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TRANSCRIPT OF ZBA HEARINGS
HELD August 18, 1999
Appl. No. 4734-REGINALD MINOR
Appl
Appl
Appl
Appl
Appl
Appl
No. 4730-CAROLE DONLIN
No. 4732-RICHARD O'TOOLE
No. 4733-VITO CARNEVALE
No. 4735-MICHAEL FEDELE
No. 4737-ELYSE BORAK
No. 4738-ROBERT TAPP & NICHOLAS ELLIS
Appl. No. 4725-& 4729- MATTITUCK LIBRARY
Appl. No. 4731-BOBBIE ZORN
Appl. No. 4699-LISA JEROME
Appl. No. 4724-JOEL & MAXINE HIRSCH
Page 1 -August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Transcript of Public Hearings
August 18, 1999
Southold Town Board of Appeals
(Prepared by Lucy Farrell from Tape Recordings)
(Note: .Tapes are inaudible due to heavy static). All Members present.
6:35 P. M. Appl. No. 4734 - REGINALD and SHEILA MINOR
This is a request for a Variance under Article Ill-A, Section 100-30A.4 (and Sec.
100-33) based upon the Building Department's July 15, 1999 Notice of
Disapproval regarding a double accessory shed structure in the side yard (and'
partly in the front yard) at 360 Stephenson Road (Pvt. Road #1), Orient; 1000-
t7-1-12.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I'd like to welcome everyone here. This is a
regular meeting of the Southold Town Zoning Board of Appeals. I'll ask if
anybody is here regarding this request for a storage building. Mr. Cuddy, how
are you tonight?
MR. CUDDY: I'm fine (inaudible due to poor tape recording).
CHAIRMAN: Could someone check the mike, is it on?
MEMBER DINIZIO: Yes. It's on.
MR. CUDDY: Mr. Minor is also here. They have a problem with the shed and
whether it is a side yard. It fronts on two streets. One on the east and one on
the west: There is no rear yard. ( inaudible statements). We have two
requests. One is the distance from the road which has a slight curve. One shed
is existing a0d the reason it is there the applicant was told by someone in the
Building Department that he could have a 100 sq. ft. shed without a permit but
said nothing about the need for a variance. Now that we want to enlarge the
storage shed by adding another shed, we find that a variance is required. We
ask the Board to make a determination that it will be permitted in the side yard,
which is large and really applicant's rear yard. ( inaudible statements due to
static on tape). This site is long but narrow. The house is set back quite a bit
and (). (Mr. Cuddy continued with lengthy presentation which was not
audible on tape). '
Chairman: We'll start with Member Dinizio. (No comment). Member Collins?
MEMBER COLLINS: I just have a procedural question, Mr. Cuddy. I've seen
the property and I have seen the shed. And I understand that the shed will go
Page 2 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
back to back with it.
applies to the two buildings as a package, 10 x 24,
MR. CUDDY: Yes.
CHAIRMAN: And they are both one story?
MR. CUDDY: Yes. They are both().
CHAIRMAN: Member Tortora? (No comments).
MEMBER HORNING: (Inaudible). (Asked question
structure.)
MR. CUDDY (confirmed shed is not located near the pool).
I gather from what you said with this variance request
is that right?
Member Horning?
about a small pool
Motion was made by Chairman Goehringer, seconded by Member Collins, and
duly carried', to CLOSE the hearing, pending deliberations later. VOTE OF THE
BOARD: AYES: all (5-0).
Page 3 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of. Appeals
6:55 P.M. - Appl. No. 4730 - CAROLE DONLIN
This is a request for a Variance under Article Ill-A, Section 100-30A.3 and
Section 100-244B based upon the Building Department's May 6, 1999, Notice of
D sappy:oval regarding a carport addition with total combined side yards at less
than Code requirement at 910 New Suffolk Avenue, Mattituck,; 1000-114-12-8.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Good evening, how are you? Would you state
your name for the record.
MS. DONLIN: Carole Donlin.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: How do you do? Tell us why you would like us this
attached.
MS. DONLIN: Well I would like to be closer to the house ().
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Is there any reason why you couldn't move it back
more towards the rear of the house?
MS. DONLIN: No because (inaudible due to static on tapes).
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I notice that the carport is open on two sides, and
it's approximately 3 feet at its closest point to the property line. It's 12 x 20 and
it's one story. We'll start with Mr. Homing, any questions?
MEMBER HORNING: No.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Mrs. Tortora?
MEMBER TORTORA: No.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Ms. Collins?
MEMBER COLLINS: The carport when it's constructed really covers where the
driveway is now, but essentially driveway runs as far to the right is what the
direction is, to the right when you're looking at the house. The driveway runs
about as far as the carport is going to go?
MS. DONLIN: Well, the carport runs through that.
MEMBER COLLINS: No, I'm talking about the lateral.
Page 4 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
MS. DONLIN:' Yes.
MEMBER COLLINS: OK, thank you.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Mr. Dinizio?
MEMBER DINIZIO: No.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: OK, we'll see what develops.
question?
MEMBER HORNING: Yes.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER:
MEMBER COLLINS: Trees.
Yes, you have a
What is on the boundary line for the carport?
The rear side yard.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you Ms. Donlin. Anybody else like to speak
in favor of this application? Anybody like to speak against the application?
Seeing no hands I'll make a motion closing the hearing reserving decision until
later.
MEMBER TORTORA: Second.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: All in favor?
