the property Line area, right. does PAGE 4 3 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. Me LAUGHLIN: That is what the Code says. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Yes, I mean that is what you're here for, okay, because you are saying that from that five (§) feet inside of the sidewalk, you now have to go another twenty-five (25) feet, which is a total of thirty (30) feet from the sidewalk. MR. Mc LAUGHLIN: Thirty feet from the inside of the sidewalk. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Right. MR, MeLAUGHLIN: Yes. What I am saying to you is that will put us back so far into the property taking into account the existing building, that we cannot park ears in front area. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Okay. MR. McLAUGHLIN:If we cannot park ears in the front area of a car lot, I submit to you, we are not going to sell any cars. Nor could we ever justify the expenditure for the improvements to the property. So what we are looking for is some relief. One of the suggestions that we had made to the Planning Board is how about if we put in the vegetative area and incorporate within that, and I'm not sure and Garrett will get into the details of that, maybe a little bit greater, some kind, apparently there is some kind of pads that you can put in the ground to which grass will grow, but are substantial enough that you can park cars on. And if we can park cars on, but still have a vegetative area. And~ again that idea was totally rebuffed by the Planning Board. It was no--twenty-five (25) foot vegetative area, no cars allowed. It's just that I don't think that when the twenty-five (25) foot buffer area was put in the Code, this type of a business was comtemplated, Because if it was, you've effectively eliminated this kind of business from l~eing finaneiaily possible. So What I submit that we have here is a very strong case of practical difficulties. If we don't get some relief from the requirement of the twenty-five (25) foot vegetative buffer, we're going to be parking our cars so far off the road and out of sight that we are not going to be able to operate the business. It is going to cause severe economic hardship to my client, which he will talk more fully about, and I think that it is a classic example of practical difficulties in applying this particular standard to this particular use. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Okay, what is Garrett going to do for us. He has something? MR. MCLAUGHLIN:Yes, Garrett? MR. GARRETT STRANG: Good evening. Just, many of the points Kevin already brought up with respect to what when on there, but a brief history of what transpired here. Our ~ultiai submission to the Planning Board, because the the nature of this particular business had PAGE 44 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. STRANG (con't.): the vehicle display shown on the property line. My experience with the Planning Board in the past and my observations of what goes on, even as recently as from the last few weeks, is that the Planning Board apparently makes a judgment in an application that comes before them as to whether this twenty-five (25) foot buffer is in fact needed or required or can be reduced or eliminated. So our original application to them made no provision for the twenty-five (25) foot buffer. Trying to work, have them work with us to say what we need to display the vehicles as close to the road as possible for it to be a practical and viable business. When they came back with their sketch, which Kevin referred to as Page 3, your Exhibit "2", the saw-toothed configuration, that stemmed from a conversatioa in a meeting that was had with the pLa~nlng Dept. And an indication that they would like to see some kind of green area out in front. There were certain impracticalities in that saw-toothed configuration in that the cars had to be parked diagonally and it was a Hmit as to the number of cars that could be parked, as shown there, I thluk there is only four (4). And, again because of the nature of this business, it is imperative that as many cars as practical be on display. Our original scheme had called for eight (8) cars across the front, parked out at the property line. As Kevin noted, the greatest expanse of parking, of green that was afforded in that particular scheme that the Planning Board presentated to us was five (5) feet. And then reduced as the apex of the parking stall projected out towards the property l~ne. I countered to the Board and said we would like to be able park the cars head in or head out, as you will, to be able to maximize the number of cars displayed, and we'll give you the five (5) feet, we'll give you the five (5) feet ali the way straight across so that now you'll now pick ap a total area five ($) foot buffer. And in addition to that, we'll give up one of the spaces, reduce our parking to eight (8) to give you some additional green on either side. When I left the meeting at that point and time with that presentation, they said well, put it on paper and we will take a look at it, which we did. It sort of caught all of us, I ~bi~k, by surprise, after that submission was made. When he came back and said we want twenty-five (25) feet now, it's like whoa. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Can I ask a question Garrett? MR. STRANG: (nod yes.) CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: There is no contest over where the curb cut has to go for the ingress and egress into this thing, is that correct? MR. STRANG: As far as curb cut, you are talking about just the thirty (30) foot, what twenty-five (25) foot wide opening, coming in out of the site. