HomeMy WebLinkAboutZBA-03/23/1998 HEARING Transcript of Public Hearing
March 23, 1998
Southold Town Board of Appeals
(Prepared by Lucy Farrell from Tape Recordings)
6:51 P.M. - Appl. No. 4550 - RUTH MILLER
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: This is a request for a Variance based
upon the Building Inspector's January 26, 1998 Notice of Disapproval
to locate a proposed dwelling addition with reduction in total side
yards. Location of Property: 6400 Indian Neck Road, Peconic;
County Parcel 1000-86-7-2.2. I have a copy of a survey from
Peconic Surveyors, most recent date is March 6, 1998, indicating a
20 x 29.2" addition to the easterly side of the dwelling, this is the
dwelling not the cottage, it's .dwelling on the water and a copy of
the Suffolk County Tax Map indicating this and surrounding
properties in the area. Mr. Stoutenburgh are you representing?
Would you like to stand up to the mike and we'll ask you some
pointed questions. How are you tonight?
MR. STOUTENBURGH: Thank you, good.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: What would you like to tell us?
MR. STOUTENBURGH: I'm here to answer any questions that may
come up. The survey got a little dizzy because we also at the same
time were requesting letters of non jurisdiction for approval from
the Trustees just so that you people knew when it came before you,
that they had no problems with the work that we were planning.
The addition I'm sure you noticed when you were down there,
duplicates the original studio and it's sought of restricted because
at was studio space. The previous transition from studio to
residence was done in keeping the open studio with the north lights
keeping it the way we did and the people asked I believe, 75-80
years, one of the original structures in the artist colony down
'there. Mr. Wiles is probably the best known artist from that colony
,11
land that was his studio. Mrs. Ewald who had done the conversion
p ' her husband lived there until she passed away, and her daughter
W
s planning on using it as a year round vacation home and they've
� t a family and there's two small rooms downstairs.
looking to add on to the structure that separates the duplicating and
Piige 2 - Hearing Transcripts -
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
its architectural integrity and not alter the studio feeling that it
originally had.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Has there been any movement of any of
the -, we'll refer to . it as sloping area down to the first bulkhead
to your knowledge?
MR. STOUTENBURGH: Frankly, I'm aware of it all. I should only
get people into the basement, if no cracks or settling or anything in
there, and I've been pretty much through it. I think that was done
12-15 years ago. It has been stabilized with. a bulkhead as most of
the properties unfortunately have been. When these were divided
up some 100 years or so ago, unfortunately they were all unlike
todays 2 acres long, narrow lots. 100 acres by 4,000 feet or so.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: And the actual height of this proposed
addition is what?
MR. STOUTENBURGH: It's approximately, if you'll look at the site
elevation there, it's about 2-1/2 feet less than the existing studio
and I believe that puts it in at, 26 or 28 feet.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: That's what I read I thought. I just
didn't remember what the figure was exactly. Do you know what the
nature of the existing cottage is, that's in the rear?
MR. STOUTENBURGH: I just pretty much the way it has been, it's
a non heated structure with a fireplace in it, a bathroom, kitchen,
one big open room. It has a cathedral, skylight, ( ) place studio
type arrangement in the apartment.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Is there any plan on doing anything with
that, to your knowledge?
MR. STOUTENBURGH: I think just sought of maintaining it as it
is. There's no plans that I know of. We've filed nothing in any
respect. There had been another studio on the property actually
where this addition was located about 6 feet off the property line.
I don't have a historyasto why that was removed. But, I do have
the survey when they filed the permit for this originally and showed
it slightly larger than that studio to the east.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: It's my understanding also on the west
side, the stoop exceeds the 30 sq. ft. , so therefore, is part of the,
I'm sorry, is exclusive of the setback?
MR. STOUTENBURGH: It is and -
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Is not exclusive.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Is not exclusive of the setback.
MR,. STOUTENBURGH: Speaking to the inference. Well I got that
information from you people when we upgraded the survey. I spoke
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March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
to the owner and they said they had no problems with reducing that
change and hasn't in any fashion. I think it's one of these things
that somewhere down the line, it appeared and probably was missed
by the Building Department, or perhaps happened afterward. It's
not in real great shape and it's not an original, it's part of the
structure.
MEMBER TORTORA: What could you do with it?
MR. STOUTENBURGH: They'd be willing to do whatever the -
MEMBER TORTORA: To remove it, ( ) 300?
MR. STOUTENBURGH: Yes, or drop it down to that size, or a -
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: So, instead of the 8.5 or 8 feet 511, it's
really, it could be 14.9 if you stayed within the 30 sq. ft.
MR. STOUTENBURGH: Right, yes, and in fact, I think when the
surveyor went down there, it's to be the structure itself. We've
been there, it's kind of a CCA, it's nothing.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I had the distinct pleasure of meeting
both Mr. & Mrs. Miller. I was down on a, I don't know if it was a
Saturday afternoon or a Sunday afternoon, but, they had just
arrived and they were very, very nice.
MR. STOUTENBURGH: Yes, I think they're a good addition to the
neighborhood. I know her mother was ( )
stuff. worked for years doing
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Will start with Mr. Dinizio.
Mr. Dinizio
any questions of Mr. Stoutenburgh?
MEMBER DINIZIO: No, I pretty much took care of that.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Ms. Collins?
MEMBER COLLINS: The filing I think showed that you were asking
the Trustees and the DEC for statements of non jurisdiction I
guess. Where does that stand?
MR. STOUTENBURGH: The latest survey which I think I got
probably got to you too late shows all of the contour lines and both
of them had sent us those letters which if there not in your file, is
OK by both of them.
MEMBER COLLINS: Alright, you have heard from them.
MR. STOUTENBURGH: Alright, I can show you and get you fresh
copies of that. We did that ahead of time so that we already
covered that.
MEMBER COLLINS: Alright, I just wanted to check.
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March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Mrs. Tortora again.
MEMBER TORTORA: Jerry, in some of your questions, the cottages
were seasonal cottage?
MR. STOUTENBURGH: Yes, it's up on ( ) . It's not insulated, it's
to ( ) cathedral ceilings and survey. I guess it's (noisy) artist
( ) skylight and there's a fireplace.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I looked in it. I mean I just looked in
their window and it was bright. It's bright where that skylight so
you can see right in there. OK, George.
MEMBER HORNING: I'm all set.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: You're all set, OK. We'll see what
developes. We thank you very much. We hope to have a decision
for you shortly. I don't know if it will be tonight, we're a little
lengthy at the moment, but, in reference to the hearing calendar but
we'll see what we can do.
MR. STROUTENBURGH: OK, and again they're open to any
thoughts that needs to deal with -
MEMBER TORTORA: The steps.
MR. STROUTENBURGH: That west side and if -
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: The immediate thing would be, demolish
the existing, and build a stoop not to exceed, I don't care if it's
wood, whatever it's made out of, I'm sure they would probably want
wood because it would conform to the dwelling, you know, not to
exceed 30 sq. ft.
MR. STROUTENBURGH: Not a problem.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you again. Is there anybody else
would like to speak in behalf of this application? Sir, would you
state your name for the record.
MR. O'Dell: My name is Jason O'Dell. My mother's the property
owner adjacent to the Miller's property.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Which side?
MR. O'Dell: The left side. I guess the east side.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: The east side.
MR. O'Dell: Where the additional ( ) is and she asked me if I
could present this to you, this letter. She disapproves of the
building. She has a beautiful view of the bay. That there's been a
lot of construction going on over there. They've plowed a driveway
through the woods and a tennis court and ( ) homes over there.
I
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March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
The f? stands are gone, the violets are gone and we decided it
should stop. Next to my neighbors are the MIllers -
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: The tennis court is not on this property,
is that correct? It's on the property next door?
MR. O'DELL: I'm not certain.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Yes, OK.
MEMBER TORTORA: Can I ask him a question?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Sure.
MEMBER TORTORA: Your house is to the east of this?
MR. O'DELL: Yes ma'am.
MEMBER TORTORA: And how far is your house from the property
line?
MR. O'DELL: 15-20 feet.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: It's an 87 foot lot; it appears to me.
MEMBER TORTORA: So your house is about 15 or 20 feet from their
lot line to the west. OK.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Well, I assume, that if their blocking the
water view by this, that your house must setback farther than this
one does.
MR. O'DELL: Yes Sir.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Can you just give us a measurement
sometime. Give us a call in the office to tell us what the setback
is.
MR. O'DELL: OK.
CHAIRMAN GOERHINGER: Approximately. Again, from the house to
the approximate top of the bank.
MR. O'Dell: OK, I'll bring a copy of the -
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Survey, sure.
MEMBER TORTORA: That would be helpful.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: That would be great, thank you. Is
there anybody else would like to speak, pro or con on this? Seeing
no hands, Peter?
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March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
MR. STOUTENBURGH: If you could hold any decision until you see
those surveys.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Yes.
MR. STOUTENBURGH: So you can get a good idea for distances on
those and I would rescale mine so that both of them were pretty
accurate. Just so you could see the setback themselves.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: OK, so why don't we not close the
hearing then. We'll leave it open.
MR. STOUTENBURGH: Yes.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Good, very good.
MR. STOUTENBURGH: The driveway that was just put in, it was
actually the sharing of two driveways and when the tennis court
went in, and that previous piece of property to the west was sold,
there had never been a driveway on the Miller property, that was
put in.
MEMBER TORTORA: It's the Miller property that he's referring to
the tennis courts?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: No, no, it's the property next door, just
to the west. We in fact granted that tennis court, I believe. It's
in the front yard. I in fact took that next driveway out because
you had that little cut and it was rather mushy down there at the
time that I was done there. I didn't have my four wheel drive, I
just had my front wheel drive, which is OK. I decided to take the
lesser of two evils on the way out.
MR. STOUTENBURGH: It's very new. But I also get you another
copy of the survey if the scales don't match when you put the two
of them next to each other.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: OK, great. Thank you. So, I'll make a
motion recessing it to the next regular scheduled date.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Could we have the date April -
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: April 16th.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: April 16th, thank you.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Ladies and gentlemen I offer it as a
resolution.
MEMBER HORNING: Second.
Motion carried. See Minutes for Resolution.
Page 7 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
,
6:51 P.M. - Appl. No. 4549 - CAROL and ANTHONY LOS UADRO�
JR. and DONALD TUTHILL
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Variance based upon an application to
erect a corral to an existing barn, and February 13, 1998 Notice of
Disapproval which reads ". . .horses shall not be housed within forty
(40) feet of any lot line. Article III, Section 100-31C(8); and
Notice of Disapproval dated February 18, 1998, Article III, Section
100-31A2(b) , that the vacant property located in a General Business
(B) district, requires 10 acres or more for keeping horses, Article
III, Section 100-31A-2(b) . . ." (Also ref. Sections 100-101A-1 and
100-101C.) Applicants are proposing corral location, including
existing barn, for up to two horses as an accessory to their
residence of Carol and Anthony Losquadro located at 2855 Boisseau
Avenue, Southold, N.Y. ; Parcel 100-55-5-12.1 A portion of the
corral/fencing would extend onto a portion of vacant property of
Donald Tuthill, known as 3125 Boisseau Avenue, Southold,
1000-55-5-12.2. I have a survey dated, (it's cutoff, it says
November 24th,) but in any case includes the Losquadro property
and then I have survey on the Tuthill property, April 9, 1973,
which includes the other parcel and I have one letter of objection
which the court is aware of and I have a copy of the, and I think I
have one letter of, I have the agreement between Mr. Tuthill and
the Losquadros and for the lease of the property, and I have copy
of the Suffolk County Tax Map indicating this and surrounding
properties in the area. Who might be here in reference to
Losquadro? Anyone?
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: They're both here.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Oh, they're both here, great.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: That's Mr. Losquadro.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: How do you do tonight? What would you
like to tell us Mr. & Mrs. Losquadro?
MR. LOSQUADRO: Well a
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: It's a pleasure meeting you.
MR. LOSQUADRO: Nice to meet you Sir and everybody up there.
First of all, I'll start off with if you don't mind, photos.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Sure.
MR. LOSQUADRO: If you take the pictures here, you can see
exactly basically what to do.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright.
MR. LOSQUADRO: Did you receive the letter from the Horseman's
Association?
I
PS.ge 8 - Hearing Tra scripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Yes, I did. I did read it in fact, but, I
just missed it when we were going over this. I apologize.
MR. LOSQUADRO: Oh, that's quite OK.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: I have it here. (Showing letter to
the Board) .
MR. LOSQUADRO: You know basically what I would like to do? Mr.
Tuthill is going along with it. We'd like to use some of his
property. Not all of it, just some part, the rear part. All the
neighbors outside of one, that doesn't even live in it. The house is
vacant. This fellow lives in East Marion. In his letter he states,
the odor of manure. All the neighbors ( ), they want manure.
They all have gardens. They love it, OK, and he mentions about
noise. I've been around horses all my life. Horses are not noisy.
Dogs are noisy, they bark, OK. A horse doesn't bark. We have a
problem on Boisseau Avenue with noise. We have racing cars, we
have tracking trailers going through our house, motorcycles and
whatever. That's noise. That's disturbing the peace. A horse,
you don't even know a horse is around. The corral and the
property is kept nice and clean, there's no problem whatsoever.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright. Two quick questions. Your
application says, two to three horses. What is the maximum amount
that you'll have?
MR. LOSQUADRO: Possibly three, but that's it. Two or possibly
three.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright, and the manure will be retrieved
and be given to the neighbors or what -
MR. LOSQUADRO: The neighbors love to have it. I love it. If
they don't take it, it's going down to the dumps. The barn is clean,
it's immaculate and it's just a beautiful site.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: What's the approximate height of the
fence?
From the ground up?
MR. LOSQUADRO: Probably 5 feet.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: So, it's a three rail, split rail, post rail.
MR. LOSQUADRO: Three rail, post rail fence.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright, we're going to start with Mr.
Horning. Any questions, Mr. Horning?
MEMBER HORNING: Yes. What are your intentions for use with the
horses?
Mage 9 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
MR. LOSQUADRO: Well, I love the animals. I love the horses, it's
just that to keep enjoying and ride them.
MR. HORNING: I see. You're not going to have people come and
rent them out?
MEMBER LOSQUADRO: No. Just maybe people come to look at them
and I have friends that would take care of them, whatever. They're
not going to be rented out.
By no means.
MEMBER HORNING: It's a nonprofit usage?
MR. LOSQUADRO: Yes Sir. Nonprofit because it's for your own
enjoyment.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: These horses belong to you is what we're
saying?
MR. LOSQUADRO: I don't have them yet.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: You will have?
MR. LOSQUADRO: I will be, I would like to purchase some of them
though.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright. I'm sorry George, I didn't mean
to jumped in there.
MEMBER HORNING: No, I'm finished, thanks. I have one quick
question for Mr. Tuthill.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright, Mr. Tuthill, how are you tonight
Sir?
Mr. Horning is one of our new members from Fishers Island, he
wants to ask you a question, if it's alright.
MR. TUTHILL: I'm Don Tuthill.
MEMBER HORNING: Please to meet you. What makes you so
agreeable to
having a corral on your property?
MR TUTHILL: They're good neighbors.
MEMBER HORNING: Do you have any intention of doing anything
with that parcel in the future?
MR. TUTHILL: Not in the foreseeable future. If I can back up a
bit ahead of your question. The reason that I'm probably more
involved is, that the house they live in was my parents' house. It
was all one. It was divided. The portion I own was divided from a
house lot before my father died and now that the Losquadros have
indicated that their desire to keep up to three horses, I've had no
objection to their putting up a fence and allowing them corral
Page 10 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
because I have, the lot is right across the street from where I
live. I have no intentions, I mean I can't say what will happen
tomorrow. But, I have no intentions in the foreseeable future of
selling the lot. I'm just keeping it as open lot for my awn
protection for sometime in the foreseeable future and as long as they
know this, as long as it's done legally, I have no objection to their
having the horses.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: While you're there, is there anybody else
want to speak to Mr. Tuthill? Anybody else, no. Thank you so
much Sir. Mrs. Tortora.
MEMBER TORTORA: Where do you plan on stock piling manure?
MR. LOSQUADRO: It probably would be on the south side of the
barn. Just right behind the barn.
MEMBER TORTORA: So that would be the a, there's not too much
to the south?
MRS. LOSQUADRO: It's spaced between two buildings.
MR. LOSQUADRO: It's spaced between two buildings.
MEMBER TORTORA: So that's where you would plan to stock piling?
MR. LOSQUADRO: It's not going to be much of a problem.
MRS. LOSQUADRO: It's in a location that's really not visible to
anyone except us, because it sits like behind our house, and to the
rear of all of the out buildings that we have on the property are
very large pine trees so you can't even see most of the property
because the pine trees shade the property.
MEMBER TORTORA: No, the only thing I'm thinking of, is there is
a requirement that along with that ten acre parcel, there is a
requirement that no manure be stock piled within 150 feet of any
property line. So I was trying to figure out how you could do this,
that on a small parcel and I haven't been able to figure that out
yet. Maybe you can do that.
MRS. LOSQUADRO: Well if we were going to stock pile it in, you
know, how we often say, you know, what's due for sale, or we do
have a trailer that you know, it could just be taken off the property
on a weekly basis down to the dump. Just something so that there
isn't too much being created around the property.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Well, actually when you muck out a stall
you have both, it's both the shadings and the manure as one unit,
right?
MRS. LOSQUADRO: Right.
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Page 11 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Yes, I mean I don't mean to get into a
graphic display, you're not actually separating that, it's just a -
MRS. LOSQUADRO: No, no, no, it will all just be one.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Pardon me .Mrs. Tortora.
MEMBER TORTORA: No, I just wanted to know that part of this
property is in a Business Zone. It's been split down the middle
according to the map that I'm looking at.
MRS. LOSQUADRO: The parcel that. Mr. Tuthill owns is actually
right on the north road.
MEMBER TORTORA: Yes. And does that Business Zone extend
south to your property?
MRS. LOSQUADRO: Not that we're aware of. I think we're
residential.
MEMBER TORTORA: It's hard to tell by looking. It's difficult for
me to tell.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Ms. Collins?
MEMBER COLLINS: I don't think I have a question. It appeared to
me reading the map, that the total property on the corner was zoned
business and the house is zoned R-40 and that the zoning map line
lies along the Tuthill, Losquadro property line. I'm not sure what
difference that makes and I don't think I have any questions.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you. Mr. Dinizio?
MEMBER DINIZIO: Just a couple. You won't be boarding horses for
other people, it's just going to be your own horses? Is that correct?
MR. LOSQUADRO: Right.
MEMBER DINIZIO: And we could say that in our decision that
there'll be no boarding of other people's horses?
MR. LOSQUADRO: Yes.
MEMBER DINIZIO: And certainly stock piling the manure is ( ) ,
but it appears to me like you're going to be spreading it out in the
neighborhood anyway so -
MR. LOSQUADRO: Like I say all the neighbors want it. We have
no problem with the neighbors as far as that's concerned.
MEMBER DINIZIO: But I mean we may make some mention of that in
the decision.
MR. LOSQUADRO: Fine.
Page 12 - Hearing Trax-Lacripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: What's the actual linear feet of fence that
you have purchased?
MR. LOSQUADRO: A little over 300 I believe.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: 300 feet, good.