Motion carried. See Minutes for Resolution.
Page 5 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
6:58 P.M. -Appl. No. 4732 - RICHARD O'TOOLE
This is a request for a Variance under Article XXIII, Section 100-239.4B based
upon the Building Department's July 1, 1999, Notice of Disapproval regarding a
pool in..,a rear yard location, at less than 75 feet from the existing bulkhead
Location of Property: 2280 Ole Jule Lane, Mattituck,: 1000-122-4-10.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: There's somebody here for O'Toole. How do you
do. Would you state your name for the record?
MS. MESSIANO:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: We'll start with Mr. Dinizio. Any questions?
MEMBER DINIZIO: No, I haven't any.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Ms. Collins?
MEMBER COLLINS: Well, the first question I intended to ask was where the
septic system is? I should say, that I think there is room on that property to put
the pool in more conforming location and naturally where the septic system is
~s part of what's possible. I think that everyone questioned, why do we have this
provision in our statute that says you have to be 75 feet back from the bulkhead
and everyone has their own answers. But, I guess I'd like you to know, that I
think that property like theirs, one of the reason is, to keep the pool not so visible
to the neighbors and I am concerned abo~ut the ( ) over.
MS. MESSIANO:
MEMBER COLLINS: That would be. Their thinking would be laterally but still
outward the septic system, closer to the bulkhead.
MS. MESSIANO:
MEMBER COLLINS: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Mrs. Tortora?
MEMBER TORTORA:
Page 6 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
MS. MESSIANO:
MEMBER HORNING:
MS. MESSIANO:
I'm curious
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: What they have, Lydia, is a deck on the second
story. It's basically a porch, which extends about 4 feet in back of the house.
So, the house is a high ranch anyway. It pushes it back to a certain degree.
The other issue is, do they have town water in there?
MS. MESSIANO: There is town water and ().
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Because it certainly effects the position of the
cesspool system, also. But, it doesn't make demands on both sides.
MS. MESSIANO: I believe they are willing to move the cesspool system if they
have to ().
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Right, so what you're leaving for us to do, is.
basically an alternate location if we don't agree on this location, so we'll do that
and you said you would deal with alternate relief?
MS. MESSIANO: Yes. Placing the pool ().
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Well, as you know we work with unanimity
I don't think we know which way the pool is going to go at this point. I think it's
what we can. agree to in reference to the distance to the bulkhead. So, bearing
in mind that there' is going to be change in the water cesspool which really
negates that 100 to 150 foot distance- the cesspool in the future coming
that possibly the movement of one cesspool which could be more
situation. As I said, which is really somewhat the distance is
So long as you understand that, we'll address that issue as
an offer We'll see what develops throughout the hearing. Thank you.
Anybody else would like to speak in favor? AnYbody like to speak against? Mr.
White do you have any questions you would like to address?
MR. WHITE:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Mr. & Mrs. we have one other question we'd
just like to ask you. You are aware that the new figure is going to be in
Page 7 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town' Board of Appeals
the building, purely the decking area around. So in other words, lets take throw
out a figure of 40 feet. If it is an above the ground deck, that means that where
the decking starts at that point.
(?)
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER:
OK, then it's open?
(?)
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: No question , very good, thank you Sir.
Good night Bob. Hearing no further comment I'll make a motion closing the
hearing reserving decision until later.
MEMBER COLLINS: Second.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: All in favor?
Motion carried. See Minutes for Resolution.
Page 8 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
7:11 P. M. - Appl. No. 4733 - VITO CARNEVALE
This is a request for a Variance under Article XXlII, Section 100-239.4A based
upon the Building Department's July 7, 1999, Notice of Disapproval regarding a
porch addition at less than 100 feet from top of bluff or bank of Long Island
Sound. Location of Property: 1500 Hyatt Road, Southold; 1000-50-1-7.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: This is a porch addition. Who is here to represent
him. Good evening Sir. Thank you for unlocking the gate. What would you like
to tell us?
MR. CARNEVALE:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: That's an open porch, right?
MR. CARNEVALE:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: OK, we did receive a letter from Suffolk County
Soil & Water Conservation, that you're aware of and they evaluated your bluff for
us Have you seen a copy of this?
MR. CARNEVALE: Yes.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: We'll start with Mr. Homing? Any questions of
Mr. Carnvale?
MEMBER HORNING: Are you
MR. CARNEVALE:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: In other words to say it isn't exactly. It's in the
general , particularly On the west side of the house. Sure that would help
Mr. Horning. We've all been there. Mr. Homing comes from another island to
come here and assist us. Thank you. How high approximately is the deck
you're proposing?
MR. CARNEVALE:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER:
bluff because I can see the
MEMBER TORTORA: No.
It does not appear to be elevated. It's too high a
Mrs. Tortora, question?
Page 9 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN. GOEHRINGER: Ms. Collins?
MEMBER COLLINS: No questions.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Mr. Dinizio?
MEMB~R DINIZlO: You say it's ?
MR. CARNEVALE:
MEMBER DINIZIO: You're stepping down, stepping down also from the house?
MR. CARNEVALE:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: That's as high as it's going? This is basically over
the front, over the rear steps coming out of glass sliding doors? These pictures
are invaluable to answer your questions. I jumped over the fence.
MR. CARNEVALE: You did.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Any other further questions of this gentleman?
The deck will remain open? It will not in no time do you intend to close it?
MR. CARNEVALE: No.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: You'll have a supported railing or whatever is
required by the Building Department ?