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Where that's going to go? MR. STRANG:That the only thing that is locating that is the practically PAGE 45 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. STRANG (con't.): of the site in that there is a semblance of a curb cut there existing, although it doesn't meet State DOT requirements presently. And we do have a driveway that does service the rear of the lot on that side of the property. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: My question is looking at this original site plan that you did, the curb cut is going to be cut approximately ten (10) feet from the westerly property line? Is that approximately, the Planning Board is somewhat in concert with that. MR. STRANG: With the ten (10) foot offset here. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: With the offset there, okay. MR. STRANG: That's I think Exception aspect between feet off the property line. is one of the requirements of the Special curb cut entrance to the site be ten (10) CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: The reason why I am asking, we now distance and this particular area, be it either green or cement or whatever, which I would refer to as a return. have a MR. STRANG: It is proposed to be green. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: That is a width of what? Four feet? MR. STRANG: Well, no, under the new scheme. This was the original scheme, as you see the parking is all the way out on the property line. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: No, I am just trying to get a distance from the inside of that to this particular area here and I am seeing seventy-seven (77) feet. Is that correct? MR. STRANG: Well, that was under this scheme, since been reduced. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: It has been reduced because now we have eight (8) feet here? MR. STRANG: We have eight (8) feet there and we have eight (8) feet here instead of the four (4) and four (4) that previously existed. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: And we have twenty-five (25) feet here? MR. STRANG: No. In our scheme or our proposal, we are showing five (5) feet... CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: No, I understand. I know you are showing (5) feet, but I mean the Planning Board. wants eight (8) and eight (8) subtracted from seventy-seven (77). five PAGE 46 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. STRANG: No, that was our proposal. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: This is your proposal. MR. STRANG: The Planning Board wants, the Planning Board is that from the property line for a distance of twenty-five (25) into the property... asking CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: The green buffer. I just want to know distance... What do we have of net display area, notwithstanding the twenty-five (25) feet or the five (5) feet, okay. MR. STRANG: So, we have seventy-seven (77) less eight (8), sixty-nine (69). CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Okay, we have sixty-nine (69) feet, which Linda just mentioned, right? MR. STRANG: Which is seven (7) parking spaces, seven (7) display spaces. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: So the basic question is here, how close to five (5) feet inside of the sidewalk is this Board willing to give this applicant, is basically the issue at this time? MR. STRANG: Or basically, essentially we're looking for, right, for that sixty-nine feet of space, we are looking to have five (5) foot greenbelt between the property line and the beginning ef the display as opposed to a twenty-five foot greenbelt as asked for by the Planrd~g Board. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Okay, now in the discussions with the Planning Board has there been any discussion other than the greenbelt being grass. Is it going to remain as grass or is it going to be required to have pine or some sort of... MR. STRANG: They haven't even addressed that issue. They said they wanted a planting area. They have not said whether grass is fine, which it exists on the neighboring lots, which they made reference to, or if they wanted it landscaped. So, part of the area at the Suffolk Times is landscaped, I think on the shopping center immediately to west is just lawn. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Okay, we have Rich here. I purposely did measure the length of the average car that he has down there. We have five (5) feet, just for the beck of it, the normal new car today is between sixteen and eighteen (16 and 18) feet, right? the not MR. STRANG: I would say yes. PAGE 47 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: The older cars were maybe as much as twenty feet, alright. We have fifty-three and a half (53 1/2) feet to the building. Assuming that the parking was done either perpendicular or diagonal, which ever way, who the beck cares which way it is, we have got five (5) feet to the property line, we got another five (5) feet that is ten (10) feet, we then have eighteen (18) feet after that, that is twenty-eight (28) feet, right? (20) MEMBER VILLA: What is the second five? CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I got five, there are asking for five feet on a buffer, okay .. MEMBER VILLA:On the front property line? CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Yes. MEMBER VILLA: And then the cars. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: So that is twenty-eight (28) feet, is that correct? We need five, five and eighteen. BOARD MEMBERS: What is the second five (5)? CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: The five (5) feet they are asking for. Five feet [ am talking about from the inside. Okay, we will just refer to it from the property line. MR. McLAUGHLIN: You are adding to the sidewalk, property. that is not even the BOARD SECRETARY: Let's just do the property--five and eighteen is twenty-three. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: So, we have twenty-three (23) feet. So, we have approximately thirty (30) feet from the rear of the cars to the building. MR. STRANG: Twenty-nine and a half... CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright, .is that correct? MEMBER VILLA: Thirty and a half feet. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thirty and a half feet. Now going to the worst possible scenario of the Planning Board's okay. We have twenty-five (25) plus eighteen (18), so that is forty-three (43) right? So you have ten (10) feet to the building which personally I think is absolutely ridiculous because you can't get a fire vehicle in ten (10) feet, you need fifteen to... PAGE 48 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. STRANG: You can't move the vehicle, you' can't back an eighteen (18) foot or a sixteen (16) foot vehicle out in ten (10) feet of space. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: The problem we have is here, we should have taken the Special Exception aspect of this first, because now I don't know what to do with this hearing, because we have other discussions to do ensuing concerning this Special Exception aspect. So now that I understand this situation, you know, let's, we will do the best we can. We will probably have to come down and remeasure. MR. STRANG: The only alternative, one of the with the discussion of the Planning Board with respect as to how the area to be treated as green "green area". As Kevin indicated I did make a suggestion ~to Board that we use a paving material that is available today. It is basically a honeycomb block that can be laid out which gives you a good surface on which to drive. It is traffic bearing, but also allows grass to grow through to the extent that you don't see this honeycomb product. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Neat. MR. STRANG: So you can drive on it so you don't wind up with field basically from just driving on a lawn area, yet you still have the effect of a greenbelt, but they were unreceptive to that solution. a mud CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: to cut you off, and you what Mullen Motors has... And you discussed discussed... I am sorry, I didn't mean with them concrete-pads similar to MR. STRANG: That was suggested, similar to what Mullen has . just putting in concrete pads.. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Don't bring Mullen in it please. (tape turned over) CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: The site plan refers to five (5) spaces display. Where there are actually more than that, there are one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. MR. STRANG: There is eight (8) in this scheme. This particular site plan that you are looking at here is outdated. for CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Okay, do you have anything new that you can give US. BOARD SECRETARY: This is all we have right now. MR. STRANG: This is basically superimposed on this. This is the last presentation that was made to the Planning Board, which shows seven (7) spaces. But, let me go back, if I may for a moment to clarify this. PAGE 49 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. STRANG (con't.):This is a parking calculation schedule. In other words according to the code, it says for every vehicle, every six hundred (600) square feet of display, you need one paridng space for customers use. Alright, so we were going to have based on the number of, if you take the square footage in this case o~ in this case the square footage of spaces being used for display divided by the six hundred (600), it equated to five (5) parking spaces for customers, which are the spaces that are provided for us here. BOARD SECRETARY: But if you have fourteen (14) cars for display, how many cars would you need for parking for customers? MR. STRANG: Well, if you had fourteen (14) cars for display, which we don't, but... BOARD SECRETARY: Well, you do today, today you have how many there on display? How many are in there, about twenty (20)? Eighteen (18)? down MR. STRANG: I don't know, I can't answer that. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Well we will ask Rich. How many cars do you have on display now? MR. RICHARD GOODALE: Well, tonight there is only maybe six or seven (6 or 7). I try and keep it around fourteen (14). BOARD SECRETARY: Yesterday there looked like there was about sixteen or seventeen (16 or 17) on it. MR. R. GOODALE: I have a truckload going out in the morning. MR. McLAUGHLIN: Those are cars that he takes in trade and then he ships them up the Island for auction. They really don't stand... MR. STRANG: For disposal. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: In other words .... MR. STRANG: They are not being marketed, they are being disposed of. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: If the ear sits for too long, you will trade it off for another car? MR. R. GOODALE: No, absolutely not. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: What would you do? MR. R. GOODALE: These are trades that I wouldn't ask anybody for money for, I would take... PAGE 50 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I see. Oh, those are trades you took in. MR. STRANG: Trade-ins. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Oh, I'm sorry, okay. MR. STRANG: They are not for sale, basically, they are in transition. He took them in as a trade-in for someone who bought a vehicle and now he is going to truck them off site to be disposed of in another facility. MEMBER VILLA: It is still lot coverage. MR. STRANG: Yes, it is a transient situation, ,it is not a permanent situation. But, if that became an issue obviously we would have to do the calculation of how many vehicles are on display divided by the number of square feet and... CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Well, there is also the possibility of requiring every vehicle in transition to be placed in a place other than in a display area. I mean that is what I would do. BOARD SECRETARY: Or a parking area. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Or a parking area and that could be kept in back of the soon to be, or maybe to be accessory structure. MR. STRANG: Well that certainly a possibility. I don't see that as a difficulty. But, again, I just wanted to clarify what this was. It wasn't five (5) display spaces, it was five (5) spaces for customers relative to the display that we have. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Okay, and we are dealing with that on the basis of fact that now have a curb cut and which protrudes further out into the road being the main State highway, it's quite the possibility that people may not park in front of this site, we hope that they don't park in front of the site. They would enter the premises to view the vehicles alld so on and so forth. Similar to what people do at the Suffolk Times, similar to what people do... MR. STRANG: Or at any other retail business. They would pull in and park in the designated parking area and then view the merchandise. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Okay, great. Yes, Rich? MR. R. GOODALE: I wanted you to know that over the last year or so, I have been tracking where the business comes from. About fifty percent' (50%) in the summer does come from people driving passed. About twenty-five percent (25%) people that I know and about another PAGE 51 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. GOODALE (con't.):twenty-five percent (25%) from advertising. If I had that buffer zone in the back, I would park those cars basically on the side of the structure there. You can't really see them. I have had people that live in this Town that have driven passed this place for six months and finally say to me that I didn't even know you were here. I mean, I think it is pretty visible but people don't. If the cars have to be that far back, I would lose half of my business. And the improvements that are going to need to be done, I even have a brother-in-law in the business for the curbs and whatnot, somewhere in the area of $30,000.00 (thirty thousand dollars). Obviously, I will have to sell a pretty serious quantity of cars to come up with that kind of money to do the improvements. And I want you to know that I do want to get this done. Once those curbs are in the front yard it is going to protect me an awful lot. I'm waiting for the day that somebody is going to whack a whole lot of ears and put me in a rather bad position. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I just want to refer to Rich here. As we had a pro and con situation with McDonald's, which was across the street, I happen to have in my boat in a private marina, one of which only has maybe only four or five (4 or 5) slips. Your car agency has now been reduced to shouting across the creek at me. This is just the abuse that people take being on this Board. And the guy yells over to me and he says, just right on the record I don't care whoever reads this okay, "how come that guy is allowed to park those cars right against the road like that?", meaning against the sidewalk. I said sir, it is a nature of an application that is before us on Thursday night, and if you have a .. Wednesday night, if you have a particular problem with it, please come down. "I don't have time Wednesday night". Now this guy is 85 (eighty-five) feet away from me on the stern of my boat yelling across the creek in residential houses. This is the kind of stuff, so it is a pro and con situation. There are some people who are in favor of your application, there are some people definitely not. And that's not just one example I am telling you, you know we do get calls back and forth, Excuse me, go ahead. MEMBER DOYEN: What is the rationale for a 25 foot (twenty-five foot) inlay? And why did anybody come up with that? CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I have no idea, that's got to be in that grand planning... MEMBER DOYEN: I'm just curious of that reasoning that was used to come up with that figure. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Why don't we ask the engineer here thai deals with.. MR. STRANG: I don't know what the~e reason was. I think that there was some idea that they felt this was a good idea to have on the books, but it has alway been at the descretion Of the Planning Board whether it PAGE 52 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. STRANG (con't.): enforced or not. MEMBER DOYEN: What purpose does it serve? information or incidental intelligence, why... I mean just for general MR. STRANG: This 25 (twenty-five) foot buffer? MEMBER DOYEN: Just for aesthetic reasons or what? MR. STRANG: Yea, I believe that they were looking to try and create a little bit more of a green area along the side of the road. It's probably, I guess a~ one point in time they were forcing buildings to put there parking behind the 'building, forcing developers to put the parking behind the building. As you see immediately near the site that we have across the street at Brisotti & Silkworth, the building