MR. LOSQUADRO: For raising the ( )
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright, I think that pretty much
answers it, we'll see what else develops through the hearing and we
may have you back up again. We thank you for your statements and
it's a pleasure seeing Mr. Tuthill again. I haven't seen him in
years. Thank you again. Is there anybody else would like to speak
in favor? Anybody like to speak against? Mr. McLaughlin how are
you Sir?
MR. McLAUGHLIN: Good evening. My name is Kevin McLaughlin.
I'm here on behalf of one of the neighbors, Mr. Moraitis who owns
property directly across the Boisseau Avenue from where they would
like to have the horses. I've submitted a letter to the Board,
hopefully you've all had a chance to look at it. Basically, our
position is that the variances that are being requested here are
extremely substantial in nature. They're basically asking you to
ignore setback requirements in that they're going to run the fencing
directly across property lines. So obviously they're not going to
need a 60 foot setback from property lines The other, is that on
the Tuthill parcel I guess we call it, or if you take the two of them
together there's only a little over two acres here and at least on
vacant lot you would need a ten acre parcel. So there's a very
substantial variance they're asking for if you look at that section
of the code. Our position basically is, that these requirements were
put in the code for a reason and the reason basically is to protect
neighboring properties from whatever noises and odors and other
types of things that are naturally occurring whenever you have
animals such as horses around. It seems to us that you're basically
being asked to ignore the code or rewrite the code in order to allow
them to do what they would like to do on parcels that really don't
lend themselves to this kind of activity in a very predominately
residential area. Obviously that as your all aware the criteria for
granting area variance are set forth in the Town Law. I won't go
through it now, but my letter I think goes through it fairly much
point by point and I think if you weigh all the factors at least
we're very hopeful that this kind of activity won't be allowed in
that neighborhood, particularly on the side parcels that we're
dealing with here. As I said also in my letter, if you allow it to
happen on the type of situation that's being requested in this
application, it's very difficult to see where on any lot in the Town
of Southold any applicant couldn't come in here and cite this as an
example and said, well you let them do it on this situation, ours is
really no worse nor different then what you granted here. For all
those reasons we're very interested in seeing this application be
denied and that you know, horses will not be allowed in the area
where they're being asked to be allowed here.
Page 13 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Is there any way to remediate this in any
way with your client?
MR. McLAUGHLIN: I do not think that there is any way that would
satisfy my clients very honestly.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I have to be honest with you Mr.
McLaughlin and I do appreciate your statements because you are
representing a taxpayer and we're concerned about that. There's no
question about it. But, having been on this Board some 18 years,
you know we've granted paddock sought of speak, on parcels much
smaller than this. I think that the Notice of Disapproval that we
have here, and I very rarely ever reflect upon the Notice of
Disapproval, in my particular opinion, this is just and opinion, it's
only my opinion, it's not the opinion of the Board, that this is by
far one of the strictest Notice of Disapproval that I have ever read
and that's just my opinion. I realize that it truncates two property
lines and that probably is one of the reasons why the Notice of
Disapproval is relatively strict. But, it is a substantial distance
from your client, which is also truncated by a rather wide road.
I'm just mentioning that in general and that's the reason why I'm
asking if the controls are placed within the decision, the controls
that you had heard in questioning the applicants, that I don't
foresee that even though we're dealing with a Notice of Disapproval,
it requires what they call '10 acres. This is not a horse farm. This
is a person who wants horses for his personal, her personal, or
their personal use. Again, I very rarely ever critique or criticize
a Notice of Disapproval. But, that's my opinion. But, if you can
think of any way of remediating this, I would be very happy to
embody that within a decision, but again, that's my opinion.
MR. McLAUGHLIN: Again, I'm not sure. My client happens to be
in Florida, otherwise I'm sure he would be here. Having spoken
with him, two or three times, on the phone, I'm not at all certain
that he would be happy or satisfied no matter what restrictions were
placed on horses being on this property. I'm sure that if certain
restrictions were placed, so that it did make the impact lessen on
the neighbors, that would be better for him than if there weren't,
but I honestly don't believe that any granting of this variance would
sit well with him.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I just wanted you to be aware of that.
Again, that's not an opinion of the Board, that's only my opinion,
alright, based upon what we have done in the past and what has
been the nature of this Board in looking at these types of
applications and again, we have several steps that we're involved,
this is not for profit, this is for personal use for a person's own
enjoyment and we've heard Mrs. Tortora ask about where the manure
is to be stalled, basically stack sought of speak. Mrs. Losquadro
has indicated that they would put it in a trailer and they would
transport it away from the site. You know the barns exists, so I
mean, you know we're not going to move a barn here in reference
to, the barns have been there for many, many years. Also, we
have the depths of the lot that's you know, 278 feet on that one
Page 14 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
side., The paddock appears to be approximately 200 feet from the
property line on the road and your client lives across the street, is
that correct?
MR. MCLAUGHLIN: Yes.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Yes, and we have at least a 50 foot
road. I know that Boissseau Avenue down at as we go over the
railroad tracks is 66 feet wide, so, at the very least, with 250 feet
if we were directly across the street on an estimate. So, we are
substantial amount of distance, I mean I'm not we, this client
happens to be substantial. This applicant happens to be a
substantial amount of feet away from your client's property, and
we'll take the diagonal distance of where they lie in reference to
the actual posting of it, you know, it's probably 300 feet or more.
So, I mean it's not like being right directly in the back yard.
MR. McLAUGHLIN: Again, my only position would be, the relief
that's been requested here, is extremely substantial.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Yes, on the literal sense of the word 10
acres or more. But, this is, I do not construe this to be a horse
farm alright. You know, I'll go through the whole litany again if
you want. In the mid eighties, the prior Town Boards were looking,
the original code read, one horse per acre for every half acre over
an acre you were allowed another horse. The Horseman's Association
then partitioned the town to take that out of the code. We have
granted applications 1.1 acres, 2 horses, somewhere in that channel
( ) . That's just a, you know I can't give you the exact name of the
person we granted it to at this time, because it's been quite some
time since we've done that. But, I'm just saying that in looking at
the Notice of Disapproval this is a very strict manner in the way
this gentleman has been denied and lady.
MR. McLAUGHLIN: Well it seem to me that the code says what the
code says and I don't know that the Building Department had any
real choice in applying what the code says.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: It's not a horse farm. It's not a horse
farm but that's just my opinion. We thank you again.
MEMBER COLLINS: Can I ask Mr. McLaughlin a question?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Sure, I'm sorry.
MEMBER COLLINS: Just really to ask whether we're reading the
code on the same page. If the Tuthill parcel were not involved, if
Mr. & Mrs. Losquadro simply wanted to keep two horses in the barn
that's on their land and probably put a fence up to give them a
little corral, obviously it would be a smaller corral, the way I read
the code, is that horses are permitted accessory on residential
property and that the ten acre provision comes in only when as the
Chairman has been insisting a horse farm is involved or an operation
t
Wage 15 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
where the horses are primary to the property and not accessory to a
house. Are we reading it the same way?
MR. McLAUGHLIN: I believe that's correct. Of course then you
have the setback requirements on the size parcel. If you take only
the Losquadro parcel, and you meet those 60 foot setback
requirements on all lot lines, that's going to make a difficult area
to put an enclosure in, I would think of horses. My reading of the
code, as far as ten acres go, I believe you're correct. I believe as
an accessory use on a improved property you can have horses as
long as you meet the setback requirements. But, if you have a
vacant piece of land, my reading of the code would indicate, that it
wouldn't require ten acres or you'd have to get variance for horses
on that, and clearly the Tuthill parcel is a vacant piece of land and
is not ten acres even if you add in it's what 1.2 acres or
thereabouts and then there's the one acre for the Losquadro parcel.
My reading of the code would be, they don't comply with the setback
requirements and they don't have the ten acres that is required for
vacant land in sense that two lots aren't going to be joined
ownership, you can't call it, whatever is on the Tuthill parcel
accessory to whatever is on the Losquadro parcel.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Well like I said, I think that's the reason
why we got the ten acre situation because we're truncating two lots
is basically the situation. There's no doubt in my mind in what
you're saying in reference to setbacks, you're absolutely correct. I
agree with you that ' '
he doesn't meet the se
g Y setbacks, or they dont meet
the setbacks.
MR. McLAUGHLIN: But, I don't think you need to call it a horse
farm in order to require it to be ten acres on an unimproved parcel
of property. My reading of the code is, if you want to put a horse
corral on vacant land, you've got to have at least ten acres. I
believe that's why the Notice of Disapproval was .given regarding
that section by the Building Department and that's my client's
position that you're allowing it as a use on at least partially on
vacant land when it's either 1.2 or if you add both together 2.2
acres and that's a very substantial variance plus you're allowing him
to cross the boundary line and you have no setback.
MEMBER COLLINS: Thank you Mr. McLaughlin and I think you and I
read the code in terms of how the code reads exactly the same and I
just wanted to make sure we were on the same page.
MR. McLAUGHLIN: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you. Mr. Losquadro quickly.
MR. LOSQUADRO: It never seems to amaze me. I know Mr.
Moraitis for ten years. We were sought of friendly. I'm surprised
he did this. Apparently he doesn't know anything about horses, his
lawyer doesn't know anything g about
horses.. Mr. Moraitis is in
Florida� da szx months of the year. He doesn't even live across from
me, the house is vacant. He's been trying to sell the house for
ill
Page 16 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
seven momths, eight months. Before that, it's been rented. It's
been rented two, three times, he doesn't even live here. He's not
concerned about the neighbors. He's not concerned about the smell
of odor. He doesn't live here. He lives in East Marion.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Yes, but he's trying to sell his sell.
Maybe that would concern him. Who knows what his reasoning is.
MR. LOSQUADRO: My breeding horses doesn't take away from the
community.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I agree with you. You don't have to -
MR. LOSQUADRO: This is Southold. This is farm country, it's
horse country. It makes it better looking, rather than have
something that's sloppy to look at and I'm not asking for much. I
mean there's all kinds of buildings going up, this or that, I'm
asking for a few horses and as you said before, the corral is set so
far back, it's a good 2-300 feet from Mr. Moraitis's house across the
street. It's not even near his house.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: My next question is. If we then can
create a decision which we agree with, meaning the Board, the five
members of this Board, will you accept alternate relief?
MR. LOSQUADRO: Yes, I will.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: That is, placement of the paddock in a
different area, whatever the case might be. I have no idea. We
haven't deliberated on it, we haven't even discussed it and it will
be sometime before we get a chance to discuss it. This is only the
second hearing tonight and we're way behind right at the moment.
MR. LOSQUADRO: OK.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: We thank you for your courtesy. We
thank Mr. McLaughlin. Hearing no further comment I'll make a
motion closing the hearing reserving decision until later.
MEMBER DINIZIO: Second.
Motion carried. See Minutes for Resolution.
Page 17 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
7:17 P.M. - Appl. No. 4553 - CHESTER ORLOWSKI
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER; This is a request for a variance based
upon the Building Inspector's February 28, 1998, Notice of
Disapproval for the proposed replacement of two windows with garage
door of this building containing a nonconforming use, Article XXIV,
Section 100-241A, 35315 Main Road, Cutchogue; 1000-97-1-14. I
have a survey indicating this nonconforming building which has been
in existence. We'll ask this nice applicant which we've known for
years and he wants to do some minor renovations to the building.
Mr. Orlowski could I ask you to use the mike, if you would and I
have a copy of the Suffolk County Tax Map indicating this and
surrounding properties in the area.
How are you tonight?
MR. ORLOWSKI: I'm Chester Orlowski. I've been in business there
for 43 years and I use to have 5 to 8 men working for me for 27-28
years. But, now I'm kind of slowing down and kind of working by
myself and to put this door right in front there, where the two
windows are, I just want to, it makes it ground level so it's easy to
come in and easy to go out and this ism main objection.
n.
J
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: How long has the building been there?
MR. ORLOWSKI: Oh, I'd say about 60 years or so. My
father-in-law had it as a potato house there before I came there.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: And you've been in business there about
43 years?
MR. ORLOWSKI: 43.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Very good. OK, we'll start with Mr.
Dinizio. Mr. Dinizio, this is an easy one.
MEMBER DINIZIO: Yes, no.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: No questions. Ms. Collins?
MEMBER COLLINS: No I have no questions.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Mrs. Tortora?
MEMBER TORTORA: No response, I guess the answer
questions.
g wer was no
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Mr. Horning? Boy, we're on a roll here
ere
MEMBER HORNING: One quick question. You run a carpentry shop
there?
I ,
Page 18 - Hearing Tr,.ascripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
MR. ORLOWSKI: Yes.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: He was a master builder. He built
many,
many places. You also, didn't you rebuild the Polish Hall in
Riverhead?
MR. ORLOWSKI: Yes I did. I built abut 400 homes.
There wasn't too many guys that built more than I did.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: We hope to have a decision for you
tonight, but if we don't it will be in the very near future. We can
have it done, OK, let me just ask, is there anybody else would like
to speak in favor? Anybody like to speak against? It appears we're
going to give you a decision tonight.
MEMBER TORTORA: I'll make a motion to approve the application as
applied for.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: All in favor?
Motion carried. See Minutes for Resolution.
Iii _ _
a
Page 19 - Hearing Ti-,nscripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
7:23 P.M. - Appl. No. 4552 - GEORGE LIVANOS
MEMBER TORTORA: I just became aware of a letter in the file
from a neighbor who is in opposition to this, the neighbor is a
Member of a Civic Association of which I am President of a active
}, I'm going to recuse from this hearing.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: OK, great. I don't mean great in
reference to you. I'm sorry to have you go, but, that's your
choice. This is a request for a Variance based upon the Building
Inspector's February 11, 1998 Notice of Disapproval, Article IIIA,
Section 100-30A.4, for a reduction in a side yard setback at a
corner of a proposed accessory building (garage) located on a
nonconforming lot of 7500+- sq. ft. in size. Zone: R-40 Zone
District. Location of Property: 555 Sound Beach Drive, Mattituck;
a/k/a Lot 17 on the Map of Cpt. Kidd Estates; 1000-99-1-23. I have
a copy of a survey which indicates the house in its present situation
where it's been reconstructed and the applicant is proposing a
garage 14 x 17 in the rear yard which is approximately one foot from
the property line and I have two letters in front of me at this
time. One from Madeline and Frederick Weimann and one from
Christine and Jennifer Leimone.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: They're opposition, right?
CHAIRMAN N GOEHRINGER: Yes, and I have a copy of the Suffolk
County Tax Map indicating this and surrounding properties in the
area. Now I'm ready, how are you Sir? Would you state your name
for the record?
MR. CHARNEWS: I'm Charnews on behalf of George Livanos.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: How are you? What would you like to
tell us?
MR. CHARNEWS: Well, I do have a copy of the letter about the
addition ( ) . I guess that's what I'm looking at first. I brought
up some issues here, can we go over them a little bit?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Yes.
MR. CHARNEWS: OK, We object to his variance. His property lot is
only 50 feet wide and already overdeveloped. Overdeveloped, I
don't know what she means by that, but, we measure out the square
foot of our lot coverage we are not overdeveloped in that sense.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Well you're taking down the shed if you
get permission to put the garage up? Is that what I'm -
MR. CHARNEWS: Even without taking down the shed, there's still
enough room you know, without going over the 20%.
Page 20 - Hearing Trc;riscripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: It's borderline. It might be just a
couple of feet over. Just a little bit.
MR. CHARNEWS: We're taking it down anyway.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: You're taking it down anyway.
MR. CHARNEWS: So I mean if it came out mathematically we're not
overdeveloped in the legal sense. And the oversized garage, the
garage is 14 x 17 feet. We thought we measured out as par, which
I think was 14-1/2 with the bunker thing, leaves about a foot and a
half. We want to be able to get the car doors open and to do away
with the shed, I mean that's about as small as we possibly could get
of that door. I don't know really how we could get any smaller. We
kind of struggle with this part of ( ) . So, if the garage will
affect our property value, that I really don't know, nor am I a real
estate broker. I'm afraid I don't know how it would affect the
property value, but, as well as disturb our privacy. I really don't
know how it would disturb their privacy. It doesn't say here. In
addition to possible damage to the apple tree which exists in that
corner of the lot. So I went there today and I measured, and their
apple tree, just a moderate size apple tree, we judge it to be about
18 feet tall. It's 7 feet from the property line on their side, and
at that point where the garage is, there would be at least three feet
from the property line. So it's like 10 feet between the garage and
the apple tree. I really don't know. It's beyond me what the
impact would be. Most proximity to our property line will be our
back yard activities. You know, I don't quite understand that one.
The house and the property in question has been enlarged greatly
and without question from us. What we did is put a second story on
it, and that's about 1800 sq. ft. , give or take a little bit,
modest. Nice modest, four bedroom really, four bedroom house
which is a, when the Livanos sold their residence in the city, this
is the only home they have now and really didn't need to do the
bedrooms, for the daughter and company. Really, it's not a large
house ( ), but, so that's the kind of the points that I just wanted
to go over that. Do you have any questions of me?
(End of tape)
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright. Yes. You're the contractor,
right?
MR. CHARNEWS: Yes, I am.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Is there any particular reason why you
chose to back it right into the wall as opposed to straightening it
out and you know actually -
MR. CHARNEWS: Yes, because I was forced into it by this by the
geometry of the deal. To try to come up the narrow driveway,
basically the garage would have to be at a little bit of a hill so
when you come around you don't hit the corner of the house. You
know if the garage was set three feet from the property line, you
would try to hit the corner of the house trying to get into the
garage. So basically that one corner, the whole garage isn't within
Iii
Page 21 Hearing Tr&Ascripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
three feet of the property line. It's like that front corner, see
that could kind a like tilt it this way, so that if you come up to a
narrow garage you could just turn slightly and go in. It was a
forced situation or we wouldn't be here.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright and the only other comment I
have is if your applicant will accept alternate relief if we cannot
deal with the one foot as it is suppose to be?
MR. CHARNEWS: I don't know how else we can do it.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I don't know, I'll have to play with it.
But, I'm just telling you, you know, we need three votes on the
Board.
MR. CHARNEWS: Yes.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Well, what if you reduce the size?
MR. CHARNEWS: It's a pretty tough deal. I mean just to try and
make this work out. I mean if we didn't need to tilt it that way to
put it to that property line, we wouldn't have bothered. It's kind
like, oh, oh, it looks like we've got to try and do it this way in
order to be able not to hit the house in order to get into the
garage, in order to be able to open the door and get out of the
thing, you know.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Do we have a yes or no on that?
Is that a yes or no on the alternative?
MR. CHARNEWS: What, the alternative relief?
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Yes. Could you explain to him why?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: A maybe or a -
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Could you tell him why?
MEMBER DINIZIO: Someone should explain it to him, please.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Why don't you explain it Mr. Dinizio?
MEMBER DINIZIO: Well I think alternate relief at least gives you
the opportunity, OK, to accept something that or we just have to
reject it altogether.
MR. CHARNEWS: OK.
MEMBER DINIZIO: If you're not, I mean if we come to some kind of
a compromise and certainly we're going to take into account that you
can't turn the car so far, you can't go straight in because it's
going to hit the house, those kind of things. So if we can hash
Page 22 - Hearing Tra.,scripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
something out that seems sensible to us, it may not at the end seem
sensible to you, at least you get a decision.
MR. CHARNEWS: I already have Plan B.
MEMBER DINIZIO: OK, so you know, if you want to share Plan B,
that would be helpful.