MR. CARNEVALE:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: We'll see what develops throughout the hearing,
thank you; 'Can we: keep these pictures? Is there anybody else would like to
speak in favor of this application? Anybody like to speak against the
application? Hearing no further comment I'll make a motion closing the hearing
reserving decision until later.
MEMBER COLLINS: Second.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: All in favor?
Motion carried. See Minutes for Resolution.
Page 10 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
7:19 P.M. -Appl. No. 4735 - MICHAEL FEDELE
This is a request for a Lot Waiver under Article II, Section 100-26, based upon
the Building Department's May 26, 1999, Notice of Disapproval regarding lot
referre~l, to as 705 Fanning Road, New Suffolk, County Tax Map Parcel 1000-
117-4-24, merged pursuant to Section 100-25A with an adjoining parcel referred
to as 625 Fanning Road, New Suffolk, N.Y.; Parcel 1000-117-4-23.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: This is a waiver. Is there someone here? Good
evening. Would you just state your name for the record.
MS. WICKHAM: Gail Wickham:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Mr. Dinizio, any questions?
MEMBER DINIZIO: Well, the only way that they found out by
MS. WICKHAM:
MEMBER DINIZIO:
MS. WICKHAM:
MEMBER DINIZIO: In other words,
MS. WICKHAM:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Ms. Collins?
MEMBER COLLINS: Yeah, I would certainly agree with your statement, that it
is the lot although next door and obviously kept the condition which does not
allow to do . Certainly, it is not an part of the research property. I just
want to make sure I heard this right. This is a family transfer right? Mrs.
Fedele is a niece of the ?
MS. WICKHAM:
MEMBER COLLINS: So that's why there weren't any outside lawyers I guess
looking over people's shoulders. I'm just curious.
MS. WlCKHAM: That's correct and I think although I attempted to check my
record that the lawyer
Page 11 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
MEMBER COLLINS: I saw the name on the deed and it appeared to be the
same firm that had represented Mr. Caruso in earlier matters, so we see had this
happened. This is the usual story of the merger of debt. It's just circumstances
are slightly different. Thank you.
MS. WICKHAM:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Mr. HORNING?
MEMBER HORNING:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: We thank you very much. We'll see what
develops throughout the hearing. Is there anybody would like to speak in favor
of this application? Anybody like to speak against the application? Seeing no
hands I'll make a motion closing the hearing reserving decision until later.
MEMBER COLLINS: Second.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: All in favor?
Page 12 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Motion carried. See Minutes for Resolution.
Page 13 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
7:27 P.M. - Appl. No. 4737 - ELYSE BORAK
This is a request for a Variance under Article XXIV, Section 100-244 based
upon the ~July 21, 1999, Notice of Disapproval regarding a proposed addition
with a combined side yard setbacks of less than 35 feet. Location of Property,
8045 Peconic Bay Boulevard, Laurel; 1000-126-9-14~1.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Is there someone here that would like to discuss
this? How you do?
Ms. BORAK:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: No problem. Don't get nervous. I'm, I'm actually
you know, very familiar with this area. I grew up on Sigby Road, which is right
around the corner, so.
MS. BORAK: Right, and this is the area
MR. MILNER:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: This is a one story addition?
MR. MILNER: Yes, it is.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: OK, we'll start with Mr. Homing, any question?
MEMBER HORNING:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Mrs. Tortora?
MEMBER TORTORA:
MR. MILNER:
MEMBER TORTORA:
MR. MILNER:
MEMBER TORTORA:
MEMBER COLLINS: First, thank you for staking it. It's very nice when people
stake it. It's a big help. I really have no particular problems with this case. But,
the number, numbers that just got thrown around back and forth in kind of
Page 14 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
incomplete .sentences leaves me feeling that our record may be a bit unclear.
i~m looking at the drawing that's on a survey done by Van Tuyl and I think it's
'g61.
MR. MILNER:
MEMBER COLLINS: No, no, let me just say what I'm reading off of here
because these are the numbers the Building Department used. On the, we'll
call it the west side of the property towards Bray Avenue because the property
line is at an angle to the house. The closest setback according to this drawing
is 8 feet and Iiii accept that it's 8 feet. Well, alright, it's on the order of 8 feet.
On that side at the front of the house because of the pie shape nature of the lot,
the setback is greater. I think you mentioned 14 or something like that. When
you look at it from the road you see -
MR. MILNER:
It's not very accurate.
MEMBER COLLINS: But this looks like what II saw when I went over there.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: You couldn't pick up 8 inches though anyway.
MEMBER COLLINS: No, no, what is he say-. This business about thing being
reversed in front of the rear -
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I'm saying that the angle of the property on the
west side is actually in reverse of what the survey is showing. He's saying, that
at its closest point, it's really in the front of the house that jog in the front. Not
the jog in the back.
MEMBER COLLINS: Oh, OK, anyway, on the west side there is a setback on
the order of 8 feet, and on the east side you're going to put on a 15 foot addition
and that's going to leave you with roughly 20 feet. It's mentioned 21 feet, 20
feet more or less of setback on the east side and the two added together are 28
and that's the number that's in the Building Department denial, right? I just
wanted to get straight which numbers are which here because the east side
setback of 20 feet as I think you said, I'm not sure is as we know enough, it's
the combined setback, it's not enough. OK, I just wanted to get that, I felt that
our record had gotten kind of confused there and I just wanted to make sure that
we know what we're looking at, thank you.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Mr. Dinizio?