is backwards. So, as we drive down the Main Road, we look at the back side of the building. I don't necessarily tl~ink that's good planning or at all a very aesthetic situation. But that is what the Planning Board in their infinite wisdom decided that they wanted to do. They wanted the building slip reversed and the parking to be inboard on the property, instead of outboard. I guess this 25 (twenty-five) foot buffer is again something along this line. MEMBER VILLA: Many of the Towns require not only the setbacks, but they require berms so you don't see it at all. MR. STRANG: On new sites, if we were starting with a clean slate and we had no development whatsoever and said okay from now on, this is what we are going to ask every .new site that is developed to allow for this, to have this. It is understandable, because if you are building a new building, you have the flexibility to put ~it anywhere on the site. But when you got existing sites, as we have here, and in many others throughout the Town, and then you try to say we want you to meet this criteria, in many cases it's impractical or impossible to do. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: That clears up that issue. MR. MeLAUGHLIN: I would like to make a couple more comments. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Sure. Thank you Garrett. Thank you Rich. MR. McLAUGHLIN: Just to give you an indication that this 25 (twenty-five) foot buffer is not always imposed, if you go by the Handy Pantry, which is, just goi~e through like a leaf site plan approval, you will find that the certainly don't have a (25) twenty-five foot buffer area there, It starts out maybe 5 (five) feet in one area and it does widen out. Last month, the Planning Board waived site plan requirements on G & S Water Purification. They totally waived any and all, they are adding on to their building there, I believe they are enclosing what had been an overhang and a porch. The Planning Board a month ago waived PAGE 53 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. McLAUGHLIN (con't.): anything. Waived all' site plan requirements there including the 25 (twenty-five) foot buffer, if indeed they might have wanted to impose thai on them. So, it is not something that has been cast in stone and has been required of everyone. It seems to some degree had .been picking and choosing what applications. Particularly as to this site, not only does the use militate strongly against setting the cars back that far, but if you look at the area in general, there are some notable exceptions which the Planning Board has pointed out in their letter. But those notable exceptions, none of them are talking about a kind of business where you display your goods openly. You are talking about the Times building, you're talking about the insurance building, you're talking about a couple of proposed buildings that have not nor 'quite probably never could be built out there. So, you are talking about whole different uses and where the application of a 25 (twenty-five) foot vegetative area is really to a large degree insignificant to their operation of their business. What I just want the Board to get is the very strong feeling that it is not at all insignificant to our business, it is of the essence. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Bearing in mind that we don't know where we are going with this hearing, we will go on and incorporate.. MEMBER DINIZIO: May I say something? CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Oh yea, I'm sorry. MEMBER DINIZIO: I am having a hard time following the sequence events here. And I have been sitting here very patiently. I'm lookJug here at Exhibit, the one with the saw-toothed parking. Now, if I got this right, the Planning Board submitted this back to you after you submitted to them the same site plan that we saw before. Seven (7) spaces, parked nose in to the road. of MR. McLAUGHLIN: I think, actually, there was 8 (eight) spaces parked nose in, in our first plan. MEMBER DINIZIO: So, that is here, thai is the last one, no no that is the second one in a row~ here. MR. MeLAUGHLIN: No, that is our newest one, it only shows 7 (seven) spaces there. Our original one showed 8 (eight). MEMBER DINIZIO: What is this one here? Is this the one we saw with Steve.. MR. MeLAUGHLIN: No, this is our present proposal. This is our present proposal~ this one right here. MEMBER DINIZIO: Okay, so there is one before this. PAGE 54 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. McLAUGHLIN: There was one before any of the Exhibits that are'in here. MEMBER DINIZIO: No, there are two before this. There is this one... MR. McLAUGHLIN: Right, this one was generated by the Planning Board. That was the first one, that was the initial one. This is the second MEMBER DINIZIO: You submitted that one, the Planning Board sent this. MR. STRANG: They came back with this, we said that you got 5 (five) feet here, but you only have a foot here, so let's make it clean and go straight across and take five (5) feet all the way across. MEMBER DINIZIO: So, what was there objection to their own... MR. STRANG: They claim they never got it. MEMBER DINIZIO: What if you said yes to this. MR. STRANG: Well, I guess after we spent the time to develop site plan and everything else and went in, they would have said we don't like this change it, which they have done in the past. MR. McLAUGHLIN: They disclaimed any knowledge of that being sent out. MEMBER DINIZIO: Now, who drew this? MR. STRANG: Someone in the Plannlug Dept. One of their staff members. MEMBER DINIZIO: All I know is what I see and hear. MR. STRANG: It was submitted with a covering letter that was addressed... MEMBER