MR. CHARNEWS: OK. I was measuring it out today. We were
looking at it, looking at it, looking at it, and I looked if I moved
the garage, this is how tight it is. I moved it 8 inches more,
right, you know, how much difference it would make, where the 36
inches would come to, that it would come to the corner of the fence
and so forth.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: 8 inches which way?
MR. CHARNEWS: 8 inches away from the neighbor's property.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright, good.
MR. CHARNEWS: Other than that, it's really, really, really tough.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: That was great, great oration there Mr.
Dinizio on the alternate relief. Thank you. OK, so we'll do the
best we can, that's all I can tell you at this point and I'll see how
it goes. Was the corner of the house changed in any way in the
reconstruction?
MR. CHARNEWS: No, it wasn't. It's been that way for a long
time. We added the second story only without changing the
downstairs.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: The footprint has not changed in any
way.
MR. CHARNEWS: Not at all.
MEMBER HORNING: I have a question.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Yes.
MEMBER HORNING: Can I ask, how will your clients turn their car
around?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: They have to back out.
MR. CHARNEWS: They've got to back out.
MEMBER HORTON: They will be backing out their drive?
MR. CHARNEWS: Yes, crawling back out.
Page 23 - Hearing Tra-uscripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: There's a significant amount of salt air
down there so it makes it, it behooves them to have a garage
because it's a, you know, it's basically a beach area is what it
really is.
MR. CHARNEWS: That's what happened. It turned into a year
round residence and the winters down there are rough. I mean
rough.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright, Ms. Collins?
MEMBER COLLINS: No I have no questions.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Mr. Dinizio?
MEMBER DINIZIO: No.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: No other questions. We thank you Sir.
MR. CHARNEWS: OK, thank you.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Is there anybody else would like to speak
j in favor? Anybody like to speak against? Hearing no further
comments I'll make a motion closing hearing reserving decision until
later.
MEMBER DINIZIO: Second.
Motion carried: See Minutes for Resolution.
Page 24 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
7:36 P.M. - Appl. No. 4068 ELEANOR SIEVERNICH
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: This is a carryover hearing regarding a
request for variance(s) in this pending division project (proposed
two lots), Article XXIII, Section 100-239 and Article III, Section
100-32, as to total lot size in this R-80 Zone District. Location of
Property: 3200 Cox Neck Road, Mattituck; 1000-113-8-5 containing
163,997 sq. ft. This is a hearing that we've had significantly on
this calendar and we would like to open it by having the attorney,
how are you tonight Sir? It's a pleasure seeing you again. Would
you state your name for the record?
MR. SALVATORE: It's a pleasure to be here. Last time we were
here the Board asked that we resurvey the wetlands and compute
the square footage between the Sievernich's property and Frumkin,
which we did do. The wetlands were resurveyed, the survey has
been sent. Young & Young sent the survey. I believe you have
everything that you had asked us to do.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright. I just totaled the figures up
from the original survey. I just want to get to that one, give me
one second. Shown on that survey, dated December 29, 1997, is
that the correct one?
MR. SALVATORE: Yes.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright. I have lot number 1, at upland
area of 77,409 sq. ft. and lot number 2, at 74,371 sq. ft.
MR. SALVATORE: That's right.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: And lot number 1, which is the side that
Sidorowicz lives on, I have an encroachment of 2,089 sq. ft. , is that
correct?
MR. SALVATORE: Well, I don't know if that's correct. The
surveyor did compute that because whatever that may be, if he is
successful in the lawsuit, he'll have that. If he's not, then he'll
have to take it off.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: So, . you don't know if that's a correct
figure then?
MR. SALVATORE: No I don't, and I don't think it is. We did get
a survey from Peconic Surveyors that said something along those
lines but, I would rather that we have Young & Young compute it.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Well that's fine with me. I have no
problems with that at all.
Page 25 - Hearing Traiiscripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
MR. SALVATORE: See I don't know what they're computing. If
they're computing the area that's shown, it doesn't look like to me
to be that kind of square footage.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Well I don't want to get involved here,
but we're talking basically a portion of the driveway, a portion of
the garage and a portion of the stone drive which I assumed is filled
in because -
MR. SALVATORE: Right.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: But in any case, if you, sure, get
Young & Young to compute it and we'll compare the two figures.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: We had asked both sides to do it.
MR. SALVATORE: As I indicated in my letter,
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Yes, I know we asked both sides, but
that's the figure we have.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Yes, but they have the claim
against the ( ) , right?
MR. SALVATORE: In my letter to the Board I indicated that even
assuming that we use the Peconic square footage, and even
deducted, that square footage and the Frumkin square footage, and
as I indicated, we have just as good claim to the deed lines and
Frumkin has, we still have more than is necessary to construct.
The big problem is that the wetlands of, excluding the wetlands
presents a problem, and as I indicated the last time. I was here, the
Planning Board application was made before that wetland ordinance
was adopted.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Pardon me Sir.
MR. SALVATORE: I said the Planning Board application was
submitted prior to the effective date of the wetlands ordinance.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Right.
MR. SALVATORE: And for some reason they said to me, we didn't
grandfather you in. I don't know what that means, grandfather.
Grandfather means, I think, it's a preexisting and therefore can't be
changed. How they can pick and choose a Grandfather A and not
Granfather B, I don't think that that's appropriate, and I have
Bruce Anderson here tonight who would like to speak in favor.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright, can I just ask you a questions.
Who computed the 3,269 square feet on Frumkin side?
MR. SALVATORE: The surveyors, Young & Young.
rage 26 - Hearing Traiiscripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Young & Young. That's a Young &
Young figure?
MR. SALVATORE: Yes, that's their figure.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: That's what you construed to be a good
figure?
MR. SALVATORE: Well I consider it to be a good figure. I don't
agree that we should give him that, because I maintain that our deed
line is as good, if not better than his, and that's what Mr. Young
told me. He said, your deed line is as good as his.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Right. Well as I said, very rarely as
you are I'm sure aware, that do we get involved in boundary lines
disagreements.
MR. SALVATORE: I know.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Usually, it's cut and dry. This is what
it is and so on and so forth and I'm just trying to get from a point
of view exclusive of wetlands what we really had in a worse case
scenario. That's what I was trying to do.
MR. SALVATORE: As I indicated in my letter, even a worse in case
scenario we have more than enough to have two building lots from
this property.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright. Mr. Anderson, thank you Mr.
Salvatore. How are you tonight Mr. Anderson.
MR. ANDERSON: Good, I think. Bruce Anderson, Suffolk
Environmental Consultant with offices in Bridgehampton. I was told
to briefly give you my qualifications which will include a Masters
and Wildlife Biology from Hunts University, Master of Science in
Biological Sciences with Syracuse University. I've worked with the
Town of Southampton ( ) their wetland regulations, I've been in
private practice for seven years, we've handled numerous such
applications, ( ) with hundreds and I also want to say in particular
that at the time when this project came in, I was under the employ
of the Southold Trustees. You may or may not have a letter in your
file dated, a cover letter November 18, 1990, which included a
report that I drafted for the Trustees concerning the wetland
issue. If you do not have it, I'd be happy to give you mine.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: We may have it.
MS. WICKHAM: Mr. Chairman, may I make a statement. If this
gentleman was employed on behalf of the town, I do not think it is
appropriate that he speak on behalf of the applicant. I would ask
that he be disqualified on that basis.
MR. ANDERSON: I'd like to respond on that.
Page 27 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: We'll have to discuss that up here before
we can make -
MR. ANDERSON: If I may, the Trustees are a separate body
established by the St. James patent, they're separate elected
officials and they are not quote "The Town", they are indeed
separate.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Well the nature of your opinion tonight is
what, without giving me the opinion?
MR. ANDERSON: Well the wetlands are where they are. The
setback provided in the survey from both the existing house and
where the proposed building envelope is located, is extraordinary far
from the a -
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: You're still objecting. Your continuing
the objection.
MEMBER TORTORA: Mr. Anderson, being cognizance of Ms.
Wickham's requests, perhaps it would be advisable to at least consult
with the Town Attorney or the Town Ethics Board to see if there is
any even appearance of impropriety. We're not, at a position, our
Board is not in a position to make that type of decision and
certainly would not want to stand in judgment of you in that
manner. However, since she has raised the question it may be
worthwhile to notify the -
MR. ANDERSON: I need not consult with the Town Attorney nor
the Town Ethics Board because I'm no longer under the employ of
the Southold Trustees. I don't particularly care whether the
opposition uses this as a conflict or not. I can stand up here and
state what the facts are unequivocally without any fear of
appearance of impropriety. Facts are what they are.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Well let me as a question. We haven't
gone to the Board with this yet. I mean we're still doing it OK.
Let me just ask you. The information that you can give us tonight
without reflecting upon what occurred in 1990, what your opinion is
concerning this particular project as it sits before you tonight with
the wetlands determination made by Young & Young on December 29,
1997. Can you give us your opinion based on this survey?
MR. ANDERSON: The wetlands are absolutely accurate.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Do you have any objection to him making
a statement based upon -
MS. WICKHAM: I have, I vigorously object to his having any
testimony.
MR. ANDERSON: OK, then I would like to add something else that
will clear it up. Application was made by my office to the New York
State Department of Environmental Conservation pursuant to our
Page 28 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
Article 25 of the Environmental Conservation Law, a permit is
required to subdivide. The New York State DEC issued a Notice of
Complete Application which will appear in the Suffolk Times this
Thursday.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: On this project?
MR. ANDERSON: On this project and in doing so, what they have
done, is they have concurred with my wetlands line, otherwise it
would not be complete.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: When you say they, you're talking about
the New York State -
MR. ANDERSON: New York State DEC. So what you have in
essence is two independent agencies arriving at the exact same
conclusion. The wetlands are where they are.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright. Now, let's go back to the
Board. What do you want to do on this? Do you want him to
continue based upon the -
MEMBER DINIZIO: Well my personal feeling is this is just a stalling
tactics. These people have been here since I've been on the
Board. This is probably one of the first, I mean the picture was
probably the first picture I took with a camera for the Town.
That's probably eight years ago. I think that to waiver to hear the
testimony that the whole gist of the whole hearing has been what
this gentleman wants to tell us. Just so we can consult the Town
Attorneys is ridiculous. That's my opinion.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright. It's my understanding it's been
on the docket on and off, not at our control, alright, the control of
the applicant since 1985, but that's not neither here or there.
MR. ANDERSON: And if I may, at the time we were reviewing these
things in 1990, we were going through a tremendous back log of
applications involving subdivision of waterfront, variances on the
waterfront and what have you, because it was not the practice to
bring in someone to look at these wetland lines to see if they were
true and whether they were verifiable. This person may very well
have been stuck in this sought of agency paralyzes for 5 or 6 years
during which time certain rules change.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Can I ask you this? Without causing any
particular problem for this particular case, could you reduce what
you were going to say to us tonight to writing and then we will have
the Town Attorney look at it based upon, I don't care if you -
MR. ANDERSON: I would be happy to.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: You can throw everything, hook, line
and sinker, alright -
Page 29 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
MR. ANDERSON: And you can throw it out if you chose to.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Is that OK with you?
MS. WICKHAM: May I have the opportunity to respond?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Yes, in one second.
MS. WICKHAM: No, I mean after it's submitted?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Of course.
MS. WICKHAM: No, I won't prolong it tonight.
MR. ANDERSON: That's completely accepted but, it's your decision.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright, good. Mr. Salvatore, is there
anything else you wanted to add to this?
MR. SALVATORE: Yes, I would just like to say one thing further
and I don't want to keep you. It's a strange that Ms. Wickham
didn't say anything when we submitted the survey that Bruce
Anderson did and then gave it to Young & Young to delineate on the
survey. Now, she's making an objection. I think it's too late first
of all. She knew that it was going to be done by Mr. Anderson
because the Board said so.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you. Ms. Wickham. It's actually
Mrs. Bressler, we apologize.
MS. WICKHAM: Is this the final hearing tonight or are we going to
have -
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: It appears that if your going to make
some sort of you know, you're going to petit what Mr. Anderson is
going to say, I can't see that we can reduce it to you know, written
testimony, no oral testimony and then close it as a matter of fact on
April 16th. You understand what I mean?
MS. WICKHAM: Yes I do.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright. I don't mean that sarcastically.
MS. WICKHAM: No, no, no. I think that answers my question. I
would like to be able to just repeat again tonight that the applicant
has not made a record that has any demonstrable fact as to hardship
or practical difficulty for the reason that this variance should be
granted. They're here before you asking for relief. There is no
demonstration in the record whatsoever that there is any entitlement
to it.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you.
MR. SALVATORE: Can I just say one thing for a moment.
Page 30 - Hearing Tx-.scripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: For the record this is Mr. Salvatore
again.
MR. SALVATORE: I can't for the life of me understand that she
doesn't see and I think she's much more intelligent than that, that
dividing this into two parcels, would be beneficial to her, refusal
would be a hardship, not that she created, this was done when it
was upzoned and that was also because of the wetland situation that
we're here. If you take the wetlands out, she has enough land to
build. You don't need a variance. Thank you.
MEMBER COLLINS: Could I ask a question Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Sure.
MEMBER COLLINS: Mr. Salvatore, I'm hesitant to ask a question
because I only joined the Board four months ago and against the
history of this case, that's trivial. But, -
MR. SALVATORE: I'm a matrimonial lawyer, maybe I can help you.
MEMBER COLLINS: Your statement that you had made earlier and
you just reiterated it, that if you do not exclude the wetland, if
you include the wetland in the measurement of the size of the
properties, that both lots I think you said, both lots are of
adequate size.
MR. SALVATORE: Yes.
MEMBER COLLINS: And I don't really read your, these are your
numbers in the letter from you transmitting the Young & Young
survey which the Chairman actually mentioned earlier this evening
and it seemed to me that in your calculations that the lot that has
nothing built on, the empty, would be the empty lot if it were
subdivided comes out around 78,000 sq. ft. I mean -
MR. SALVATORE: That's excluding the wetlands.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Here, these are the figures
because I checked them. It's 80,323 for lot 1 and 83,673 for lot 2.
MEMBER COLLINS: Alright, but of the 80, alright, that I alright, I
see where I got confused. We also have the encroachment.
MR. SALVATORE: That's right.
MEMBER COLLINS: And if you take the 80,000 and you subtract the
2,000 off the encroachment, so called, I realize fully the
encroachment is a matter of lawsuits have not settled, but I see
where my arithmetic, I'm sorry to take your time up, I see where my
arithmetic went off.
MR. SALVATORE: That's OK.
;Page 31 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Just as a point, Mr. Salvatore, if you
want to calculate the Sidorowicz encroachment, that's fine with me.
I don't care, we have another three weeks to go before the final
hearing and if you want to submit that, that's fine with me also. We
thank you.
MS. WICKHAM: Mr. Goehringer, will you take a final statement?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Sure;
MS. WICKHAM: Thank you. I would just like to remind the Board
that there has not been one dollar of financial proof as to how this
applicant has been disadvantaged by any denial that you might
grant. If the Board is to grant a variance, that is based on
conjecture or unsubstantiate statements of how much two lots versus
one lot is worth or allows relief to an applicant who merely waves
his hands and says, I can do better with two lots than one lot then
your setting a very, very, dangerous precedent here. It is entirely
arguable that a large estate property particularly of this type, with
a large beautiful home on it, is as valuable if not more than two (
) lots who are, which are irregularly shaped in response to the
location of a particular house already built, having minimum setbacks
and no privacy, this is a self imposed hardship. The DEC criteria
is irrelevant to this proceeding in terms of where the actual
location of the wetlands when the actual location of the statute came
into affect, he is affected by the new regulations that the town has
in terms of inclusion of wetlands. There is no grandfather and
that's clear in the statute. He's here asking for relief when he
doesn't know the size of the encroachments, he doesn't know the
location of the boundary lines on either side, he doesn't know the
lot size. Therefore, he would not know how to compute a setback.
He would not know how to compute a side yard. How can you ask
for relief when you don't have the facts? I ask that the Board to
deny it because there is no record despite 10 - 12 years of the
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you, alright. Quickly Mr.
Salvatore.
MR. SALVATORE: Very briefly. You have the surveys. The
survey shows the deed lines, not the encroachment lines, although
the surveyor does show the encroachments and those lines show the
property that she owns, not what Sidorowicz would like to own and
that is not within your power at this point to make that
determination. This Board ask if we could settle this case, we
tried. We did, but they keep insisting that and besides I like to
know how many other times did Mr. Sidorowicz come before this
Board to object to any of the variance. He's doing it for selfish
reasons.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright. Is there anybody else would
like to speak in favor or against? Alright, seeing no hands I'll
make a motion reducing this hearing to written testimony only
pending the brief that we're going to receive from Bruce Anderson
'Page 32 - Hearing TY-anscripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
as Consultant for the applicant and we will close the hearing in toto
on April 16th.
MEMBER DINIZIO: Second.
Motion carried. See Minutes for Resolution.
Page 33 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
7:53 P.M. - Appl. No. 4551 - KAYLA B. STOTSKY
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: This is a request for a variance based
upon the Building Inspector's February 9,, 1998, Notice of
Disapproval, Article XXIII, Section 100-231-A. Applicant is
proposing a fence at a height in excess of four feet along the front
yard area (right-of-way/property line) at 335 Osbrey Nest Road,
Greenport; 1000-35-6-33; a/k/a Lot #6, Section I, Map of Cleaves
Point. I have a survey dated October 17, 1973, indicating on which
we have a one story frame house. The applicant proposes a fence to
be constructed on a right-of-way, which gains access to waterfront
properties from the subdivision. Sir could you state your name for
the record?
MR. STOTSKY: My name is Gunther Stotsky. I am the husband of
Kayla Stotsky.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: How do you do Sir.
MR. STOTSKY: How do you do.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: What is the approximate length of the
fence that your proposing?
MRS. STOTSKY: I'm Kayla Stotsky. It's approximately 100 feet.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright. Do you have any objection to
graduating the fence if the Board is so inclined to grant the 6 feet
at let's say the last 8 feet down to 4?
MRS. STOTSKY: The last 8 feet that is away from our property?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: The last 8 feet adjacent to -
MEMBER COLLINS: The first 8 feet from the road.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: The first 8 feet basically, the first 8 feet.
MRS, STOTSKY: The first 8 feet of -
MR. STOTSKY: The closest to the, to Osprey Nest Road?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Yes, yes.
MRS. STOTSKY: We would certainly consider that.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright, good. We'll start with Mr.
Dinizio?
MEMBER DINIZIO: No questions.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Ms.
Collins?
Page 34 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
MEMBER COLLINS: The right-of-way, I went and looked at it and
read the sign. I gather it belongs to the property owners?
MRS. STOTSKY: To the Association.
MEMBER COLLINS: To the Association.
MRS. STOTSKY: Yes, right.
MEMBER COLLINS: Because you had mentioned in your appeal a
casual vehicular traffic, which I found sought of surprising.
MRS. STOTSKY: Me too, that's why we want the fence.
MEMBER COLLINS: I was surprised that anything could get down
there.
MRS. STOTSKY: It has been more or less a gentlemen's agreement
for at least the 25 years that we've been in the area, that the
traffic, that the right-of-way was intended for foot traffic only
except for emergency access to the dock area. In recent years
unfortunately this has not been the case and we have tried to speak
with our neighbors about noises at 6:00 o'clock in the morning,
dust, lack of privacy, and the Association either cannot or will not
enforce the regulations and it continues and grows. We've had
suggestions, you don't like it, sell. We'll use our property the way
we want to and we won't be told how to use our property.