MEMBER DINIZIO: But when you feel when all is said and done, you're going to
have 20 feet building to the property? Is it 20 or is it going to be 217
Page 15 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
MR. MILNER:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: This is less than 21.
MEMBER DINIZIO:
MR. MILNER:
MEMBER DINIZIO: No, no, no, I just, you know, this way you know, whatever
reason you can make of that, is a decision, you know, it may solve problems
later on when you're arguing on the job
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: What is the time issue on this?
MR. MILNER:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: It probably would have been September 15th or
OK, so again, as I mentioned to the prior applicant, in the worst case scenario
I'll see you both and I thank you for your pictures. YOu sure you don't want
these back? Thank you. Is there anybody else would like to speak in favor of
this applicant? Anybody like to speak against the applicant? Yes.
MS. WICKHAM:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Ms. Wickham, do you have any idea how close
your client's property is to ?
M:S. WICKHAM:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: That's a one stow house ?
I'1! be right With you. Any questions of Ms. Wickham?
MS. BORAK:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Is the sunroom heated all year round?
MS. BORAK: No.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER:
MS. BORAK: There's no heat on
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you. Is there any intention of closing it?
Page 16 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
MS. BORAK: No.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: No. Ms. Wickham did you want to see this?
the only copy I have. I'm going to need that back.
MS. WICKHAM: On the west side is a
It's
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: This we did not have sketched in. We do need
that back.
MEMBER COLLINS: Mr. Chairman? I just want to respond to something he just
said about overhang. It seems to me what is before us, is the question setback
from the property line. That's what's before us and I don't think that you're going
to tell folks sought of how to design that extension. You're going to tell them
how to be from the property line.
MS. WICKHAM:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you. Are there any further comments from
anyone? Hearing no further comment I'll make a motion closing the hearing
reserving decision until later.
MEMBER TORTORA: Second.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Ali in favor?
Motion carried. See Minutes for Resolution.
Page 17 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
7:45 P.M. - Appl. No 4738 - ROBERT TAPP & NICHOLAS ELLIS
This is a request for a Variance under Article XXIV, Section 100-244 based upon
the July 20, 1999, Notice of Disapproval regarding location of a proposed
garage in a front yard at less than 40 feet at 275 West Road, Cutchogue; 1000--
110-7-1~1.1.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Mr. Schwartz do you want to tell us why you're
planning to put the garage in this
MR. SCHWARTZ: Yes. To allow access in order to put the garage doors
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: The garage is one story in .height? The front
looks like it has some storage on the above the part storage area, storage area
and it's approximately what size?
MR. SCHWARTZ:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Well Mr. Homing, any question if this gentleman
or the applicant?
MEMBER HORNING: No, I don't have any.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Mrs. Totora?
MEMBER TORTORA:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Ms. Collins?
MEMBER COLLINS: Well of course I had the same thing on my mind which is,
why, does it.really have to be in a spot that is in violation of the Zoning Code
requires a variance, and I understood Mr. Schwartz in your statement about why
you felt this was the optimum spot. You were speaking in a manor that indicated
you were thinking the alternative was to attach the garage to the, in a~ll
sense you might compass, but to the right-hand of the house as you face it from
the road where there's the patio area. Is it possible to place the garage
unattached to the house somewhere between the house and the cottage where
the driveway runs?
MR. SCHWARTZ:
MEMBER COLLINS: Yeah, dirt path, right. Let me restate this. There's a
considerable amount of space between the house, which .is the principal
dwelling and the cottage down by the water and the ground although not totally
Page 18 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
flat is not widely, I mean you're going to build and I guess what I was asking
was, were you seriously considering putting a free standing garage in that
space. Is there some reason why you can't?
MR. SCHWARTZ: We probably . We didn't want to attach
MEMBER COLLINS: OK, thank you.
MR. SCHWARTZ:
MEMBER COLLINS: What you're saying I think, is that the two dwellings are on
the property and put a garage on the property more or less in between them
would upset your concept of the buildings.
MR. SCHWARTZ:
MEMBER COLLINS: OK.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Mr. Dinizio?
MEMBER DINIZlO: No.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: OK. We'll see what develops throughout the
hearing. Is there anybody else would like to speak in favor of this application?
Anybody like to speak against the applicatiOn?
MEMBER COLLINS: Oh, could I ask a question? Who is Marshal Frost?
This letter just arrived in my box this evening and I have digested it.
MR. SCHWARTZ:
MEMBER COLLINS: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Hearing no further questions Ill make a motion
closing the hearing reserving decision until later.
MEMBER TORTORA: Second.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: All in favor?
Motion carried. See Minutes for Resolution.
Page 19 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
7:58 P.M. - MATTITUCK LIBRARY
Request regarding property located at 13900 Main Road (S.R. 25), Mattituck,
N.Y.; Parcel No. 1000-114-11-2 for the following:
..~ Appl. No. 4725 - Special Exception under Article VII,
Section 100-71b (4) to expand library use (addition);
Appl. No. 4729- Variance under Article VII, Section 100-72 regarding
portion of addition which will be less than 15 feet from the easterly property line.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I have a copy of the Suffolk County Tax Map and
I'll ask this gentleman who he is?
MR. TORTORICE: I'm Michael Tortorice and I'm
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: We're going to give you the Code Book and let
you use it verbatim. Well you're Mrs. Tortora?