DINIZIO: That is this one here. MR. McLAUGHLIN: The covering letter of the two pages... MEMBER DINIZIO: This is the sidewalk here right? This is five (5) feet okay. I'm sure this is MR. McLAUGHLIN: This is five, this is four and this is five outside again, which shows... MR. STRANG: This is an overlay so it is pretty muddy at this point. A lot of things got shifted around, so you. are looking at ghost images coming through the overlay. PAGE 55 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. McLAUGHLIN: Actually, it is four, the five more feet before you get to the property. Garrett's got more copies. sidewalk is four, there is Why don't you take that, MEMBER DINIZIO: This ought to be interesting. (lot of people talking, hard to understand) MEMBER DINIZIO: Alright, so anyway so that is the sequence of events. You went to them with our plan, the one we saw, they gave you something back. You said no, how about this, which is the seven (7) spaces. They said no, how about 25 (twenty-five) feet. MR. STRANG: They're showing, this was their map with twenty feet here~ with the beginnings of the parking spaces and five (5) feet, because they want from the base of the building for again a green space. BOARD SECRETARY: Are we taking a break here. MEMBER DINIZIO: I guess we are adjourned here. (short break) MR. STRANG: ...this is the property line, you know we want you extend this out to this point, the twenty (20) feet here and put the parking in diagonally and we wound up with about a five (5) foot max at the deepest point. Now, we are back to well this scheme really doesn't work for us, because we are only getting four (4) cars, it is difficult to maneuver them. Not only that with less than five (5) feet of looking for more green, let us take this five (5) foot point come across with a straight, let us park the cars head in and we'll ultimately pick up more green as far as the front. MEMBER DINIZIO: And you will get more space. MR. STRANG: And we will get more spaces and the flexibility to ears head in or diagonally or facing each other or whatever. Part of the marketing strategy of selling cars is to keep moving them around and keep changing their positions. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Are we all set now? BOARD SECRETARY: Garrett, you have more of these right? Do you an original 'plan of this? Because we are going to need one to scale, a full map for County Planning as well as for the permanent file. MR. STRANG: -I have extra copies of that overlay, I don't know if that is sufficient or not. (20) to put have PAGE 56 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 BOARD SECRETARY: Do you have this though on a regular ... CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Was it on a mylar? MR. STRANG: No. It's just basically what it was, was a tissue which was sketched and it was overiaid on the original and then it was photocopied. BOARD SECRETARY: It's the same scale though as that. MR. STRANG: It is identical scale to this. And I do have extra copies. I can make extra xerox copies of that. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright, we will hold this hearing in abeyance, will not close it and we will go on to the last hearing of the evening, since the last two have been postponed and that is of course, the Special Exception portion. APPEAL #4119SE Applicant(s): Richard Goodale and Mattituck Auto Center, Inc. Location of Property: 7655 Main Road, Mattituck, NY County Tax Map No: 1000-122-6-30.1 (previously 30). The Chairman opened the hearing at 10:20 p.m. and read the Legal Notice and application for the record. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Is there something that you would like to present to us Mr. McLaughlin concerning the Special Exception aspect. I am still trying to find the file, we are getting there. MR. McLAUGHLIN: Basically this is an application under Section 100-101(B)12 of the Code, which sets forth the criteria, And in order to fulfill the requirements for. a Special. Exception for new vehicle sales and accessory use vehicle sales. I submit to the Board that we have complied with all of those requirements and/or the particular requirements doesn't apply to our situation. If we go through it item by item, the first one talks about entrance/exit driveways and their location. I believe if you look at our map, we comply with what the section asks for. The second section--the sale of used vehicles or boats should be conducted as an accessory to the sale of new vehicles or boats. I have submitted to this Board a .new car dealership agreement. It is my client's intention to vigorously, market and sell these new cars. I know the Planning Board brought up some concept that they have that somehow it is a dollars and cents thing as to what is the primary use and. what is the accessory use. I find that odd. I don't see anything in the Code that would reflect that the primary use of a property is measured in any sort of volume of dollars and cents. Mr. Goodale is here, he will tell you that he is going to be marketing under the dealership franchise agreement that we have submitted to this Board PAGE 57 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. McLAUGHLIN (con't.): and will sell as many new vehicles as the public will purchase. How many of that is going to be, no one can prejudge. Hopefully, it will be many. As with any new ear dealer, he will be selling used ears in conjunction with that. How mueh of his sales will be one or the other, no one knows at this point. But I submit to you that if you look at the books and records of most automobile dealerships, you will find three (S) major categories at which they make their money--sale of new