Therefore, we love the house, we love the area, we have a beautiful
view of the water and the 6 foot fence actually is what, is the
minimum that will block us from seeing the traffic, hopefully cause
an abatement of some of the dirt that is occasioned by this and still
not block our view of the water which we don't want to do.
MEMBER COLLINS: I gather from what you're saying that it has not
proved feasible for the Association to put in post or something else
to limit access among other things that -
MRS. STOTSKY: There has been a post for the sign indicating that
vehicular traffic should be limited to as we understood it to be the -
MEMBER COLLINS: Emergency, yes.
MRS. STOTSKY: The post has been moved.
MR. STOTSKY: Subsequent to that, a post, originally there was a
chain across -
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I remember that.
MR. STOTSKY: That chain was taken down by some of the people
who drive back and forth. They put the post so, that they cane
drive without having to get out of the car and move the post. The
Association did try 6 months ago to put a chain back. The same
day that the chain was put up, that night one of the people drove
Page 35 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
against the chain, broke the post, the Association said, we're not
going to do this anymore, put the post back.
MEMBER COLLINS: I understand. One other quick question.
There's a good deal of shrubbery and trees along your property -
MRS. STOSTSKY: In the front.
MEMBER COLLINS: Adjacent to the right-of-way, will the fence
result in any of that coming down?
MRS. STOTSKY: No, no, just one small patch of Forsythia and we
plan to build a fence on the outside of that because we don't, as
you can see from the look of our property we don't like to cut down
trees.
MEMBER COLLINS: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: For the point of the record, the record
that we have to reduce to writing. We're saying that the fence
starts approximately 45 feet from Osprey Nest Road which is
approximately the setback of your house?
MRS. STOTSKY: Yes. We were planning a fence from the front
corner of the house -
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Right.
MRS. STOTSKY: To the back.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: To the back, right. And how far in the
property line would that be placed? I notice your line is a, it
doesn't tell us how far.
MRS. STOTSKY: We would choose to put it on the property line.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: On the property line.
MRS. STOTSKY: If we can.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright, good. Mrs. Tortora?
MEMBER TORTORA: No I don't have any questions.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Mr. Horning?
MEMBER HORNING: Sure. Can you tell us why you decided to
start the fence parallel with the, around the house, rather than
extend it towards Osprey -
MRS. STOTSKY: Because if you saw the house, you'll see that
there's a walkway that goes up to our main deck on the side of the
house. That is also a bedroom there which is, it's annoying to be
sleeping at 6:00 o'clock in the morning and have a truck go down to
Page 36 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
the dock awaken you. We were hoping to buffer some of that noise
by putting it there.
MEMBER HORNING: So you're not concerned with the remaining 45
feet?
MRS. STOTSKY: The forward 45 feet is already buffered by trees
that are there and we've just left it wild because we like it like
that way.
MR. STOTSKY: Also, excuse me, I believe that the regulation says,
that the fence must begin, it cannot begin prior to the corner of the
house.
MRS. STOTSKY: That's true. A side yard fence has to be
cornered if the house has -
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Well you really have two front yards by
the use of the right-of-way. That's the reason why you're before
US.
MRS. STOTSKY: We think of it as our ( ) .
We don't think of it as a front yard.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: If you didn't have that you wouldn't be
before us.
MRS. STOTSKY: Right.
MR. STOTSKY: But the response to the question is, the regulation
I believe is that it must begin, it cannot begin in front of the
corner of the house. We would in fact like to have another 10-20
feet, just for the looks of the thing, but, that's the regulations.
MEMBER HORNING: Another question. What period of the year do
you occupy this house?
MRS. STOTSKY: Year round. We are permanent residence although
my legal residence is here, our current residence is Manhattan.
But, we're here every weekend and my husband is here part of
every week.
MEMBER HORNING: I was there today and a boat was in the
driveway and it seemed like you were vacated for a while.
MR. STOTSKY: No, we left Sunday and I finished teaching and
dashed down here to make it by 7:00 o'clock. I could have waited
another hour but, no, we're here, I spend usually from Friday,
Thursday to Sunday. My wife is here Friday night to Sunday.
MEMBER HORNING: Alright and can you tell us who has legal
access to that right-of-way?
MRS. STOTSKY: I believe the Association Owners.
Page 37 - Hearing Transcripts •
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
• MEMBER HORNING: Just the Association Owners?
MR. STOTSKY: The road, the roads are private in
MRS. STOTSKY: They're private roads.
MEMBER HORNING: Yes.
MR. STOTSKY: In Cleave's Point and so I think only Members of
the Association and their guests have access to the road.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: There are a lot of lots in there.
MEMBER HORNING: Yes, I was there. Can you give us an estimate
of 'his vehicular traffic? Is it a daily occurrence?
MRS. STOTSKY: Yes. Obviously it's heavier on weekends. But,
it is a daily occurrence and it is constantly dense.
MEMBER HORNING: And what do people do when they go down to -
MRS. STOTSKY: Well they either park their cars down and go out
on the boat for the day which happens quite often, or they trace
back and forth, or they will take carloads of people down to the
• beach and leave the car parked there all day, or come back for
water or whatever it is. But, there is a good deal of traffic.
MEMBER HORNING: I see, thank you.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you very much.
MRS. STOTSKY: If I may, I'd like to give you these. Also, I
don't know if you have, but we have one letter in support of us,
which was sent to us.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: That was nice of her.
MRS. STOTSKY: I thought so. These are the regulations of the
Association. Thank you.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Is there anybody else would like to speak
in favor? Yes Sir, state your name for the record when you get to
the mike please.
MR. BRANDONETTI: My name is Ralph Brandonetti. I own the,
the right-of-way separates the Stotsky' property from my property
and I have no objection to that fence.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you very much Sir. Anybody else
like to speak in favor? Anybody like to speak against? Hearing no
• further comment I'll make a motion closing the hearing reserving
decision until later.
MEMBER COLLINS: So moved.
Page 38 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: All in favor?
Motion carried, See Minutes for Resolution.
Page 39 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
8:03 P.M. - Appl. No. 4548 - JEFFREY WORTHINGTON
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: This is a request for a variance based
upon the Building Inspector's January 20, 1998 Notice of Disapproval
to construct an accessory building (garage) on the "as built"
foundation, which is located in a side yard area. Article III-A,
Section 100-33. Location of property: 1025 Long Creek Drive,
Southold; 1000-55-3-28, a/k/a Lot 12, Map of Yennecott Park. I have
a survey dated November 23, 1998, indicating a foundation of
approximately 15 x 22 and the side yard area of this pretty parcel
adjacent to the house of course and a copy of the Suffolk County
Tax Map indicating this and surrounding properties in the area.
How are you tonight Sir, would you state your name for the record?
MR. WORTHINGTON: My name is Jeff Worthington.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: How are you?
MR. WORTHINGTON: Good, thanks.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: What would you like to tell us?
MR. WORTINGTON: Well, we moved the foundation up to that point
to the house. Yennecott does require that you have a garage on
your property of some type. The lot is on Long Creek and slopes
down, and its wooded in the back down into the creek. We moved
the garage foundation up without, number 1, knowing that it was
against the code because there are quite a few trees and it's very
wooded back in there. If we had moved it back much further we
would of had to cut down quite a few large trees back there. The
DEC has waived jurisdiction on it, the Board of Trustees did one
about a 40 to 45 foot wooded or natural zone in that back area there
and that was a, moving the garage forward was within keeping with
that natural wooded stake back by the creed. So, we did it largely
for esthetics. A couple of things happened that the garage
foundation got built. Number 1, when the survey was sent in to the
Building Department apparently the wrong survey got sent in and
there was no garage plan on that. Nobody seemed to realize that
you couldn't build a garage in the side yard and when the Inspector
came and actually saw the foundation that's when he said I can't
issue you a permit for a garage. We had thought that the permit,
the Building Permit was actually issued for both the garage and the
house. That's why the actual foundation is there at this time. I
think that it would be sought of sad to have to push it back toward
the wetlands and just ruin that natural area back there. That's why
we've looking for an appeal.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: This is a one story garage?
MR. WORTHINGTON: Yes.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright. We'll start with Mr. Horning.
Page 40 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
MEMBER HORNING: What does that "as built" foundation consists of
right now?
MR. WORTHINGTON: Just concrete.
MEMBER HORNING: Slab?
MR. WORTHINGTON: No.
MEMBER HORNING: Footing?
MR. WORTHINGTON: Footing. I'd say it's about a foot and a half
high.
MEMBER HORNING: With no slab?
MR. WORTHINGTON: Right.
MEMBER HORNING: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Mrs. Tortora?
MEMBER TORTORA: No questions at this time.
CHAIRMAN' GOEHRINGER: Ms. Collins?
MEMBER COLLINS: Mr. Worthington you were describing sought of
the thought process having to do with the building on the land and
not wanting to disturb the trees and the wetlands and so forth.
Actually the way I read your foundation survey which shows the
rectangle within which the Trustees gave you authorization to build.
MR. WORTHINGTON: Right.
MEMBER COLLINS: Basically they were willing to let you go only
about 105 feet back from the road and from there all the way to the
creek was closed to you. Am I reading that correctly?
MR. WORTHINGTON: Yes.
MEMBER COLLINS: I mean it seems to me reading this thing, even
had you been fully aware of the requirement to put your garage in
the back yard, I don't know where you would've put it.
MR. WORTINGTON: We don't either. It would require a lot of back
filling if we pushed it back further to the slopes
MEMBER COLLINS: Yes, but it's not clear that the Trustees were
going to let you do that.
MR. WORTINGTON: I went clown and told talked to the Trustees
and they definitely wanted 35 to 45 feet.
Wage 41 - Hearing Trt scripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
MEMBER COLLINS: I see, so that would've been negotiable probably
with the Trustees?
MR. WORTHINGTON: We probably could've pushed it back further
but I think it would've done a lot of environmental damage.
MEMBER COLLINS: I think so too. Just a comment in passing. I
don't know, I'm afraid you're not familiar with our Zoning Code
which is a shame. People shouldn't build houses without knowing
what the code says. Anyway, our code does provide, that if you
have waterfront property, that the requirement that your accessory
building go in the back yard can be accompanied by permission to
put it in the front yard and obviously you're not going to put it in
your front yard literally, but I think probably where you've ended
up with, is kind of tantamount to being in the front yard and I
think that's probably where the code if we're able to accommodate
you it'll be on that basis.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright. Mr. Dinizio?
MEMBER DINIZIO: No questions.
MEMBER HORNING: Can I have one more question?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Yes, Mr. Horning.
MEMBER HORNING: I would like to ask.; have you considered
attaching the garage to the side of the house?
MR. WORTHINGTON: That's a good question, we did. We have a
wraparound porch that goes around probably a little more than half
of the house. So, the design of the house really does not permit
any type of breezeway that would look blend in and certainly it
could not be attached to the design of the house directly to the
house. Do you have a picture of the house?
MEMBER HORNING: We have this map. So, you're saying in your
estimation, you cannot attach a garage to the side of the house?
MR WORTHINGTON: Right, that's correct. For one thing, you'd
have two roofs sloping down like that. I'm not a builder but, I
don't think you want to do that. Have water coming in from the two
roofs together and I don't think it would be esthetic attaching a
garage to the house. It's just, we build it sought of like a farm
house. I just don't think that it would look good with the house.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you Mr. Wortington. We'll see
what develops throughout the hearing. We hope to have a decision
for you in the very near future at any rate, alright.
MR. WORTHINGTON: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Is there anybody else would like to speak
in favor? How are you Sir?
Page 42 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
MR. TUTHILL: My wife and I were the developers of Yennecott
Park. We made restrictions to try and keep it a beautiful area. We
added to the restrictions that it had to be at least a single garage
to the idea that this would keep some mowers or whatever being left
outside. This has been in force and about 50 houses have been
built there. I actually sold, we actually sold the lot to the
Worthingtons, informed them that they needed a garage. Even I was
not aware that it should've gone in the back yard because I
certainly would have warned them about it. I'm sorry I don't have a
picture. He's built a beautiful house there.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Oh, we do have a picture. It's a very
nice Picture.
MR. DON TUTHILL: Oh, you do, OK. A beautiful house and I
think the location where the garage is now is the best thing
esthetically there. If it is to be moved back, it's going to
interfere with the view from the neighbors, and is going to get back
into the land that the Trustees would like to keep natural, and I'm
completely in favor of it remaining where the foundation is now.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Are the covenants and restrictions still
in effect on that subdivision?
MR. DON TUTHILL: In 68, excuse me, what?.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER:
the Are the covenants and restrictions still,
C & R still in effect?
MR. DON TUTHILL: Yes, es Ido not Y force them myself.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: The Association now forces them, right.
MR. DON TUTHILL: I did it up until the time they went in. Every
house there has a garage.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you.
MR. DON TUTHILL: I want to add one thing. Just looking at the
notes there. Just to correct one little item there that the
restrictions indicate that the garage can be either attached or
unattached from the house. So, there are not problems as far as
the covenants.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you. Anybody
speak? Seeing no hands I'll make a motion closing the hearing
reserving decision until later.
MEMBER HORNING: Second.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: All in favor?
Motion carried. See Minutes for Resolution.
Page 43 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
8:15 P.M. - THEODORE and MARIA PETIKAS
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: This is a request for a two-family
use at the corner of W/s Sound Road and N/s Main or North Road
(C.R. 48) , Greenport; 1000-35-1-8, which requires approval from
the Board of Appeals for the following:
(a) Special Exception Application No. 4525 as provided by
Article III-A, Section 100-30A.2 for a two-family use/occupancy;
(b) Variance Application No. 4526 as provided under Section
100-31A.3 for the reason that the substandard lot size of 21,483 sq.
ft. does not conform to the requirements for a two-family dwelling
usein this R-40 Zone District;
(c) Variance Application No. 4526 for permission to locate fence
at a height above four feet within/along front yard areas based on
the Building Inspector's February 10, 1998 Notice of Disapproval,
Article XXIII, Section 100-231.
Alright, Ms. Moore, we're going to open both at the same time and
you can address both at the same time.
MRS. MOORE: All three?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Two variances and a Special Exception.
MRS. MOORE: Just to be clear for the Board. In my last letter to
the Board, I know that the Board has requested an interpretation
from the Building Department or a Disapproval from the Building
Department and the Building Department reviewed the file and in
light of 100-244B determined that a variance is not required for the
size of the parcel and that was based on a single and separate
search (Change of Tape) is grandfathered with respect to the size.
Area variances would on the other hand be required that we could
not meet setback requirement for the structure whether it be a
two-family structure or a single family structure. Both would meet
the requirements of the code. Nonetheless because the Board has
interpreted it that in an R-40, the 40,000 sq. ft. need require an
area variance from the size, the lot size. I will present the
arguments with regard to an area variance but I would submit that
they are not applicable in this case. No variance is required for
the size of the parcel. That being said, I will go through the
standards for an area variance and I do have some of the
presentation will be overlapped into the Special Exception.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: The size of the parcel in the respect that
the size of the parcel will support at the 21,000+, a one-family
dwelling. Is that what you're telling me?
MRS. MOORE: I'm saying that under 100-244, there is a
grandfathering of the size of parcels as well as setbacks per
age 44 Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
parcel. Whether it be a single family residence, or a two-family
residence, as long as you can meet, as long as, one, the parcel was
created prior to the zoning so it meets the standards of 244, and
you meet the setback requirements in that provision, then, there
should be no need for this particular area variance. That's the
Building Inspector's interpretation as well as my reading of the
code. However, the Board I believe in past experience has
requested area variances of the R-40 or whatever the zoning criteria
is that R-40 is 40,000 sq. ft. If it were R-80 it'd be completely
different standards. So, I'll go over the area variance but I would
submit that I don't believe that this would be applicable. I will
nonetheless present the argument so we don't have a, what's that,
Mrs. Tortora, did you have a question?
MEMBER TORTORA: Yes, I think it's appropriate to say that
We had some discussion about this, Mr. Chairman and I, and I
confess that I was a little naive about the total requirements of
this until he did call it to my attention, the Bulk Schedule -
MRS. MOORE: Correct, yes.
MEMBER TORTORA: The Bulk Schedule in the residential districts
for a two-family detached dwelling, in the R-40 district requires an
area of 80,000 sq. ft.
MRS. MOORE: No. I have the same code in an R-80 it requires 120.
I'm not aware of the R-40 requiring 80,000 sq. ft.
MEMBER TORTORA: It's a rather an amazing thing, but, it a -
MRS. MOORE: Well then it's inconsistent with the language in the
code itself. So you understand though that you have the language
in the code and then you have the Bulk Schedule. If there's
inconsistencies between the two, the language in the code overrides
the Bulk Schedule. I'd like to see the Bulk Schedule that you refer
to because I don't recall seeing that.
MEMBER TORTORA: The only thing is, he called it to my
attomtion. I was totally unaware of it and you know he's been on
the Board a lot longer than I have, but it does say that a two-family
detached dwelling R-40, 80,000 sq. ft. and then there is a ( ) it
says, three little iii, after it says, Roman numerical ( },
applicable, ( ) in a Residential Bulk Schedule, you go to that and
you come up with the Bulk Schedule under R-80 and there is some
kind of consistency here because it also discusses that for a
two-family detached dwelling in a R-80 District it's the requirements
160,000 sq. ft.
MRS. MOORE: I'll review that.
MEMBER TORTORA: I'm just letting you know rather than you
know, going off in that direction. That is something that has been -
Page 45 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
MRS. MOORE: OK, well I will, I will go over the, with respect to
the area variance, the same standards. This parcel was created in
1952. These requirements came in long after the lot was created.
With regard to whether there will be an undesirable change in the
character of this neighborhood, I will point out to the Board what
you already know and for the record that this parcel will meet the
setback requirements of the foundation. The footprint will meet all
the required applicable setbacks of 244, which is the applicable
section. With regard to the fence, the reason for the 6 foot high
fence is that this parcel is right on Sound Avenue and requires the
privacy as well as the security of having that road buffered. I
think someone else mentioned today, this evening, that the noise
from the vehicle, no different here on Route 48, there's certainly a
great deal of noise as well as traffic that's generated by that, the
noise is generated by the traffic. With regard to the benefits
sought by the applicant, it cannot be achieved by a method feasible
for the applicant. The Petikas purchased the property in 1985.
That the parcel was purchased is on the Assessor's Record and
they're here today to confirm it. If you have any doubt for
$80,000. The parcel was zoned business at the time. During the
period of time, from the time that they acquired title to the time
that they completed their site plan, I have a site plan in the file,
this zoning changed to R-40. So it was during that period of time
that a significant financial hardship was created for Petikas. It
certainly made a two-family residence would lessen the impact, the
financial impact on that, in that at least as a rental unit with
two-family rental, it can generate a return and be a much more
desirable parcel than as a single family residence. This parcel has
been there vacant and there has been, I don't know if you've
actually marketed the parcel? Yes, it's been marketed for quite
some time and never had generated any interest as a single family
residence. I'll point out to the Board that you've got across the
street, it use to be the Porky's, you still call it Porky's parking
lot that's directly across from this parcel, you've got the entrance
to Greenport, that's a very busy corner and it's on Route 48. So,
it was appropriate as a business zone parcel but the Town Board at
the time determined that they wanted to take business off Route 48,
so be it. But, they did leave a two-family as a permissible use by
special permit. With regard to the area variance it's not
substantial. Again, this parcel had at one time been two separate
lots. Up through 1984, it was sold as separate parcels. In 1985
when Mr. & Mrs. Petikas acquired it, they acquired it as one deeded
parcel. So, at that time, it was merged as one piece. It was also
business zoning, so there was certainly the development of the piece
of two parcels made more sense. All of a sudden when the business
zoning came off, now you've got an oversized residential parcel,
oversized for this particular area. I can submit to the Board and I
have my tax map but, I will transfer it for the Board so it can be
more legible. All up and down Sound Road you have .25 acre
parcels. You've got about 12-1/4 acre parcels. Right on to the
north of Petikas is a parcel that is approximately 1700 sq. ft, and
adjacent to the west of Petikas is another parcel. It's
approximately 1200 sq. ft.