MEMBER TORTORA:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: OK, what do you want to tell us about the other
MR. TORTORICE:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: What caused that? The overall condition of the
building on the property, the new building?
MR. TORTORICE: Yes, we took the building . We dictated where we were
going to put,
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Mr. Dinizio, any questions of this gentleman?
MEMBER DINIZIO: Nothing.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Ms. Collins?
MEMBER COLLINS: Yes. With respect to the setback, i'm rummaging to find
my copy of the plan which I studied very closely and I find that -
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Here, take my.
Page 20 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
MEMBER COLLINS: It's alright. I know it by heart. The distance from the
bowed, it's a bowed wall. I don't know whether it will be a window or not. But,
the distance from that to the property line at its closes point is 8-1/2 feet. If I
read the survey correctly, that's sand of woods, brush and shrubs that lies to the
west of the library actually goes considerably into the Church property. A lot of
that is..~ in the Church's own'land and then the Church's parking lot begins. Do
you have a notion how far it is from the property line to the Church itself? I
mean ! know what it looks like, but, I'm just asking you if you have a number?
MR. TORTORICE: No, we don't.
MEMBER COLLINS: Oh, it's'well over 100 feet.
MR. TORTORICE: I
MEMBER COLLINS: Yeah, OK, I just think it's somewhat relevant to the, I, I
think your setback is defensible but, it would just be nice to know how far it is
from the nearest building. I have no other question.
MEMBER TORTORA: Could you describe
MR. TORTORICE:
MEMBER TORTORA:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: These are the Special Exceptions areas that we're
asking the Board
MEMBER TORTORA:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you
MEMBER HORNING:
MR. TORTORICE:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Any further comments or questions from
MEMBERS: No.
CHAIRMAN GOE'HRINGER: We thank you. We'll see what else develops.
Don't leave. Is there anybody else would like to speak in favor of this
application? Anybody tike to speak against the application? Seeing no hands
I'll make a motion closing the hearing reserving decision until later.
Page 21 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
MEMBER TORTORA: Second.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: All in favor?
Motion.-carried. See Minutes for Resolution.
Page 22 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
8:10 P.M.- Appl. No. 4731 -BOBBLE ZORN
This is a request for a Variance under Article VII, Section 100-82, based upon
the June 24, 1999 Notice of Disapproval regarding an application for a Building
Permit to move and attach the main building to an accessory building (barn);
under Article VIII, Section 100-82, new construction will create a single structure
with a single-family as a principal use and building, at a setback less than 20 ft.
from the southerly property line. Location of Property: 475 Main Road (S.R. 25),
Greenport, N.Y.; County Tax Map Parcel #1000-35-1-22. Zone: Limited
Business (LB).
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: This concerns the moving of a cottage and adding
it to an existing barn 'and we have been over there and have seen it and we have
a new counsel. Good evening.
MS. MOORE: Good evening.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: How do you do?
MS. MOORE:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Did we meet Mrs. Zorn the last time when she
bought the application in ?
MS. MOORE:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I don't think you were there. No, I don't think she
was. Should we grill them a little?
MS. MOORE:
There was a, before I begin, I'm sure the hearing period
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I have to stop you at this point, it was such a
crummy day. I have to apologize for that when I saw you, for not introducing
myself. But, you couldn't tell to apologize for that. It was my fault. We
always introduce ourselves but, we very simply wanted to get into the rear of the
property in this situation.
MS.
his house
far as
That's alright. We thank you for In any case, the house from
Again, both properties are there. So, there's no impact as
Page 23 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Can I just stop you. What you're telling me is, that
the cottage, we'll refer to it as the cottage, it's still a house, OK. The cottage is
preexisting, the barn was not. So, therefore-
MS. No, the barn is preexisting. Both are preexisting.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Preexisting of what. What is the barn preexisting?
MS. A barn.
MEMBER COLLINS: It's preexisting.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: As a barn, not as a dwelling unit?
MS. : Not as a dwelling.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: OK. So the marriage or the merging of these two -
MS. Correct.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Now creates one larger structure.
MEMBER COLLINS: Principally larger.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Principally.
MS.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Now, so the Building Department now will be
happy with that?
MS. I can't
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER:
MS. MOORE: As I said, by the applicant, as compared to
the alternative, the Planning Board Application and then ultimately
we were going to the garage which was also preexisting and a that was
The definition of the
If you'd like to ask me some questions.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I just want to ask Bob Brown a question. Mr.
Brown we have seen some of your work and more in particular some of the
Page 24 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
$outhold Town Board of Appeals
convers ons of cottage use and in the past. What are these structures
going to look like when they're put together?
MS. MOORE: We have an elevation.
MEMBER COLLINS: We have an elevation.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: No, I'm not asking an elevation. In your sought of
opinion, say professional.
MR, BROWN: In my opinion
and the new construction
the use of the existing
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Is the barn is to be a concrete structure or is it a
going to be a newstructure
MR. BROWN: A reframed structure.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: A reframed structure.
MS. MOORE:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: We thank you. Mr. Dinizio any questions of these
nice people?
MEMBER.DINIZIO: No.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: No. Ms. Collins?
MEMBER COLLINS: I just want to make sure our record is clear on exactly what
the issue is. By attaching the cottage which is the principal structure to the
barn which is the accessory structure, will create a single principal structure it's
now subject to the principal structure setback. And, the 12 foot setback was
when it was an accessory no longer meets the Code and the property line to
which this setback is being measured, is the property line between the lot in
question and the other lot on which the Shady Lady itself stands. They're alt,
they're common owners.