cars, sale of used ears and their service. And, I believe that you would probably find that most dealerships make more than half of their money on the combination of the sale of used ears and their service and less than half of their money on the sale of new cars, especially in this economic climate. So, if that was true, things, the situation for instance with Lucas Ford wouldn't comply with what the Planning Board reads the Code to entail. So, again, what we are planning to do there is the sale of new vehicles and also the sale of used vehicles as an adjunct to that. The next section "C" talkes about vehicle lifts or pits, dismantling automobiles, we are not going to do that kind of work, And we'll submit to you that .we are not going to do. We are not going to service. This is not a service type of dealership, except possibility for services on the new or used ears. But, we are not talking about lifts and pits and that type of thing. All service would be eonduetad within a building. Again, we're really not a service type of an organization there. We are in the sales business, not the service business. There is not going to be storage of gasoline or flammable oils in bulk, there is not going to be any gasoline or fuel pumps on the area. We ~rill comply with the outdoor Hghting requirements. And the final criteria under this subdivision is that it shall not be within three hundred (300) feet of schools and churches, which it is not. So, I will submit to the Board that we have satisfied all of the criteria for this Special Exception use in this particular zoning district and that the Board should look favorably on our application. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: [ have one major problem. The Town Attorney and the Assistant Town Attorney have reviewed this dealership agreement and they see serious flaws wilh~n that agreement. I have only a few of those opinions. They have not been reduced to writing. The Town Attorney did walk in tonight with shorts on and he did try and get a hold of me, but I, of course, was up here. And I did have a discussion with him this morning. However, at the time he had not review the agreement. I think the best thing to do at the particular time is to recess this and you discuss it with him. Hopefully, he will reduce it to writing and we will take care of this whole problem. Hopefully it will be taken care of and we will then be able to complete this hearing process--both the buffer issue and this issue with the agreement and then we will be able to make a decision. And hopefully everything will be favorable. I can't guarantee you, but that is basieally the situation. That's my opinion on the whole situation at this point. MR. MeLAUGHLIN: I have no problem with meeting with the attorneys or PAGE 58 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 MR. McLAUGHLIN (con,t.): assistant Town Attorney and going over that agreement. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright, so let us do that. Hearing that mind, I will make a motion recessing this to the next regularly scheduled meeting. in MEMBER DINIZIO: Can I say somethiug? CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Yes. MEMBER DINIZIO: Thanks. was all going on.. I talked to Harvey in the office when this CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Let me just say this, when you reduce this hear the whole thing, okay, I don't want it fragmented so that is the reason why I didn't want. I don't want to 'get into... let~s MEMBER DINIZIO: I would want them to know basically, Harvey did ask me questions about the validity of the dealership. And it may behoove you to when you speak to him to have that available. What is this company? You know, some idea that this company exists, some idea that perhaps brochures or whatever to prove that this is a valid company that is making ears for sale. I just, he wanted me to relay that to you. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: At this state, at this ~time at some 10:30 p.m. have no intentions of going through the el~tire gammit of the questioning and, which I didn't get from him okay. BOARD SECRETARY: I had conversations with Matt also, but... CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I didn't have a conversation with Matt row[owed the agreement or Board assistant, secretary did have discussion with the assistant Town Attorney. Again, nothing has been reduced.to writing. he MR. MeLAUGHLIN: That's fine. I would prefer to respond... CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I want. to get the whole thing, the whole nine yards right out and let us find out what the story is. BOARD SECRETARY: Both attorneys should talk. CHAIRMAN 'GOEHRINGER: Both attorneys, you have to talk to beth of them because you may not get it from just one. Because they both reviewed the file. And if we weren't on tape I would tell you a little joke about the one attorney in Town.. MR. McLAUGHLIN: I will try and get a hold of them tomorrow and get the process rolling. PAGE 59 PUBLIC HEARING SOUTHOLD ZBA 7/29/92 CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: And this has nothing to do with this hearing, that joke. BOARD SECRETARY: I forgot it, will you tell it? CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Yes, I will tell it after you turn off the tape. MR. McLAUGHLIN: Well, I'm done. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Hearing no further comment, I will recess the hearing and the Special Exception--the buffer issue and the, which is the first hearing and the Special Exception to the next regularly scheduled meeting. AH in favor - AYE. End of hearing. Lorraine A. Miller (transcribed by tapes recorded 7/29/92)