Page 46 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: 12,000.
MRS. MOORE: 12,000 sq'. ft.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Right and 17,000.
MRS. MOORE: And 17,000, I'm sorry. Again across the street is
still a restaurant where the parking facility, the parking facility
directly across from the proposed residence and that further down
the property that's known as LBD Properties is the proposed
Brecknock Hall Development which is going to be a Senior Multi Care
Facility. So, you're talking about an area that is for the most part
commercial. Well, on Route 48 it remains commercial. This area was
developed long ago and you've got parcels that are on average 1/4
size of this parcel. So, this is an oversize parcel for this
vicinity for the character of this area. There will be no adverse
impact on the physical or environmental conditions of the
neighborhood or district. Again, this two family residence from the
outside, be no different than a single family residence. They can
certainly come into that if you place that as a condition of the
property that and I discussed it with Mr. & Mrs. Petikas would
there be any objection to having a one opening front door with the
internal foyer going into the two dwelling units. They would have
no objection to that. So, from the outside there would be no
difference. Certainly this difficulty was not self created. Again,
the parcel was purchased as a business parcel. It was up zoned
during the time that they owned it. Shortly after they acquired it
and it has remained in their ownership since the 1980s as a
residential lot and there it remains as a vacant residential lot. I
requested from Century 21, an idea of what, the, in the opinion of
Robert Scalia, what this parcel would be worth if it were simply a
single family residence. He has presented me with an opinion letter
that he states that the value from $40 to $45,000 would be what this
parcel could generate as far as a resale. So, you're talking about a
( ) when the parcel is up zoned, it's lost half of its value and .
right now this letter comes to me February of 98. The values of
properties certainly have stabilized and are increasing, but again,
the location of this parcel is not conducive to a single family
residence. Certainly not one to generate $80,000 return, which even
losing some money that's a significant loss. Half the value of the
property. With regard to the special permit conditions, again the
use will not prevent orderly or reasonable use of the adjacent
properties or properties in adjacent use districts. This parcel is
R-40 which is a higher density zoning classification. It is across
from the restaurant, down the street from the Brecknock Hall
Development, and double the size of most of the parcels that are
developed on this street and up Sound Road. The second criteria
that the use will not prevent the orderly use of permitted or legally
established uses in the district. Well again, these are uses that
have been established, that don't necessarily conform to the zoning
and we have a restaurant across the street, that would of, probably
is preexisting at this point. But without any evidence of going
away. We have quite a large parking area. That the use will be in
harmony and promote general purposes intended of this chapter.
Page 47 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
The footprint that's being proposed is one that again meets all the
setback requirements and is a ( ) . The proposed footprint would be
approximately 50 feet by 30 feet. We might create a footprint that
can be a reasonable footprint to construct a comfortable two-family
home, again looking the same as a residential, as a single family
residence but, with the only difference being that instead of four
bedrooms for one family, it would be two bedrooms per family. Use
will be compellable with surrounding, with its surroundings, the
character of the neighborhood. Again the same criterias that were
applicable with the area variance are standards that we should
consider for special permit. The Town Board in legislating that
two-family use, recognized that this use would be appropriate in
R-40. If you have any questions Mr: & Mrs. Petikas are here and I
have the letter from Century 21 for the record.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I know Mr. & Mrs. Petikas very well
from prior applications. I just want you to review that section that
we were concerned about because this is an area that in 1989 when
they constructed the master plan Mrs. Moore that I had objected to.
I had asked them to lessen the square footage of two-family houses
in both R-40 and R-80. I specifically asked for 60,000 sq. ft. in
1988-89 for R-40 and I asked for 120,000 sq. ft. for R-80, meaning
not doubling it, taking another 40 and putting on, excuse me,
another 20 in the 40 and another 40 in the other and the reason why
we looked at this, is, we had a special meeting last week and we
looked at the criteria at that time and that's when we arrived at
that particular judgment.
MRS. MOORE: If I could just interrupt you for just one moment.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Yes.
MRS. MOORE: I believe that the wrong classification has been
pointed out to you. We have community water. R-40 says here,
residential low density, one acre, two-family detached dwelling.
Two-family dwelling without utilities, that meaning without sewer,
without water would require 80,000 sq. ft. This particular unit has
public water. Therefore two-family dwelling with community water,
it says not applicable. So that I don't believe that that 80,000 sq.
ft. would be applicable in this particular instance because you do
have public water and I would refer you back to 244 which deals
with the setbacks as well as the standard schedule R-40 which deals
with lot size.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: We have never excluded anything though
for public water and I just don't know.
MRS. MOORE: I mean that's the way I read it and it seems to be
pretty -
MEMBER TORTORA: Usually when it says not applicable it means
that a, unless, because it says public sewer and water and in some
cases it drops the ( },
Page 48 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
MRS. MOORE: Well it would make sense that your -
MEMBER TORTORA: But they didn't, they didn't in this case so
that's why -
MRS. MOORE: I think not applicable means that that particular
section does not apply.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Right.
MRS. MOORE: It would make sense 80,000 sq. ft. would be
necessary if you had top rovide potable water for essentially two
units in an acre. But, it doesn't make sense if you've got public
water, you don't have a Health Department constraints that a -
MEMBER TORTORA: The other part of that -
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Can I just ask a question? Is there still
a moratorium on water in the Village of Greenport.
MRS. MOORE: Well, it's, well the Suffolk County Water Authority
has now purchased it. There has been a on going application
process where an individual applicant comes forward to the Suffolk
County Water Authority and they deal with each applicant on an
individual basis. So, they said moratorium, however, there have
been applicants that have been granted water as I said individually.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright, go ahead you have something
else?
MEMBER TORTORA: No.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: You want to give us a brief on your
opinion in reference to what, I know you've scaled it, but, give it
to us so we can review it with the Town Attorney prior to.
MRS. MOORE: Sure, which part of -
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Indicating the fact of what your opinion
is in reference to what you just stated on the availability of
potable water as opposed to public water.
MRS. MOORE: That's fine I'll go back to that.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright and we'll review it with her. So
we'll close the hearing as per verbatim testimony tonight. When you
give us the brief, we'll review it with her, and then close it as a
matter of record on April 16th.
MEMBER TORTORA: Because it does make a difference only because
not -
MRS. MOORE: I looked at that section and that to me is not
applicable, so.
Page 49 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Can you get us a letter from Suffolk
County Water Authority?
MRS. MOORE: What that they're -
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: That they can offer water here.
MRS. MOORE: But you do have your public water in front of the
site, so.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Well, that's what I'm saying.
MRS. MOORE: I mean you can't build, you can't get a Building
Permit without public water.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Well, I mean but, can you just give them
a call and ask them if they -
MRS. MOORE: Yes, sure, I mean I can give them a call.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright.
MRS. MOORE: But without a specific application I mean -
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I mean I find this, please in no way am
I, I know these people very well, in no way questioning this. We
had never made a determination except under business aspects a
potable as opposed to public water. I just don't ever remember
doing that. Do you know what I'm saying? In other words, I'm
saying that -
MRS. MOORE: Oh, a two-family is single -
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER; That that has never been a justification
for granting more relief, or less relief, or granting a special
permit unless we're dealing with a condo project, unless we're
dealing with you know, a resort residential project, or we're dealing
with, you know some other type of more intense project.
MRS. MOORE: I know what you're saying, but I look at the code
and it says under R-40 two-family, and in fact, the Building
Inspector said, ooh, if you were in an R-80, you'd .have 180 sq. ft.
of, 180,000 sq. ft. But, that's not the case in this a, in R-40. At
least the Building Inspector looked at that as well and we all looked
at it together, But
I g , , I'll be happy to put it in writing and submit
to your Board.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: We'll start with Mr. Dinizio?
MEMBER DINIZIO: Well, I have a little bit of a problem with a 6
foot fence in that corner. I was late tonight and the reason why I
was late is because I had to wait for that ferry traffic. You know,
there was many a time I thought, well maybe I'll just pull out
II
Page 50 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
MRS. MOORE: And risk your life.
MEMBER DINIZIO: I'd hate to hit that fence after someone hit me in
the rear. But, I'm just wondering if the fence can be somehow
scaled back. I mean it's almost right at the corner now.
MRS. MOORE: The height of the fence reduced down? Is that what
you said?
MEMBER DINIZIO: Yes.
MRS. MOORE: I think we just started wherever the house, the rear
of the house would begin. I think once you put the foundation in,
we would put a 6 foot fence where the rear of the property. If you
want to scale it in, you know, start it at 4 feet and bring it up to
a certain level, do you have any problem with that?
MR. PETIKAS: No, we have no problem.
MRS. MOORE: Yes, I think that's the least. They would have no
problem with a, 6 foot fence it just seemed that, that was a good
way of creating a buffer, but, if you want to grant a 5 foot fence.
MEMBER DINIZIO: What about a garage?
MRS. MOORE: The garage is going to be detached garage, in the
rear of the yard. So, it would have to meet whatever the accessory
setbacks.
MEMBER DINIZIO: But it looks like it's in the front yard to me.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: No, it's the rear yard.
MRS. MOORE: It's going to be located at least 50 feet from Sound
Avenue. So it'll meet the 50 foot front yard setback of the
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: 50 feet from the north road, you
mean.
MRS. MOORE: Yes, the north road.
MEMBER COLLINS: You may have two front yards?
MRS. MOORE. Yes, we have two front yards and as long as we
meet that 50 foot setback there's no need for a variance. When we
mapped out -
MEMBER DINIZIO: Could you say that again please? I don't
understand that. Could you say that just one more time?
MRS. MOORE: Sure.
MEMBER DINIZIO: About the garage.
I
C
Page 51 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
MRS. MOORE: The garage is going to be -
MEMBER DINIZIO: The 50 feet.
MRS. MOORE: The 50 feet, OK. The garage is going to be in the
rear yard. But that, this property because it's a corner, has two
front yards being Sound Road and 48. The front yard is the
setback requirement. We have two front yards, so therefore, we
have two front yard setbacks, 50 feet. So that means that this
garage is going to have, rather than be located closer to Sound
Avenue, it has to be closer to the other side. So whether it's right
behind the house at 50 feet, or over some. The parcel is somewhat
of an L shape, so there's room to put the garage over on the other
side and they had no problem with where to locate the garage.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Ms. Collins?
MEMBER COLLINS: Yes, I also noticed in fact talking about the
traffic on the corner, that the fence is in fact drawn in a way that
does comply with the code's requirements about fences on corners.
MRS. MOORE: Oh, yes.
MEMBER COLLINS: So I think it is back a bit out of the way. Let
me ask you a question about the lot creation because your argument
rests really very squarely on the provisions in the code for
nonconforming lots that predate zoning and they're two dates that
are floating around in this record. One, is 1952 and the other is
'i 1985, and I sought of went back and forth as to which date was
which, and you said something tonight that suggested that the two
lots had merged only in 1985. That the two lots individually had
been created way back before the war probably.
MRS. MOORE: Correct, correct.
MEMBER COLLINS: But that they had only merged in 85 and I
think that the language in the code about recognition of these old
nonconforming lots speaks of the identical lot and I'd just like your
views on that issue.
MRS. MOORE: Right. We have, at the time I made the application,
Petikas, I only had their deed and the property card. So what we
did is, said that based on the code that says after certain date, if
two parcels were next to each other and they were in the same
name, they would be considered one. So with the application as it
was submitted, we said, well we know we've got one parcel and
we're not even, you know, we're certainly not arguing that fact.
When the Building Inspector said, well when this lot was created as
significant, because it'll depend, the law will depend on when this
lot was created. We did a single and separate search and we
discovered that the property card says this and I think the single
and separate search is already in your file, I just don't have it in
front of me. But, in 49, Scolly conveyed to King. King is really
the relevant owner. King in 52 conveyed his interest to
ISI,
Page 52 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
Straussner. So in 52, Straussner by separate deed you ended up
having, it says here in the property card, easterly parcel 100 feet
and westerly parcel 100 feet were combined in 52. Then from 52 on
even though in 84 Sfaelos Realty conveyed to Sfaelos two separate
lots. At that point they had merged. So they had deeds that were
conveying the parcels as separate parcels but, even at that time the
parcel had merged. And then Petikas acquired the parcel in 85,
certainly as one parcel. In fact, I have a site plan or the survey
that you probably have, Van Tuyl, the old Van Tuyl survey
identified it as two, shows the separate property dimensions. It
shows the line between them. However, back from 52 on this parcel
was one legally recognizable parcel.
MEMBER COLLINS: Yes, thank you. That confirms what I thought
I was reading on the property card, but, I was getting a little lost
and that is important that the parcels were treated as one since 1952.
MRS. MOORE: Yes.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Was the entire business zoned, or just
the easterly piece?
MRS. MOORE: To my knowledge, it was the entire parcel. I mean
we have a site plan. In fact, I have it my file. If it will be
helpful to the Board, I can certainly submit it to the Board. It's
not useful to Petikas anymore. A site plan that showed a foundation
pretty much straddling the property, the old property lines -
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I remember seeing that.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: We have it in our file.
MRS. MOORE: Oh, you have it in your file? OK. We never went
into the details of when, whether it was submitted, or not
submitted, it seemed irrelevant at that point.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Mrs. Tortora?
MEMBER TORTORA: No.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Nothing? Mr. Horning?
MEMBER HORNING: Nothing at this time.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright. So, you're going to give us
that brief we're going to review with the Town Attorney. If need
be, and we have to readvertise, we don't have to readvertise, but if
we have to reconvene, alright, -
MRS. MOORE: Why don't we hold the hearing open?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright.
I
Page 53 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
MRS. MOORE: OK, so that way it's clear we don't have to
readvertise notice to all the neighbors. That way, if you have any
questions with regard to the memo, I can certainly be here to
answer them.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright. We are inundated on April
26th, so it may have to be the early May meeting.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: It will have to be May 14th.
MRS. MOORE: OK, so be it, sure.
MEMBER DINIZIO: Can I just make a comment?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Sure.
MEMBER DINIZIO: I'd really like you to consider that fence and
just where it is, and how far west you can take the end of that
fence, away from Sound Road. How far away from Sound Road that
fence can be located. I'd really like you to consider.
MRS. MOORE: I mean we'd be willing, I mean if you have a
particular idea in mind you can certainly -
MEMBER DINIZIO: My preference would be, not to see the fence at
all. So we'll start from that point and work our way to -
MRS. MOORE: Mr. Petikas would like to address that.
MR. PETIKAS: Well the ( ) I'd like to have 100 feet from the west
side of the property from Route 48. Also on the back of the
property another 100 feet from north side of the property just to
hide the house. I don't want to put any fence on the corner of
Sound Avenue, on side of road.
MEMBER DINIZIO: No, I'm not worried about that. I'm worried
about, it looks like there's a fence on the north road. Is that
right?
MRS. MOORE: On 48. Yes, that would be the reason for the fence.
MEMBER DINIZIO: That's what I'm concerned about. That fence is
going to be 6 feet high? That's what he's proposing?
MRS. MOORE: Well, they'd like to have it 6 feet high.
MEMBER DINIZIO: Right. That's why I'd like you, you know,
between now and the next time we meet, to consider -
MRS. MOORE: Well 4 feet is legal.
MEMBER DINIZIO: Yes, yes, I agree.
Fage 54 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
MRS. MOORE: I mean would there be any problem with that with
them seeing the outside? (I believe she was asking the question to
her clients) .
MEMBER DINIZIO: No, I'm not worried about that. I'm worried
about site.
MRS. MOORE: But if you put arborvitae or some kind of bushes on
the outside on Sound Avenue -
MEMBER DINIZIO: I'm not worried about how it looks. I'm worried
about seeing over or not being able to see over.
MRS. MOORE: Not being able to see over.
MEMBER DINIZIO: Right. So that's why I'm saying if you get -
MRS. MOORE: I think that's why they want the fence, you can't
see over.
MEMBER DINIZIO: Yes, but they're asking for trouble.
MRS. MOORE: OK.
Someone asked if they can speak?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Just one second Sir, I'll be right with
you. Is there anything else you wanted to say.
MRS. MOORE: No thank you.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Yes Sir. Would you state your name for
the record.
MR. RAYNOR: Yes. Charles Raynor.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: How do you do?
MR. RAYNOR: Sophie Raynor's husband. Both parcels at one time
use to be Krzyminski and the corner was Mobile on Sound Road
corner. Natsoulis' property, right next to this property, and we
can't see having a 6 foot fence, can't see over the top of it.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: No, don't worry, we'll take care of that.
No question about that. Don't worry about that, one bit.
MR. RAYNOR: If you hit that road on 48, forget it.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: You're absolutely correct. Don't worry
about it, we'll take care of it. I assure you,. alright. Hearing no
further comment I'll make a motion, oh, I'm sorry, ma'am.
MRS. NATSOULIS: Yes, my property is right next to their
property and I have some concerns about it -
SII
Page 55 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
BOARD SECRETARY KOWASLKI: Can I havey our name?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Yes, we need your name.
MRS. NATSOULIS: I'm Annette Natsoulis. I'm north of the Petikas'
property and one of my main concern is the fence. Going on to the
north road, the main road, is very difficult with the ferry coming
through to make a left turn to go eastbound. Especially when
you're pulling a trailer behind you also. I'm not sure as to what
they were saying, going for setback of the house. It'll be further
back from Sound Road, is that correct?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: That is correct. Have you seen the site
plan at all?
MRS. NATSOULIS: Yes I have. The way I see it, with the house
being built over here, my house will be this way to it. I feel that
my privacy with a two-family dwelling will be inconvenience because
they will have to ( ) access in going directly into my patio which I
spend most of the time there.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I just want to caution you, that we
haven't gotten to the two-family yet, alright. We're still working
on that.
MRS. NATSOULIS: Well the fence I'm concerned, that is one of my
biggest concerns.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright. We promise you that on May
14th, that we will do a siting ourselves and tell you because Mr.
Dinizio, we have the luxury of having him live down in that area
and he fronts that road sometimes 4 times a day making right and
left turns and so we will do a siting and we will tell you what our
opinion is in reference to the setback of the fence.
MRS. NATSOULIS: OK, because I come in from Queens.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright. Can you make the May . 14th
hearing.
MR. RAYNOR: Definitely.
MRS. NATSOULIS: No problem.
MR. RAYNOR: Even a three foot fence by the corner would be too
much because the cars sit and they look out, you're not able to
see. Impossible.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Right. The new cars are lower and lower
and it makes it more difficult to see.
MR. RAYNOR: Even a three foot fence would be too much. Even a
six foot fence from outside of the property, then they block our
view to the main road.