MR. BROWN:
MS. MOORE: Yes, that's true because
MEMBER COLLINS: OK, I just wanted to make sure we were clear on what the
issue is. Just one sought of related questions that the Chairman was asking
Page 25 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
what the general appearance of what's going on will be. Did I read somewhere,
this would have been in the paper probably, that there are plans for rethinking
the external appearance of the Shady Lady itself? Is that in the works?
MR. BROWN:
MS. MOORE: It's not relevant.
MEMBER COLLINS: It's not relevant but, I, it has some ancillary relevance, put
it that way.
MR. BROWN:
MEMBER COLLINS: OK.
MS. MOORE: And part of the problem is that
MEMBER COLLINS: Yeah, right, that's why you slowed down. Let me say why I
asked that. Simply, when you're judging setback issues, the sought of the core
of the matter is, who are the neighbors? What do they look like? What does
the setback do to the neighborhood? And, that's why I was asking what the
plans were Thank you.
MS. MOORE: I'd like to point out, the elevation,
when you put that in, it's
on a two dimensional survey.
that way you can 'It will not make
MR. BROWN:
setback on the front of the barn so
changes.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER:
MEMBER TORTORA:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER:
OK, Mrs. Tortora?
Mr. Horning?
MEMBER HORNING:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you.
finished.
MS. MOORE:
don't have any questions.
No,
don't
leave yet, we're not
Page 26 -August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Thank you. Is there anybody else in the audience
would like to speak in favor? Anybody like to speak against? Seeing no hands,
I'll make a motion closing the hearing, reserving decision until later.
MEMBER DINIZIO: Second.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: All in favor?
Motion carried. See Minutes for Resolution.
Page 27 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
8:27 P.M. - Appl. No. 4699 - LISA JEROME (Hardware Store)
Variances are requested under Article X, Section 100-102 to locate a proposed
addition with reduced rear and front yard setbacks, and under Article X, Section
100-103-- C for a proposed addition with extended frontage, in this General "B"
Business Zone District. This request is based upon an application for a
Building Permit and Building Inspector's April 5, 1999, Notice of Disapproval.
Location: Hart's Hardware Store, 5000 Main Road and Jockey Creek Drive,
Southold; 1000-70-5-6.2.
MS. MOORE: One was, well, we took out the center square which We also
placed the the existing building. One of the points I made the last time
was that you can break the window One or more of Board Members i
know said, So we said, well alright you have a plan that shows the
distance would be setback That was agreeable with the
applicant and we have reservation setback. We traced the front
applicant's property of a , so it shows that we got to increase from the side
yard We reduced the size of our variance request
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Can I have his name please for the record.
MS. MOORE:
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: OK, thank you.
MS. MOORE: That's something that again, we could use as a Board refers
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: OK, for the.record I have absolutely no objection
to dropping the building back to reserve the sign and to take away some of the
visual, question entrance to the building or length of the
building, OK, and I have absolutely no objection to the application as it stands or
as it's proposed as it stands right now. i just want to know, there has to be a
time when you're going to make an application to the Planning Board, is there
not?
MS. MOORE: Oh, yes.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: OK, you've got to do that for super purposes
because we are barred from dealing with this aspect until such time the Planning
Board starts SEQA process as in the case of all of these applications that
concern Business property..
Page 28 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
MS. MOORE: So, with all due respect, I think we can deal
but it makes some sense because if the Board says, I'm sorry, go away, then,
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I'm going to go a little farther with this one, OK.
This has never been done before, but, it's going to start now in 1999 before the
millennium. Fm going to meet with the Planning Board, OK, meet personally
and if anybody else wants to and I'm going to say, this is the application before
us and I'm.going to ask you to jointly file with them at this point. I'll also need a
short Environmental Assessment Form for this application. So please put that
OK, and we will do the best we can. I want them to tell me, that there is
something that they feel that is upsetting to them at this point, OK. And, at that
particular point we will then at that point, close the hearing and then start
commencement of a decision. I will meet with them personally. I will
personally call the Chairman and meet with them on this application. There's got
to be a situation where we can jointly make these applications. The Planning
Board can deal with the SEQA aspect and then we can complete the process.
But, if there's going to be major changes based upon their site plan review,
there is, it's a moot point for us to make a decision at this point. In my opinion.
MS. MOORE:
nice if we could get
I appreciate your efforts. ~t would be
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: So you will submit it?
MS. MOORE: Oh, I will submit it.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: When, next week?
MEMBER TORTORA:
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Yeah, they're asking for an application from
Mrs. Moore. I guess $150 filing fees and then they'll give her a
recommendation.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: It's a
concerned.
situation is an issue that we're
MEMBER COLLINS: That's not a recommendation.
MS. MOORE:
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: I spoke to the staff today and they said, if
you file the application they'll start the Lead Agency process on the SEQRA and
Page 29 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
they'll send recommendation on the site plan. And, there's also a letter in the
file from two years ago from an applicant on a different map on this project.
MS. MOORE: On the original
BOAR~ SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Yeah, well I guess they'll give a
recommendation if yoU file the application.
MS. MOORE: I can submit this to them?
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: I guess, it's a $150 filing fee.
MS. MOORE: No, it's not the filing fee. We don't want to delay this any longer.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Well I think in a form of my discussing, let them
accept the application first and then I'll go and discuss it with them if they will
accept and then we'll see where we're going at that particular point and then
we'll close the hearing.