III
Page 56 - Hearing Transcripts -
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Well, what we do in some cases and what
we have done before is clip the corners of the fences and made them
put them on angles. As I said, we're not quite there yet. We do
appreciate your coming and you know, we're going to review this
whole matter and we'll get back.
MR. RAYNOR: What day did you say?
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: May 14th.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: May 14th.
MR. RAYNOR: Are you going to inform us or do we have to -
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: We're not going to inform you, but call
us approximately a week before and we'll tell you exactly what the
time is. (765-1809) .
MR. RAYNOR: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you Sir. Anybody else like to
speak? Hearing no further comment I'll make a motion recessing the
hearing to May 14th.
MEMBER DINIZIO: Second.
Motion carried. See Minutes for Resolution.
Page 57 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Mrs. Moore, while your setting up for
the next hearing, we're going to go to take a short break.
9:03 P.M. - Appl. No. 4547 RIVERHEAD BUILDING SUPPLY
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: This is a request for a variance based
upon the Building Inspector's January 2, 1998 Notice of Disapproval
which reads as follows: ". . .1) the proposed structure being located
in an LIO District is permitted to have a maximum of 60 feet of
frontage on one street. The proposed building is approximately 115
ft. facing Rt. 25. Pursuant to Article XIII, Section 100-133C; (2)
When fences are located in or along side and rear yards, they shall
not exceed 6-1/2 feet in height, pursuant to 100-231B. . ." Location
of Property: 74610 and 74500 Main Road, Greenport, N.Y. ;
1000-46-1-1 and 2.1 combined as a single lot. We have a variety of
site plans. Site plan drawing S1 is the one that I like the best.
The most recent date on that is October 21, 1997, indicating the
approximate size of this building at 5,000 sq. ft. plus
MEMBER COLLINS: 50,000 Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Pardon me, 50,000, plus, thank you for
correcting me. I was only off by 45,000 and indicating the site plan
of the parking area in the front and I have acopy of the Suffolk
County Tax Map indicating this and surrounding properties in the
area. Good evening Mrs. Moore, again.
MRS. MOORE: Good evening. What I'd like to do is for the record,
describe, again, I know all of you've been there, but for the
record, describe what's presently existing on the site. Before I
start, I apologize, I have, I want to introduce everyone who's here,
certainly from Riverhead Building Supply, Russell Goodale, Edgar
Goodale, Jeff Bauer, who is the Manager, Allen Smith, Co-counsel,
Don Denis, Architect, and I'm aware that there are many other
individuals here, certainly contractors who are observing tonight and
I believe in many cases in favor of this application. I'll let them
speak for themselves if they wish to. To begin with, the existing
conditions of the site, Riverhead Building Supply presently occupies
2.2 acres of the westerly parcel. It's a, the parcels are shown on a
site plan prepared by Don Denis and it would be identified as Lot
number 1. The parcel has a road frontage of 200 feet and extends
600 feet in depth going to the Long Island Railroad. Riverhead
Building Supply contain, consists right now of retail building in the
front, 2 warehouse buildings as well as outside storage in the rear.
The existing buildings are presently setback approximately 27 feet
from the main road. The easterly structure is 72 feet wide and one
foot off the easterly property line and the westerly structure is 45
feet wide and setoff 5 feet off the westerly property line. Both
structures as I submitted to you in my application together are
combined 117 feet. We are proposing 115 feet. In addition, the
structures are only about 30 feet apart which because of the size of
the parcel leaving very little room for screening and parking. With
that in mind certainly they're a wonderful client to have because the
II
Page 58 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
first thing that they said to me when we met, was, well what kind of
variances do we need and I described it and they said well maybe we
should look into acquiring the adjacent parcel and sure enough
through their own efforts they acquired a 3.7 acre parcel. That
parcel went through a change of zone application to LIO, the Town
Board, the SEQUA review and without exception, except one
extension of course, rezoned the parcel to LIO. Both the Town
Board during the rezoning and the Planning Board determined that
the proposed development which they had before, and has not
significantly changed since its inception, will be a significant
improvement to the existing conditions of the site. What brings us
here aside from the security fence, is a 60 foot local law which was
adopted in 1995. I went and I researched that local law to find out
how it was created and I found from the legislative history,
someone, certainly I will" quote directly from the record, Supervisor
Wickham at the time, he stated that he opened the hearing and he
stated, he said, I might very briefly preface these comments by
saying that, this legislation is pursued to a policy resolution.
That the Board adopted over a year ago the pledged to keep open
the character of Route 48, this is the Main Road, they throw in, he
throws in as a ( ) other major roads in the town to avoid strip
development appearance and to keep the visual distance that are
currently available for people driving through. Again he states,
also, to keep Route 48 as an expressed road without a lot of traffic
congestion. The Board I know hasn't changed, deviated from that
intent with regard to Route 48. However, this is the Main Road and
entrance to the corridor into Greenport and this area really
particularly since it went through as rezoning process, the Town
Board determined that this was an appropriate use at this site and
LIO is the appropriate location for a lumber yard and this type of
development. Certainly, it will be a great shot in the arm to the
development of this area. Sunrise Coach has done a very lovely
building across the way. But, aside from Sunrise Coach, and this
building, there hasn't been much development in the last ten some
years. Certainly Janie Mills I think is the last major change in
that. Mr. Dinizio, you're more familiar with this area than I am.
But, I think history, this will be a significant investment in the
town. I want to submit for the record, the legislative history the
local law and I highlighted the sections that or the language that I
quoted to you. 183 or 183 in this particular, when it was adopted,
it's another section now, deals with structures that are setback at
least 100 feet from a right-of-way. This property right off the bat
was setback at 100 feet from the main road. Section B talks about
that there's an exception to Section A, which means that, which
says, that if adjacent parcels are developed you look at the average
setback of the two parcels and then you can establish a closer
setback. What I did is, I also went back to a, I took a long at the
site plans that were on record, as well as some measurements that
we could determine from an old aerial and it appears that well
certainly the existing setbacks for Riverhead Building Supply is 27,
Sunrise Coach, which is across the street, excuse me, Sunrise Coach
adjacent parcel is at 42 plus or minus, 711 Southland Corp. , is at
approximately 35 feet. So, when you talk about an average setback
of 42 and 35, 100 feet is a significant setback that we voluntarily
Page 59 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
put this building and designed significant landscape offer, certainly
more than 711. I think if you calculate 10 feet of 711 buffer it's a
lot and Sunrise Coach has none. It's all blacktop. So this is
again, significant improvement and the setback is in accordance with
the code, if not greater setback than would be required reading the
legislation and taking an average of the two. Across the road you
have Phil's Bar which is maybe 20 foot setback. New York
Telephone approximately 44 foot setback and Sunrise Coach the new
building is shown at 50 foot setback. I have for the Board in
addition to the legislative history, I took the site plan of 711 and
highlighted the setback that is applicable so that you can again
refer to that when your deliberating. I submit to the Board that
this legislation is 60 foot wide rule doesn't make any sense. When
you look at the legislative intent and where they were trying to
address strict development, it just, it doesn't make any sense and
it's just inconsistent with to start with the 3 acre lot size and the
200 lot width requirement in the Bulk Schedule. It does not address
a situation where you have added square footage. We've now
increased the parcel by another 3 plus acres, so you have a 5.7
acre parcel and you're still using this crazy 60 foot rule. It's a
prior administration so I can beat up on it. This was really a very
poor attempt to address the design of strict development and
certainly overreaching for a single use business such as Riverhead
Building Supply. The Zoning Board requested input from the
Planning Board and they certainly the first time around recommended
this application as it's been submitted. We are before the Planning
Board for site plan review. It will be referred to architectural
review, but we can't proceed any further until we've got a variance
on the lot width. That makes sense. Because this building is over
the 60 foot rule, again, Riverhead Building Supply went back to 100
feet. They have a landscape offer of 25 feet. When you compare
this project to every other or every project within the 500 feet of
this site, they far exceed any requirement that's in the code and
that's the preface just to start with my arguments. With regard to
variance criteria. Obviously I have to give that to you but, and
I'll go through, that there's no undesirable change produced in the
character of the neighborhood or detriment to nearby properties if
the variance is granted. Again, this parcel is over 5 acres. The
Planning Board when they, excuse me, no, the Town Board when it
adopted this change of zone had some language or their
environmental consultants stated and they placed on the record that
the proposed change of zone is to prevent better use and the design
of the existing Riverhead Building Supply site, the company
proposed the state of the art operation that will be include a pickup
and pay drive through lumber building. The HD designation to
prior zoning did not make sense. It's less than ideal for
residential housing as it is located behind 711 store and next to the
tracks and the LIO. This project didn't make sense as hamlet,
Hamlet Density and the Town Board in adopting the change of zone
determined that (change tape) this structure will be in conformity
with New York State Fire Prevention Building Codes, Handicap
Accessibility Laws. I know that I submitted a letter to the Board
with regard to certain questions that you had and you have that in
your file with regard to state mandates as well as sprinklers, that's
Page 60 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
in your file. Again this will be a significant . investment in the
Town of Southold and as far as impact on the character of the
neighborhood, it'll be an improvement to the character of the
neighborhood here, LIO. I'm sure you have questions on the
operations of the building. Jeff Bauer whose the manager can
describe for you how this, do you want to describe what goes on
inside the building? And what I want you to get from this
presentation, very important, that this operation that the width
that's being proposed is necessary for the operations. I think you
know from the application process what's being proposed and
certainly the site plan and the internal diagram, but the width is
based on the drive-through concept. You want to describe what's
going to go on?
MR. BAUER: I don't know if you want to follow with the plan.
MRS. MOORE: The plan that I have in front of me is the site plan
that is last dated October 21, 1997.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Right, the one I read.
MRS. MOORE: Yes, S-1.
MR. BAUER: OK, first the customer would enter through the
entrance and we'd like them to stop in the retail part of the
building, purchase their material and then drive to the east side of
the building, enter and drive, proceed in the building and pick up
whatever they purchased in a dry, not ice condition, and then exit
the building on the west side, get checked out and exit. That's
basically operations.
MRS. MOORE: So what you're talking about here is a building with
a width of two aisle width to allow for two vehicles as well as truck
traffic because a lot of the vehicles that are going to be used are
Riverhead Building Supply vehicles that are loaded there and sent
out to the job sites for delivery. Is that correct?
MR. BAUER: Correct.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Let me just ask a question. When the
trucks are loaded are the trucks out of the building when it is open
for retail picking up and dropping off? Or, are you still loading
trucks? If I was to go to Riverhead now, and see the building
which is basically a smaller scale of the tremendously large building
you have in Riverhead. That's not a sarcastic statement but is a
pragmatic by the way.
MRS. MOORE: No, no, in fact, for the record I want you to know
that this building is comparing a golf ball to a basket ball.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I understand.
MRS. MOORE: OK, you understand the dimensional?
i
uD
Page 61 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Is there a restriction on the amount of
cars that go into this building, or, you know, the ingress and
egress that exists in the in and out? If you had say 12 cars in the
building, you know, picking up deliveries at certain assorted points,
would that be the max that would be in the building, or what's
happening in Riverhead in that respect?
MR. BAUER: Well, they'd be parking on the side of the aisles for
people picking up, so there will always be egress through the center
aisle for a vehicle exiting.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright. This building is 50,000 sq. ft.
The one in Riverhead is what, 200,000?
MRS. MOORE: Riverhead is actually 123,000.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Riverhead is 123,000.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: You were asking about outside
lines. Your first question was about outside lines.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: No, what I'm saying is, there is no
outside line use. You're stacking cars outside? How many cars are
you allowing in the building? Have you determined that at all?
MR. BAUER: No we haven't. It all depends on ( ) business.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: But, the question I had, was, are you
loading and off loading Riverhead Building Supply vehicles at the
same time that, apart from forklifts going in? I'm talking about
plated registered vehicles, OK, the trucks that you use that we see
all over on the Expressway, you know, all over, Southold Town,
Riverhead Town. Again, not a sarcastic statement, a statement of
pragmatic significance. Are you loading those and off loading those
at the time that retail cars are in there working?
MR. BAUER: They will be loading outside the building.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: They will be loaded outside the
building. So you'll be going in and out with forklifts with the
material off loading those, I mean loading and unloading those trucks
outside.
MRS. MOORE: I'm not sure if that's a completely accurate
statement. No offense, but I think that, well obviously depending
on the degree of traffic. I think that's basic. But the facility
can accommodate loading their own vehicles internally as well as
loaning customers vehicles, which are mostly the contractor's
bringing their trucks. So, you know, we can accommodate them.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: This was just happen to be at a point
that I wanted to ask that question and I don't mean to convolute the
question. It's only a question that I had, that I was concerned
about. I've been in the Riverhead building, I had not seen loading
Page 62 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
and of both, you know, individual customers' vehicles, alright, be
them trucks .or cars or whatever the case might be or wheeldrives,
whatever the case might be and I'm not seeing that, so I would hope
that you would allow us to go up there and look at that.
MRS. MOORE: You're welcome at anytime, sure. In fact, come into
the office and let yourself be known and you'll get the tour.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright, good. Go ahead, I'm sorry, I
didn't mean to stop you.
MRS. MOORE: No, that's alright. I think that the point that I
want to stress is that, the width of the aisle, both ingress and
egress, because you are talking about a flow here, the width of the
materials, correct, and the center as well as on the sides.
MR. BAUER: Yes.
MRS. MOORE: That the vehicles, two vehicles have to be able to
pass through.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Well that's the purpose of the 115 feet,
is what you're telling.
MRS. MOORE: Exactly, exactly. So when we're talking about the
need for something greater than 60 feet, again, the use of this
building and the Town Board identified it through their secret
process it is unique. The Planning Board in their recommendation
said, this is a unique concept. That it's essentially covering
storage. The storage that is now outside in the yard and the
materials that can be affected by the elements are now going to be
neatly stored, drive in the elements and while you always had Class
A number 1 materials, now they'll be even better. So, true, it's
true.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Lydia has a question, Pat.
MEMBER TORTORA: The flow of traffic on both of the west access
and egress and the east access is two way, correct?
MRS. MOORE: Yes. The state route entrances?
MEMBER COLLINS: From the highway.
MRS. MOORE: From the high, from main road, OK.
MEMBER TORTORA: And yet, that's what I'm trying to figure out.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: No, it's one way.
MR. BAUER: The arrows are pointing one way.
(Everyone making various comments. )
Page 63 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
MEMBER TORTORA: The access to Route 25, in both access areas.
On both sides of the building.
MRS. MOORE: Correct.
MEMBER TORTORA: It's two way traffic.
MRS. MOORE: You read that correctly.
MEMBER TORTORA: Good. Now, my question is this. If someone
is coming in from the east side, and they want to come through the
building to go, because there is only one in and out _
MRS. MOORE: Yes, you have a one way.
MEMBER TORTORA: Method. So, I'm just trying to figure out,
how would they get to into the building from the east side?
MRS. MOORE: The site plan is as a law, is the flow of traffic,
you're not talking about narrow corners here of the, for site
purposes?
MEMBER TORTORA: No.
MRS. MOORE: You have certainly wide enough aisles that if you
have somebody coming from the west, that has to come in through
the entrance on the east, they will go by the retail center,
presumably stop at the retail, pick-up whatever it is that they need
from the retail department, or go directly into the lumber storage,
coverage storage area and come in. These are site plan issues that
the Planning didn't seem to have a problem and this is -
MEMBER TORTORA: I was just curious because I was looking at the
way the traffic was flowing and trying to figure out. It's very
clear how you go through the building, but, there's only one
entrance to the building. That's from the east side of the building
and if you're accessing it from the west side, I was trying to figure
out how you would do that.
MRS. MOORE: Well, I think the site plan pretty much identifies
where the traffic will or might go. I think Allen can address, your
need to the traffic flow as experienced in the vehicular trips that
are anticipated. But, this is not a heavily used site, certainly
they're going to hope that they'll get increased use, but, -
MEMBER TORTORA: The other question I had was, that I noticed it
on the site plan it says, that the required number of spaces is 91
spaces and you're providing 48 and -
MRS. MOORE: Yes. What you're, the way the parking is
calculated, they're using the covered storage, which if you didn't
cover the storage area, this whole area is storage, there would be
no parking calculations for storage. It's not a, there's no
Page 64 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
generation of parking for storage. What they have is a calculation
of what they anticipate are the needs of the retail. So really the
parking is for the most part addressing the retail use, with
certainly some parking that's needed for the wholesale end of it.
The, I don't want to say wholesale, the lumber storage, the loading
area. If the Planning Department deems that it's necessary to have
more parking, they have certainly a great deal of land that they can
land bank and have additional parking, but, they're familiar with the
degree of use of their facility and certainly the parking, this
parking is extremely important to Riverhead Building Supply because
it is the retail parking. It's where you and I would go in to buy
our nuts and bolts. I wouldn't go through that facility most likely
with my Minivan. It's kind of sexist, but I think I'd send my
husband to do that. I would go into the retail center and pick out
whatever I needed. I can say that because I'm female.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Mrs. Moore, Ms. Collins has a question
of Mr. Bauer. You have a question of Mr. Bauer?
MEMBER COLLINS: I would like to ask a question while Mr. Bauer
is standing there and where on this topic, because I guess, I guess
the questions that largely occur to me are echoed here about sought
of physically, how it'll work, how will the traffic move, because
that has implications for how it'll appease the neighbor and so
forth? When you first started to describe it Mr. Bauer, you said,
well now the customers will come in from the highway and I think
you said, and they would park and go to the retail operation and
then proceed to the warehouse for pickup. Now, obviously sought of
broadly speaking, two different kinds of customers. There's me,
when I want something, that would probably have to come from the
warehouse, but, isn't very big and it'll fit in the back of my
station wagon. And, then there's the contractor, who doesn't get
your truck to his site who comes with his own truck. Is that
broadly speaking the two kinds of customers that there are?
MR. BAUER & MRS. MOORE: Right.
MEMBER COLLINS: Obviously, if I show up, I'm going to park out
near retail and go get somebody to hold my hand while I figure out
what it is I really need. Will all of the professional customers
also park and go talk to someone sought of in the front of the
operation before they go and pick up?
MRS. MOORE: Before you answer that. Only because you don't
operate. How it's operated in Riverhead might be more helpful,
because obviously in all fairness to Jeff, I'm kind of putting him on
the spot. This will develop in the ( ) system will be ironed
out throughout the system, but I think -
MEMBER COLLINS: I understand that, I just like a concept here.
MRS. MOORE: No, that alright. I mean if you feel comfortable with
a concept but, I think that if you want to hear how it's handled in
Page 65 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
Riverhead, I think that that's gotten at least a month's wear and
tear without the -
MR. BAUER: A month and a half.
MRS. MOORE: A month and a half, OK. Who would like to describe
a little bit.
MR. EDGAR GOODALE: What do we want to know?
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: I need to know his name again,
please.
CHATRMAN GOEHRINGER: That's Edgar Goodale. Edgar could you
just explain in a very mild brief sense, how the person must go to
the retail portion of the building to get the yellow slip for the
articles they must pick up in the back? You know, I mean, very
rarely is anyone ever going to go right directly into the storage
warehouse without having their pickup slip, right?
MR. EDGAR GOODALE: Quite the contrary that's not particularly
true.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: That's not particularly true. OK, would
you clear that up then for us? Lora listen to this.
MRS. MOORE: Two examples. One is a contractor and one is I'm
coming in to buy a -
MR. EDGAR GOODALE: Pat Moore comes in and she'll come in to the
front, she'll come into the front retail area, and she'll come and
talk to somebody and we'll give her a, she'll pick out what ever she
wants in the store, and then, by chance, she may want a, she was
told to pick up one piece of molding. So she wants to go through to
get that. We will give her a ticket, she will then drive around the
building, go through on the east side of the building, stop where
the molding is, get it, go out. The other part is, is when a
contractor or whomever comes in and is familiar with the operation,
knows what he wants, knows that it's not in the store, he just
wants to go pick up that piece of molding. He can go directly into
the building, get that, get billed out on the way out and be on his
way and never enter the retail store.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: So there's no reason to go into the retail
store then.
MR. EDGAR GOODALE: Exactly.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: And that's the way it's working in
Riverhead right now?
MR. EDGAR GOODALE: Right and so far it's only a month and a
half old for any of ( }, between 40 - 50% of the people do not go
into the retail store.
Page 66 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 199$-Board of Appeals
MEMBER COLLINS: Right. Thank you. That is precisely the
question I was asking, and the reason why I was asking it, is
because parking is certainly a relevant question in these things and
the footnote on the site plan states with respect to the number of
parking places that they translated it says, there are fewer than
might be required on a scheduled basis, partly because some of our
customers are never going to park. That, that's how it translate
and I wanted to hear that from you. That some of your customers
are never going to park. They are going to arrive, drive through
and go away?
MR. EDGAR GOODALE: Correct.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: So the same access that you have in the
retail store for the aspect of charging this to a particular
customer, or, a cash sale, can exist at what you referred to as the
checkout booth.
MR. EDGAR GOODALE: Correct.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright. So they can either pay cash or
have their account credited and so on and so forth. Alright, that's
good.
MRS. MOORE: So I think I've addressed the element of that the
benefits sought by the applicant cannot be achieved by some method
feasible by the applicant to pursue. Again, you now are familiar
with the operation of the building and how the drive through, the
loading all works in trendily within this building. Again, that's
why the width is what it is. Whether or not the area variance is
subs-tantial, is a question that certainly you will consider. But, we
have to balance the, use the balancing test that weighs in favor of
the grant of this variance. If in particular, I mean this is why I
get so frustrated with the 60 foot rule, because to start with, if
you ask Planning, where did you come up with 60 feet? And, they
will unabashedly admit, well we just kind of pulled it out from the
air. You know, it really makes, it's not a related to any particular
thought process. They really just use 60 feet and I think on a
three acre parcel or a what the Zoning Code requires, marginally
makes some sense. I won't even say it makes sense, but, marginally
there's some justification. On a five acre parcel it makes
absolutely no sense. If we were to take out the 60 foot rule, there
would be the setbacks that would be required and we could have, I
mean maybe there's a reason to have the width requirement, because
we could have as much as 265 feet in width. That would not,
certainly not be the case here. But, if you, if you look at LIO and
the users, and the industrial users, that are considered there. If
you were in the business of designing luxury yachts, for some
reason, and your clientele buys steamship liners, I mean this is the
kind of ship that they would design. LIO is where you would send
them. The zoning is the appropriate zoning. And, the building has
to make sense, and the width of the building has to make sense in
light of the use. So, the 60 foot rule I think eventually may be
reconsidered and I think in a certain way they were trying to draft
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March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
something that mitigated the 60 foot rule because it talked about,
again, if you were dealing with stripped development you would have
Paragraph C that talked about, separate structures and that no
single structures have to have more than 60 feet, ( ) that if you
were setback with multiple structures you go back to 75 feet. So,
there was some thought process about, OK, you're going to stagger,
if you had a strip development, which is I think what they were
trying to address, not very well here, but, that was the attempt,
you would push back to 75 feet or so. Again, we're back to 100
feet and 60 width doesn't make sense. The variance will have no
adverse affect or impact on the physical and environmental conditions
of the neighborhood or district. That has already been determined
through the change of zone process and the SEQUA process. The
alleged difficulty was not self created. If anything, they made,
they were abundantly cautious by purchasing the adjacent parcel,
being able to develope this parcel with full buffers, with full
screening, adequate parking. I mean really this is, again, if I had
all my clients that were like this, I'd have a very easy time before
this Board. With regard to the fence height, it's obvious that this
is a security fence. There is an existing 6 foot high fence around
the existing perimeter of Riverhead Building Supply, and now with
the additional acreage, they'd like to continue that around. It's
obvious that you need to have some security in, the fence height
wouldn't be adequate. The code would not be adequate. The
various request is minimal variance practical given the personal
benefits anticipated by the applicant. This is a state of the art
complex. The only other complex of this nature is the one in
Riverhead and I think it's been described to you how it works. I
do have just the front end of the Riverhead Building Supply site
because when we asked the architect, I think it was, we asked the
architect to give us the same scale so you would know, you know,
applying the same scale to our plan as a Riverhead Building Supply
site. We could get the entire building within just a part of
Riverhead Building Supply in Riverhead. Again, the site, Riverhead
site is so much larger than this piece and if any questions come up
with regard to comparing the two, you have a significantly smaller
site here which is certainly in proportion with the development of
this area and they think with the needs of this area. I believe that
the Planning Department actually identified it accurately that most
of the clientele that's here, hopefully they will increase the uses,
but, it's mostly for this area.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: So what you're saying, is the front of
the "building in Riverhead is going to be similar to the front of the
building?
MRS. MOORE: No, no.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: No, what are you saying?
MRS. MOORE: I wasn't very { }, .I apologize. What we did is,
because there might have been some questions on what (someone
coughing) comparing Riverhead, I think that maybe one of the
neighbors came in to review the file and sent a letter concerned
Fage 68 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
about this development and identifying it with the Riverhead
development, particularly the brochure that was sent out through
the mail. I know I got it. I know it's important to your record.
(Yes, you got it) . That shows the beautiful rendering of the
Riverhead site and the use of the Riverhead site. It's going to be
just as nice, but in a much smaller scale and what we did was just
compare the two. We asked the architect to give us the same
dimensions, the same scale. OK, the one inch equals 20. The plans
that you have in front of you. When you take one inch equals 20,
of the Riverhead site, you can fit the entire building in just the
showroom area of Riverhead. So what I wanted you Jo do, is to
have a comparison of the two that you really can't compare the two.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright.
MRS. MOORE: So you overlap it and you can see that there's a,
the Southold, the Greenport site, that's Riverhead, this is
Riverhead. Again to give you, you all notice the area, but, to give
you a flavor of the existing conditions. There's a pad here that has
the photographs of the site, existing conditions, and where 711 is in
relation to the property. So, I'll give that to you. Also submit to
the Board, the 711 site plan from the Planning Department's records
and the legislative history, which I quoted to you earlier. I'd be
happy to answer any questions and I have Don Denis here, who,
trekked all the way out here.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Are you going to allow us to grill anyone
from Riverhead?
MRS. MOORE: Whoever you'd like.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: No, no, Edgar? The basic question I
have, is really, what brought the concept of putting everything
inside? What caused you to get to that? I mean and I want to
preface it by saying, that I know that since 1985 or thereabouts,
the lumber yard in Riverhead had some, a surprising amount of their
lumber inside and that was 84 lumber, OK. In a much less, you
know, a much less stated manner, alright. The doors, there were
never any doors on the building. You know, actually it was colder
in that building than it was on the outside most of the time. Not
that I ever frequent it much, but, when I did, it was usually a
Sunday afternoon and I couldn't get lumber some place else. But,
what caused you to come to that point? Anybody? I mean certainly
Mr. Goodale, we know that, you know, that a variety of your lumber
has to remain inside. There's no doubt about it. But, you know,
the green lumber, and everything. What is the purpose of putting
everything inside?
MR. EDGAR: Besides the obvious of keeping the material even
better and out of the ice and rain and snow and shovelling off piles
} . It's been proven that it's a convenient factor and comfort
factor for customers who much rather choose and pick what they
want out of the piles as they see fit. The whole idea was actually,
I'd like to take credit for it, but, I really can't. ( ) designer
Page 69 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
who grew up in Maine who was designed, he designed one or two of
these throughout the country, and he's the one who actually came
and actually sold us on the idea of, well we were going to move
anyway. We had designed to put it all in separate buildings, the
old fashion way and he kind of talked us into it, he said, there's a
better way of doing it and create a better flow for your customers.
So that's where the idea actually came from. He sold us on that.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: In the one month that you've been going
on, you know, or month and a half, the lumber that has uniquely
been outside, what have you seen, have there been any effects of
the -
MR. GOODALE: Absolutely, much less deterioration of the material
and the biggest benefit of that would be during the summertime
when you start to get the rain and then the sun beating down on
it. That's the worst damage there is to material and the wintertime
not as much, or be it, you don't have to shovel snow off of it, but
there is much less. We're discovering much less damage, much less
waste doing it in this particular fashion.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright. And, the other thing is, do
your insurance carriers require you to put the more toxic lumber in
one specific spot, or, anything of that nature? Are they asking you
to isolate that for a particular reason?
MR. GOODALE: No.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: No, so that CCA is all put in a, in the
same general area along with all the other -
MR. GOODALE: Yes, because basically CCA is not toxic substance.
That a -
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: No, I didn't mean, I meant when it
burns. Well to some degree. Whatever they put in it now. They
usually put arsonic in it, and they're not doing it anymore,
whatever they're doing. I'm sure plastic is more toxic than that is,
if it was to burn.
MR. GOODALE: No, they have no restrictions on what materials
should go where We don't have flammable, you know, combustible
type of materials.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Right. Lydia you have a question?
MEMBER TORTORA: Yes. I see on your buffer zones, you're
proposing a 4 foot buffer zone in the side and the rear?
MR. GOODALE: 4 foot?
MEMBER TORTORA: That's what it says on the site.
MRS. MOORE: No 30, 30 foot?
Page 70 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
MEMBER TORTORA: That's to the residential zone. It says
perimeters of landscape buffer front yard 25, side and rear 4 feet.
MRS. MOORE: Yes, that's the bus yard. Commercial.
MEMBER TORTORA: Yes and what would be like on the east side?
What would be within that 37 feet to the parking area? You see
what I'm saying? All the little cces are.
MRS. MOORE: There are a lot of cedar trees on site.
MEMBER TORTORA: In other words, there's 4 feet of buffering
proposed and I'm not sure what's in the area on the western and the
eastern to the. parking area.
MRS. MOORE: I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you. Which side are you
talking about?
MEMBER TORTORA: On the west and on the east. On the west
side, there's 37 feet, it's either 37 feet to where the parking lot
is.
MRS. MOORE: Yes, I see, cccs.
MEMBER TORTORA: I'm tried to figure out what's in there. Is that
concrete? Is it crushed stone? Is it .landscaping? What is it?
MRS. MOORE: No, no.
MR. GOODALE: That's green.
MRS. MOORE: That's green. You start the curb and the
blacktopping. That's the asphalt paving. The 37 feet is actually
grass and growth.
MR. GOODALE: That's, that new lawn area right before that. It's
all new lawn in that area.
MRS. MOORE: Yes, right. So, you're actually going to have 37
feet even on the commercial side.
MR. GOODALE: New lawn on the east side also.
MEMBER TORTORA: Yes, that's why I was a little confused because
it said 4 feet of buffer, see Pat? Under landscaping.
MEMBER COLLINS: Oh, you mean in the notes to the drawing.
MRS. MOORE: Oh, in the notes. Landscape buffer perimeter side
and rear 4 feet. Any reason?
MR.. GOODALE: I don't know the explanation.
MRS. MOORE: Well I mean, we can answer it later. It looks like a -
4
Page 71 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
MEMBER TORTORA: It looks like 37 feet.
MRS. MOORE: Yes.
MEMBER TORTORA: But the note say, 4 feet.
MRS. MOORE: I think -
MR. GOODALE: It's clear 4 foot.
MRS. MOORE: No, no, I see what it is. Landscape buffer, these
are I think the code requirements. Front yard 25, perimeter side
rear 4 and buffer for residential zone 30. That's what the code
requires if I'm remembering it correctly. What we're actually
providing is what's on the site plan. OK?
MEMBER TORTORA: Yes.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: We thank you again Mr. Goodale.
Alright, we'll start with Mr. Dinizio, questions?
MEMBER DINIZIO: Yes, I have a few. Since you started in
Riverhead, have you seen an increase in business? You know over
a month?
MR. GOODALE: Yes.
MEMBER DINIZIO: I mean it's better, it's not the same, right. So,
I guess Jeff will probably answer this question better. On your
busiest day, I mean, I see you have what, 12 parking spaces now,
if that. You got three where everybody wants to go, and then you
have on the other side, where you could park. So, say you had 12
spaces, can you recall anytime when they've ever been full?
MR. BAUER: Oh, yeah.
MEMBER DINIZIO: And then, where do they park?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Jeff, can you come up and use the mike?
MRS. MOORE: Mr. Smith can provide some of the details.
MR. SMITH: In anticipation of the issue. I had the ticket sales,
trip tickets analyzed for the Greenport yard and on an average, it
is about 102 trips per day for each business day and that ranges in
the winter season, 70 trips in to a high 125.
MRS. MOORE: Does that answer your question?
MEMBER DINIZIO: Not really, no. I mean I understand you d
lot of business. But, are those people coming into the counter, or,
are those people, you Know are you selling from the trucks? You
know, what is that -
Page 72 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
MRS. MOORE: Counter, counter.
MR. SMITH: That's counter.
MRS. MOORE: Counter, yes, that's counter sales, yes.
MEMBER DINIZIO: That's counter. So, lets say you have 100 cars
going in and out that same day. That'd be a fair statement?
MR. SMITH: Correct.
MEMBER DINIZIO: Is that pretty much spread out during the
course of the day, or, is it a busy time of day?
MR. SMITH: There's busy times of the day, Jim. There's between
7 and 9 in the morning and then you get another load in the
afternoon about between 1 and 2.
MEMBER DINIZIO: So, say about 50% of your business is within that
and the rest of it's people coming and going as a, -
MR. SMITH: Yes.
MEMBER DINIZIO: Well lets say 100 cars during the course of the
day. You have 14 spaces. I can't recall anybody ever stacking up
there, having to park in Browns, or, you know, just with the
minimal amount of parking you have now. I mean if your saying to
us, that you're not going to have an increase in business, or, even
if it's a 50% more, I'm thinking your parking is going to be more,
much more than adequate when you have this new building. I mean
is that a fair statement?
MRS. MOORE: That's presently proposed.
MEMBER DINIZIO: Right. That's a pretty fair statement?
MRS. MOORE: Yes.
MEMBER DINIZIO: And that you're going to be, not only are you
encouraging people to come in, but, more times than not, the people
that would have to come in now, would ask you for the wood, and
then go back to their truck and then go back to the yard and get
it. They're not going to do that any longer. They're going to
right into the building, get what they want and leave. So, they're
not even going to get any part of that?
MRS. MOORE: Right.
MEMBER DINIZIO: But, 100 tickets that Mr. Smith had just stated,
is that fair, is that a fair statement?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: For the record, that was Allen Smith that
spoke prior to Jeff.
Page 73 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
MEMBER DINIZIO: So we're looking at a reduction. I think we're
looking at a reduction in traffic, parking in this area. I mean, is
that fair?
MRS. MOORE: I think a better flow of parking than a reduction per
se. I mean, what's presently offered on site is, at times
inadequate. You know, I know I've been there and it's been kind of
tight. This meets the code. In fact, you know again, they're
addressing most of the retail use to. be sure that you know, I can go
in there with my kids in the Van and stuff and go in there
comfortably. People who are there all the time will know how to
avoid going into the retail. So, when they designed these
buildings I think it's fair to say, that your experts really kind of
advise you and parking as well, is that true?
MR. SMITH: ( )
MRS. MOORE: So that this concept and Mr. Goodale mentioned the
gentleman from Maine, that when they designed this building, they
also think about the specific use. So, the parking, we hesitate to
reduce the parking in anyway particularly for the retail. We really
dont think its necessary to increase the parking because you really
don't want to see a parking. And, in fact, when Planning reviewed
it, they really had no recommendation to increase the parking. Bob
Kassner had reviewed it, and seemed to think that the parking was
adequate. You have to give some credence to the professionals that
know the operation of the business and listen to them. In fact, in
Riverhead, I think that the code requires one set of parking and
you actually increased it. Is that correct? For retail.
MR. SMITH: Correct, that's right.
MRS. MOORE: So, when it came to retail, at least in Riverhead,
they said, well we know the code requires X but we think that we'll
need more and provided more. Here, they're saying, well the code
says, we need, well because of the storage needs that large number
91 whatever the number was, and that's clearly too much parkin
g.
You'd end up with a sea of parking when in fact it could be a green
area.
MEMBER DINIZIO: Well, that's what I was trying y g to reinforce and
also you know, the fact that less cars will be parking and asking
questions and more cars will you know, be going through this
building and, as far as I can tell, it's not like it will be drawing
new customers. It's not as though people are going to come that
don't already come.
MRS. MOORE: Yes, that's been the experience.
MEMBER DINIZIO: Now, your employee parking is going to be in
the same area?
MRS. MOORE: No, the employee parking is actually on the side.
} this side.
J
Page 74 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
MR. SMITH: On the side, yes.
MRS. MOORE: Right. On the easterly side is an area of 11 parking
spaces.
MEMBER DINIZIO: Are you going to increase the amount of
employees as it's taking more people to run the business is more?
MR. RUSSELL GOODELL: Yes, hopefully.
MEMBER DINIZIO: 50%? I'm just looking for a -
MR. RUSSELL GOODELL: We have 15 now.
MRS. MOORE: I think that what was said, is that they have 15
employees now. If all goes well, certainly they will increase the
employment. They will employ additional people. And as I stated
before, there is a significant amount of land here, that if they were
to need additional parking for employees, there's room for it. Could
it be land bank now? Yes, but it's really not necessary at this
stage.
MEMBER DINIZIO: Could you tell me what was it zoned before that?
MRS. MOORE: Hamlet HD.
MEMBER COLLINS: Hamlet Density Residential.
MRS. MOORE: Hamlet Density. It had actually approved site plan
for multi family in a condominium.
MEMBER DINIZIO: Then in the back is the railroad tracks?
MRS. MOORE: Correct.
MEMBER DINIZIO: That's all I have.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Ms. Collins?
MEMBER COLLINS: I'm not sure to whom the question goes, maybe
the architect.
MRS. MOORE: Oh, good, because the architect has importance.
MEMBER COLLINS: I just want to explore a little bit further the
rational and the basis for the 115 foot (train whistle,) (LIRR
lives), the rational for the 115 foot width and I have not ( ) on
inside the Riverhead facility, but, like everyone else on the North
Fork, I got the brochure, and obviously this is a schematic
drawing. This is clearly not a drawing to scale in the Riverhead
facility. But, what it suggests is, that on each of the lanes going
through,
really gh, there al y are three lanes. One is a traffic lane and
adjacent to it on each side, are lanes where the customer's truck is
going to stop while he does his dealing with the inventory. Talks to
u
Page 75 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
the staff and loads up the materials So, on the site, on the
drawing of the Greenport building, what you show is, one arrow
going south from the entrance and then another arrow coming north
frog: down by the railroad end of the building. And, I'm assuming
that each of those arrows really represents a three lane traffic
lane. One for actually moving the vehicles, and the other two for
loading from the shelves and bunkers on each side. And, I guess
where all of this is leading me is, of the whole 115 foot width, how
much of that width is for moving the customers' vehicles through the
building, and giving the customers' vehicles a space where they can
stop and load up, and how much of that width is for the lumber?