MS. MOORE:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I understand that, but, the interesting thing about
the situation is a, if they want a parking change, or if they want something that
could change the overall aspect of this addition OK, then it really doesn't make
sense for us to continue with this application in its present state. If there's a
minor change would require I'm certainly am not going to make them go
closer to the road but, they may make them go closer to the rear property line for
some specific reason or ! have no idea at this point. That's where we are.
MEMBER TORTORA:
CHAIRMAN 'GOEHRINGER: No, I understand that. I know that relatively
on that aspect, so they may say that they would rather have the addition in the
rear of the building so as not to create the extension of 60 feet. That doesn't
concern us on this application. What concerns me is, square footage to square
footage.
MS. MOORE: I don't have a problem with
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I have no intentions of -
MS. MOORE: I have a hard time arguing area.variance with the Planning Board
because so much concept because there are no area variances when you
Page 30 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
go to the Planning Board
in the Zoning Board
· So, I find a much more educated audience
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: OK, so, just give us a letter when you make the
application so that we know and we'll wait about a week or so and then we'll go
on with.the hearing. We thank you. Is there anybody else would like to speak
in behalf of Harts Hardware at this point, which is Lisa Jerome? OK, we are
going to recess this hearing pending a Planning Board session, we could say
their work session and an application by the applicant and a receipt of a short
Environmental Assessment Form for the applicant by the applicant's attorney.
Hearing no further comment I'll make that motion.
MEMBER COLLINS: Second.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: All in favor?
Motion carried. See Minutes for Resolution.
Page 31 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
8:52 P.M. -Appl. No. 4724 JOEL & MAXlNE HIRSCH
(Continuation from July 22, 1999 hearing calendar). This is a request for
Variances based on the June 14, 1999, Notice of Disapproval for a proposed
single-family dwelling with respect to: (a) insufficient setback from the top of the
L.I. Sound bluff at less than 100 feet at its closest point; (b) insufficient side yard
at less than 20 feet on one side; (c) insufficient total combined sides at less
than 45 feet; (d) building height up to 45 ft. instead of the Code limitation of 35
feet. Location of Property: North Side of Private Right-of-Way (Pvt. Rd. #11)
extending off the North side of Sound Avenue, Mattituck, N.Y., Parcel 1000-112-
1-12.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Pat we need three green cards from you.
MS. MOORE:
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Not on this one. I'll check, OK, well I'll
check it, I'll check it. I can call you tomorrow if you want.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: OK, we're ready Ms. Moore.
MS. MOORE: This evening I have a copy of here. I have a
architectural work on this project. Bob Schroeder is here process.
What I'd like to begin with the '1 have the builder here tonight,
Certainly you already have the application for reargument within the standards
but I'd like to go over them again
the neighbors that this is a beautiful home, that we will certainly To begin
with we have to establish a first standard that they'll be undesirable
changes in the neighborhood You can see from the survey
that this lot is only 100 ft. in width. It was, I went back to the Town Records and
the last record prior to zoning Lenz was the original owner I believe the
predecessor To being with the clearly on all the
variances to the applicant, that was crucial variance each room for
flexibility. Other variances we will certainly discuss with the Board, and we have
alternatives. However, the side yard variances, but, parts of this property and
the fact that it's the Long Island Sound waterfront view, the value to this
property is the house not just the lot. And, ultimately the house then I'm
sorry I don't have it for you again, but that was my last set. You can see it
attached to the Board there. The allegation of the rear of the house
designed as of the builders will not you can tell by the present market.
Very , very classic architectural and really it's more in keeping with New
England style and very classic features. Certainly it's a house
anybody would be proud of. 100 feet width of the property, I went
Page 32 -August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
back to the. Zoning Board and I noticed that the last time was
in 1971. Lot sizes generally could be 12,500 sq. ft. Build lots smaller figure.
Dimensional requirements We have zoning lots for 2 acre zoning
average lot is probably width wise, the total requirement, minimal lot most
likely desirably 200 The older opportunity to build a house that
conforms to the area as well as property. So what we have
here is a restriction of 45 feet, 20 and 25. That is imposed is only 20
feet of width. When at the time the lot was created, we were allowed 10 feet
What I also did. i went back and looked at the adjacent property that was along
this road, and compared what their sizes were and tried to But, I noticed
that the every single house as I was going through very little new construction
has occurred with the side view lot of this size. There's probably the
That was a very large lot. That construction It looks
like it's newer than that but, the regulations. Certainly the width of
the lot is 200. In addition on the inside,
wanted to the Board to the aerial and I'm going to
submit to the Board the elevations of the front and the back, giving a chance for
all of the BOard Members to look at it once, but, I'd like to submit it for the Board.
I think that they'll be able to hear me if I speak loudly. When I took the aerial
and we have the copies, I have them identified. Cabin is this parcel right here.
Rothberg Palmieri is the parcel to the east of the second parcel. I super
imposed the use copy to just to my ability on a scale. This is not an exact scale
but it's as close as I could do. I accomplish it on is the house and the setback
from the bluff. So, you can see that the size of the top of the house is in keeping
with some of the other homes in this top in this aerial. Most of the, well,
such a huge property. It's a huge house. The proposed house is in
comparison to the home. But that one is a very large piece of property.
Rothford Palmieri is a I believe a preexisting structure. The only Building Permit
that was of record is, ! have to go back to my notes, but I believe it's 80, in the
80s and it was to on an addition, an unheated addition to the existing house.