MR. DENIS: My name is Don Denis, Architect. Let me explain that
the width of the building was arrived at by the consultant that Mr.
Goodale talked about. I can give you these dimensions but as I
understand it, the aisles are wide enough to have vehicles parked
left and right and a vehicle to pass in the middle.
MEMBER COLLINS: That's what I thought, yes was described, right.
MR. DENIS: I think you're right about that. And then the
storage, there's storage on the outside planks of the building and
also down through the center. So, he's arrived at these dimensions
and I think he's done it through experience and the dimensions of
the driving aisle down the center is 30 feet from both cases and
then the bin storage seems to be about 28 feet on either side. The
storage in the center of approximately ten feet.
MEMBER COLLINS: I think we already passed 115.
Mrs. Moore and Mr. Denis adding up footage.
MEMBER COLLINS: 30 and 30 is 60 and 2 x 28 is 56 and that's 116.
MR. DENIS: Well, you're getting me on a foot?
MEMBER COLLINS: Oh, no, I'm sorry. Understand, that this is
definitely not a, I'm not trying to pin anything on anybody. I
really just am trying to get a grasp of why the building is 115 feet?
MR. DENIS: Yeah, that's, that's how it was arrived at. I mean, I
don't have a working knowledge of a lumber yard storage
business. But, I do know, that we did consult with him as a
consultant and this is the dimension we arrived at. I believe he
actually wanted it wider and he brought the dimensions in and said,
this is the least that they could do and have the building work as
they wanted it to work and that's how we arrived at that. But, I
do remember it was wider and I can't tell you how much wider it
was. Since this is Southold, we made it narrow. I do want to say
one other thing while I'm here about the entrances. That has been
approved by the State Transportation Department. So, that's been
all approved and so has the sanitary system.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you. George?
Page 76 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
MEMBER HORNING: My colleagues has asked the questions that I
question myself. But again, you're telling us that there's a dual of
dance here. One for the customer, one for the business with having
this drive through facility where all the materials are stored
inside? Is that correct? There's an advantage to the business and
to businesses' customers?
MRS. MOORE: Oh, sure, yes. You know between the preservation
of the materials as well as just customer services, that's -
MEMBER HORNING: And you could not provide this type of a
situation with a conventional building, 60 feet wide? Is that
correct?
MRS. MOORE: Correct, absolutely, that's right.
MEMBER HORNING: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright. Pat, unless you have more
we're going to ask anybody else that wants to speak. I'm going to
tell you that we're going to knock off hearing at approximately 20
minutes.
MRS. MOORE: I do want to address one point that was made
through correspondence. I got a copy of it. A recommendation by
the Planning Department to increase the setback by 10 feet. Bob
Kassner is on vacation right now so I don't have an opportunity to
discuss it with him. But, as I mentioned at the beginning of this
presentation, 100 feet is actually greater than what the code would
allow. The retail parking is very important for the retail for this
use and I .mean if you look at the site plan for 711 which I submitted
to you, the parking layout of the front is very similar without the
extra vegetation. We are certainly increasing the amount of green
space and buffer. But, the layout is very similar. So, if you look
at 711 which is a pure retail facility, you can see that this is a
standard layout for retail parking. I would ask the Board to
consider solely the 60 foot criteria and the fact that we are 100
feet and that we have 711 at 40 something and Sunrise which is also
at 42. So, on average you have a 40 foot setback on both sides.
You keep pushing this building back nobody is going to see it.
That doesn't make any sense either. But, the building has been
located again, 100 feet to recalculate all the drainage and
everything over a 10 foot setback, it really doesn't make sense.
And, to eliminate any parking for the retail, again, would be a
significant impact on the retail operation of this building. I
would ask again, the Board to consider and concentrate on the 60
foot which I think we've adequately addressed the need for the 115
foot width of the building and the fact that you've got a 5.7 acre
parcel and not deal with the site plan. Let us address site plan
issues with the Planning Department rather than with you.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright, at the culmination of this
hearing, just see if you have any objection to this. I want to close
the oral testimony again and just very simply close it as a matter of
Page 77 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
fact on April 16. I just want to tour the Riverhead Building and if
I have any particular questions I'll raise them.
MRS. MOORE: You can ask and I'll be able to submit it to them,
right?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Yes, we'll raise it and you could respond
in writing and then we'll circulate to anybody, if we have to.
Thank you very much from the Goodale family, and so on and so
forth, both co-counsels and Jeff. Is there anybody else would like
to speak in favor of this project? Could you just state your name
for the record, Sir?
MR. DZENKOWSKI: My name is Kim Dzenkowski. I'm a licensed
contractor. You asked a bunch of questions here. You almost
further had me asking me what you're questions are. I deal with it
from both ends. I buy stuff for° my own house, I buy for the
customers. I'm not like Chad Orlowski, I don't build new houses. I
just do repairs. Everything they've said here, is 100% accurate.
You just need to go down there on a Saturday morning and try to
find a place to park, or go down there in the winter time when it
hasn't snowed in three weeks and you use a sledge hammer to get
the lumber apart. Summertime, everything is stocked on top of
those stacks, is just twisted and bent. It's not only lost internal
for them, it's pick outs for me and it's more for my customers. I
have very little delivery, my work is mostly top end stuff,
everything is hand picked. This is just a huge asset down there.
Traffic will be much better, the facilities will be much better, and
the lumber will be much better. As far as extra, I mean they'd love
to see that 40 parking lot built. They'd love it. It's never going
to happen. There just isn't enough people in Southold Town and
nobody else is going to come in here and just to drive all the way to
Greenport to buy it.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you. Anybody else. Would
anybody like to speak against the project? Sir?
MR. MAZZONE: How do you do. My name is Jeff Mazzone. What
about the increased traffic in that area? I mean has there been a
traffic studied?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Do you want to reflect on that Pat?
MRS. MOORE: A -
MR. MAZZONE: Excuse me one second. But, usually I go camping
at one of the camps down Moore's Lane. I mean there's a lot of
traffic there, then going to the ferry, 711 is right there, there's
going to be a lot more traffic. More bigger trucks. You're going to
have more truck, right?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I assume your asking us that question or
are you just posing the question?
Page 78 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
MR. MAZZONE: I'm posing the question. I mean, thinking out loud.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright. Do you want to respond to it
Allen?
MR. SMITH: For the record, my name is Aleen Smith. I'm general
counsel to Riverhead Building Supply. As I stated earlier I've had
the tickets, the trip tickets sampled and I stated earlier to Mr.
Dinizio's question that the tickets show an average of approximately
102 trips. The environmental determinations have been made earlier
in this process and if the gentleman were truly interested in the
issue I would imagine he would of arrived at that particular time and
asked the question. But, that being said and having put the actual
factual number of trips in the record, I would point out that the
standard is established by the, it's called Standard 812 for Trip
Generations, additional manual. I have a letter for you on this and
it is gaged in two particular letters for the 15 employees they have
at this particular site and I have the standard citation here for
you, You would see approximately 200 trips that is consistent with
the actual and if you use the floor area of the retail, which is the
other standard, you would show 150 trips and those are the two
standard that { ) of record for this type of work and certainly that
has been proposed to you is consistent with those statements.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright.
MR. MAZZONE: Now he's talking, excuse me, he's talking about
what normally occurs in Greenport, at the lumber yard, right?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I'm assuming that's what he's talking
about. I haven't had a chance to review it. What I want to do is
give you the benefit of reviewing it, alright, and commenting on it.
So, you're welcome to do that. This is the only copy we have.
We're going to copy it for you tomorrow, we'll give it to you and
we'll let you respond to it.
MR. MAZZONE: I just wanted to see what they did in Riverhead. I
mean, a new place, why would you build a new place if you think
you're going to have the same people come in? I mean, wouldn't you
upscale for more people?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Well, that was the purpose of my
question, why put everything under cover? Basically the same
situation and I assume I'm not answering the question for you, but,
I assume that they are telling us that they have much less waste and
people appear to enjoy this option as Mr. Dzenkowski said.
MR. MAZZONE: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Anybody else like to speak against?
MR. RUTKOWSKI: ANTHONY RUTKOWSKI. One thing I was
thinking about. How about liability? Someone goes in there. I go
Page 79 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
in and go to the retail store and buy a couple of saws or whatever
and I go out and get my lumber. Suppose I'm standing there and
the forklift happens to swirl with my foot, or you something falls
and lets say I break my arm. Is there some kind of release or are
there signs in the building stating that you know, the customer is at
his own risk? Is that ever going to be mentioned?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I haven't had a chance to tour the
Riverhead facility to see that. But, will have -
MR. MAZZONE: I believe that in the zoning, the 60 foot rule, I
think they also mention that was suppose to be related to traffic
flow and the amount of traffic going in and out of these so-called
future strip malls. So maybe they had that traffic study was related
to that. And also, one other point was, since they're going to have "
this facility, which they say is like a golf ball to a basket ball, I
think she meant, that 711 is the golf ball and this is the basket
ball.
MR. SMITH: . No, that isn't what we meant. I believe the gentleman
raised judicial strip mall and my guess is what he's referring to is
Home Depot and what Home Depot might mean for us on the North
Fork and like trying to compare Home Depot and what Home Depot
might mean to all of us to this particular project. And, there is no
comparison. Under the very same standards of traffic generation, if
you look at the stamp for that type of a retail center, and you look
at the total square feet per se, a Home Depot at 100,000 sq. ft. ,
you're looking at more trips in a peak out in and out of 100,000 sq.
ft. Home Depot center, than you are at this facility in a day. That's
the comparison. That's why that is an issue when you talk about
Route 58, Riverhead, where Home Depot is proposed. It is entirely
different traffic stamp and with reference to libel, Riverhead Supply
J insured, it is well insured, their insurance underwriters reviewed
this facility that's being proposed and their new facility in
Riverhead and make recommendations further the subject to the State
Farm Building Codes and their regulated by OSHA. So, there's
plenty of insurance and we try to avoid any accidents because it's
costly to the operation.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Has there been any incidents in the new
building that you know? .
(Unidentified gentleman) In the new building?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Yes.
(Unidentified gentleman) No.
MR. SMITH: No incidents in the new building.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Again for the record, that was both
Allen Smith as co-counsel and Edgar Goodale.
Page 80 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
CHyiRMAN GOEHRINGER: Anybody else like to speak against?
Alright.
MR. CORRAZINI: My name is Rich Corrazini and the only question I
have is about the square footage of the building. How big is the
one in Riverhead?
MR. DENIS: 125,000 sq. ft.
MR. CORRAZINI: 125,000 and this building is how big?
MR. DENIS: 50,000.
MR. CORRZINI: 50,000, OK.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Excuse me one second, Rich. Again for
the record, so I don't get yelled at, that was Donald Denis,
answered both of those questions. This is from the Hay Harbor
situation, OK.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: That was Donald Denis that
answered this? I thought Allen Smith answered that.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Was it Allen Smith? No, it was Donald
Denis.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Oh it was, you fooled me that time.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Excuse me Rich, I apologize.
MR. CORRAZINI: My only thing is for Greenport. It just seems
like that building is overkill, or is much more than is needed for
the amount of people that's going in and out of there. You know, I
don't know, it's not golf ball, basket ball, it's more like baseball,
softball. You know, it's like half the size of the building in
Riverhead and the building in Riverhead is huge. It's a big
building. That's all I have to say.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you. Yes, Mr. Italia.
MR. ITALIA: My name is Zito Italia. I think the issue is the
traffic. I mean there's a tremendous amount of traffic flowing
through Greenport there. The entrances and exits are right on the
main road. The bottlenecking through that area is going to be
tremendous. You're going to have westbound traffic, people trying
to get out of this plaza or the lumber yard` to go westbound, pulling
in front of eastbound traffic, fully loaded with plywood, lumber, it
is an issue and we should look at it. Also, prior to handing out
anymore permits in this town, to various construction projects and
additions, there are some vacant facilities right here on the main
road in Southold Town.
The have ave to mbleweed blown around from
east to west, not being utilized. But, we're going to give out a
u Page 81 - Hearing Tra, scripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
permit for additional 52 or 53,000 sq. ft. . That's something that
should be looked at too.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I just want to reflect on your traffic
issue, OK. What Mr. Smith was alluding to and I'm not speaking for
him, was that the Planning Board did look at the entire SEQUA
issue, which is the State and environmental issue, OK and you might
want to run, I don't mean physically run but I mean you may want
to go down to the Planning Board and look at that LAF, which is
long environmental assessment form and if you have any specific
questions after you review it, you know, we can readdress those
issues or address those issues at the next hearing if you have a
concern. Honestly, I mean, you know we'd like you to look at them.
MR. ITALIA: No, I appreciate that. But, also, we're putting up
buffer building. Here we are we're gearing towards tourism,
vineyards, we're trying to make the North Fork of Long Island
different than other areas I mean somebody brought up an issue of
what's going on in Riverhead. I don't care about Riverhead. I pay
taxes right here in Southold Town. I moved here from Howard
Beach, Queens. I stopped in Glen Cove for a little bit, New Hyde
Park. I moved out here 11 years ago. I've been paying taxes out
here for 11 years. I do not want the North Fork of Long Island to
become like Howard Beach, Queens, or Glen Cove. This is not what
I want out here and it's something that all of us live out here for
the same thing. We have a hard enough time going to a, going to
Greenport just for the Firehouse, the carnivals that they have. I
mean the traffic is just unbearable, even during the week. You try
to go to for lunch out there. You can't get up and down the main
road. I mean you're saying that there's not a traffic issue.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: No, I'm not saying that. I'm saying that
that issue was an issue that was briefly before the Planning Board,
because they did the SEQUA review on this project. That's what I'm
saying.
MR. ITALIA: Also, meanwhile we're focusing towards, tourism and
putting up all of these beautiful places, vineyards and everybodys
putting up these beautiful halls and we have all these people coming
out here to spend money. We're also going to 115 foot of the main
road, we're going to put up a butler building there. Everybodys
going to be looking at a butler building. I mean what I do for a
living is a construction is my main thing but, unfortunately I hate
to be a hypocrite. I do not want it in my back yard. I don't care
what goes on in Riverhead, but not in Southold Town. I am totally
against anything going on out here. The reason why people moved
out here is, I mean we had people horsing around with horse farms
earlier tonight. I agree with that gentleman. I mean we came out
here to live in the country and live out here to enjoy the country.
We don't need another 50,000 sq. ft. building. It is an overkill.
Itrs an overkill. I mean if I need a piece of lumber that bad, I
mean and I can get my car and drive to Riverhead, whether it's
Riverhead Building Supply or Pergament, or Penny Lumber. I mean
why do we need that out there? He built a beautiful Taj Mahal in
Page 82 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
Riverhead and I think it's a beautiful place and it belongs in
Riverhead. It does not belong in Southold Town. Thank you for
your time.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you. Anybody else. Any
questions from the Board? Further Questions?
MEMBER TORTORA: I just would like to say something in reference
to a, I just wanted to say in reference to your comments about the
Planning Board's concerns about parking. We have a copy of the
memo. You're asking you know, whether the code is right or not,
that it is not up to this Board to make that determination as you
know. The variance is a 100% request. The building is 525 feet
long, it's a 115 feet wide, it is big for our little town. It's not
my, you know, this Board's place to pass judgment on whether
you're going to be successful or not be successful, whether we like
it or not, our refuse is clearly the variance. To that end, to
offset the magnitude of the 115 feet, I personally would like to see
a greater buffering area in the front. I'm not asking you to move
the building, but, 25 feet of buffering for 150 foot width is not
going to, is not (coughing), that's my question, opinion, and a, you
call it an exchange, or can call it a swap, whatever you want, but,
those are my thoughts. I'm not saying to, you know, rearrange
you're building, how you do that, is something else, but, I
personally would like to see more buffering up there to offset the
magnitude of the width request that you're asking for. That's what
I like to put on the record.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright, where do we go from there Mrs.
Moore then? Do we recess without a date? Do we recess with a
date? Do you go back to the Planning Board in reference to the 10
feet that you're talking about and then the additional request from
Mrs. Tortora? I'm posing several options here. What I'm suggesting
is, we recess without a date, you're going back to the Planning
Board anyway to discuss with them the 10 feet that they're
requesting in reference to the placement of the building, or not?
You're not giving it the 10 feet?
MRS. MOORE: I'd like to discuss it with, well certainly we can
discuss it with you. If we're talking about an additional 10 feet
for buffer, what I'm suggesting to you is, that the code, the intent
of the legislation I think I put it on the record. You know your
own views aside, we are with 20 feet, you are increasing the buffer,
it's greater increase in buffer than any other parcel in this area
including the new Sunrise Coach. You're asking for Riverhead
Building Supply to provide not only what they're providing which is
more than what the code requires, but, much more -
MEMBER TORTORA: 25 in the front? I'm talking about the front
part.
MRS. MOORE: Yes, I'm looking at the front.
Page 83 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
MEMBER TORTORA: I'm talking about the front and the others have
been there for a long time. This is a brand new structure and the
others are not 115 feet wide.
MRS. MOORE: No, no, no. You have Sunrise Coach which very
recently built that building.
MEMBER TORTORA: Yes, but it's not 115 feet wide.
MRS. MOORE: No I understand that, but, I mean you're talking
about a buffer area that if you compare this site to what is
presently existing, I understand that they're preexisting and you
have a preexisting condition here as well, which they are doing the
best that can be done, which is demolish the whole thing and
starting over. That's why I say that the extra buffer, I'm
not sure
that there's. there's, I'll talk to the clients whether or not they
can provide greater buffer. But, if you're saying push the building
back, we're kind of, we're dealing with the retail parking, and if
you create a greater buffer, you're essentially eliminating some very
important parking for the retail use. You are not going to want to
walk from the side of the building, you and I, you know, as a retail
user because that probably what will end up. We're not going to
want to park on the side and walk around to the front of the
building. And I know you've heard this over and over from most
retail operations, but parking has to be in the front.
MEMBER TORTORA: That's why I'm not telling you how to do it.
I'm just saying that is my personal feelings. You know, if you're
interested in economy those personal feelings, then, how you do that
is another thing. I'm not going to say to you, cut back your
building, wipe out your parking, that's not my thing. I'm saying
that I think 115 feet by 520 feet long building could benefit greatly
by more front, by buffering the front. I don't think that's an
unreasonable at all.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright, can we do this. Can you at
least discuss it with your clients and we'll recess for that date,
You'll go to the Planning Board and discuss the issue of the 10 feet
that they're requesting. Are they requesting an additional 10 feet?
Is that what I understand?
MRS. MOORE: Well, yes, I think that were. That came after the
fact. I mean I went to the Planning Board, they gave a
recommendation and then it came later.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright, can we just get those two issues
concreted so that we know where we're going with it. If we're
going with it at all. Tell us when you want us to put it back on,
we'll finish it and get it done.
MRS. MOORE: Why don't you schedule it for the April is full, so,
right?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: May 14th.
Page 84 - Hearing Transcripts
March 23, 1998-Board of Appeals
MRS. MOORE: But Bob Kassner is on vacation. He's the guy I
have to talk to unfortunately.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Alright, May 14th. Hearing no further
comment I'll make a motion recessing until May 14th and we'll have
everything done by that time.
MEMBER DINIZIO: Second.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: All in favor?
Motion carried. See Minutes for resolution.
End of hearing.
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