So I, again, it's not a reconstruction. In fact, had an original preexisting
house but, tl~ey found was more economical to demolish. They demolition of
the existing and the construction for the new residence. So, the property, the
values and the lots and certainly the houses that are being proposed to these
properties are magnificent. They all get credit, they're beautiful properties,
beautiful homes. Dr. Hirsch is trying to add one more beautiful home to the, to
the that he's here already. The draft is the parcel to the west. On that
too is the preexisting prior to 59 a It actually impacts the property
much more so than the Hirsch will impact on them as there is a, ~, I, super
imposed the surveyor's shed as well as the garage that help me locate exactly
where the overlay should be. You can see that the shed is only about a foot off
of the property line and the garage is 13 feet off the property line. The house is
very close to the bluff. I say measuring it would be give or take 30 feet. Again,
this is all preexisting. They're fine, they're permitted to stay there. But, certainly
Page 33 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
the impact on new construction that a of the subject application, there will be
little or no impact because the house is so close to the water. Their view is not
impacted in any way. Certainly they would have if they were concerned about
the activity of the residence, they could put their own screening if they
wish to. But, on the west side it is a fully wooded parcel. So, there is a great
deal ol~..natural screening that I can't imagine any activity being seen between
the two properties. As you go further to the west, that is probably the
newest house from all of them and I had a, I pulled from the Building Department
a survey. The survey just didn't look right when I comPared the survey to the
aerial. What I did, I superimposed just for your own frame of reference, the
volume of the house and compared to the most new house in the
neighborhood. They're very similar, they're comparable, and size wise they are
both substantial homes and in keeping with the character of the area. That
particular house on the deed that the setbacks in there are for constructional.
This piece is 15 feet on the one side, 15 and 30 as I recall, 30 certainly is
a large setback, but the 15 is a lesser setback and I don't recall what the Code
said at the time, but it seems [o me that 15 and 10 you could cut 15 on the one
side, that was setback. The side where it says that.
Then, there is another very huge parcel The subject parcel from the
appear to be longer, on the street So, that is something certainly
to consider. You got the character established by many trees. Homes that are
setback very close to the bluff and the home that is is certainly in
keeping and I have for the Board so that you don't have to
research on it. I took photocopies
and that one is a more modern style but again,
I saw you go to the book, I think you may have been
and now are and the setbacks
areas. I want to point out to you, that some of the
When
and unfortunately
With respect to the height
here, most of the
35 feet you know, giving some flexibility So, again the height of
The obstacle of the proposed house is 29 feet from the top of the to the first
floor. That is 29 feet, the foundation is 10 feet,
for design
is somewhat and the bluff is so steep but
of the water. You go from the grading of the
and I believe 104 at the top of that slope.
, so that is not, it is
However, the problem
blocks any view
to one hundred
One of the
discussions present to the Board, are argued alternatives
In keeping with the second standard you can by some other
method feasible to the applicant I'd like to
MR.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: We always have questions and I didn't swear you
in, but, that's alright. We're seeing 29 feet. The rest of the build up would have
been in the foundation? What fill would that have involved?
Page 34 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
MR.
We have as yet, I don't know exactly
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: OK. I think I'll go to my colleagues first and then
I'll come back. George, do you have any questions of this gentleman?
MEMBER HORNING:
MR.
MEMBER HORNING: I'm looking at the top How did you
convey to the Building Department the design of the roof and height of the
proposed building?
MS. MOORE: Well the Building Department will accept applications for
variances. A footprint, that is a working footprint, the architect
designed because of the opposition and sometimes we'll go down to
the elevation, we did haVe a delay Again, we were
taking the footprint in mind with what Dr. Hirsch wanted in the house.
Now, we've been in that footprint, now we've designed a house and
something that we could inside
MEMBER HORNING: Do you have any plans at all? What is the most
MS. MOORE: So based on that, we
suspected that we might use some but where you
have a problem where So those are the
three alternatives that we . we applied for height
variance because that was something we knew right off the bat because within
the We could always alternate but when you're there on site
you find out that the Building Department says, oh, no, no, no, the grade is not
where your finished grade is, but, the original amount of grade and now we have
a principal foundation you don't want to be in a position So
the we will come in the original application plus, not to If the
variance is not granted, Dr. Hirsch will lose money under the contract he
loses $10,000, that's consideration to the applicant However, the ultimate
loser will be the seller and that's why the seller's representative is here because
if Dr. Hirsch is going to spend all of this money and ask him to leave, he gets
denied, so, that's why all the applications side
yard setback and height will only be We'd rather get rather
than be in a position so that's why you technically come
in to the Board. the height of the foundation will be the architectural
style, height of It's not a very modern it may be a threat
to the before this of 5 feet at most because the We
Page 35 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
prefer to have the foundation started at grade and the top but, have to
have the foundation poured the Building Department you have four
Building Inspectors and their interpretation of ends in the height
of the building, sometimes differ. So, to be safe we rather than the
35 Hopefully and really or we might need 2 to 3
feet, but working
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Before Bob stands up, are there any other issues
you guys want cleared up before Mr. Schroeder speaks? Mr. Schroeder, how
are you?
MR. SCHROEDER: Good evening
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Somewhere along the line we're
going to have to see a lowest floor elevation on the two front porches. So
whatever you people decide to do as applicant, OK,
MS. MOORE: side elevation?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: We're going to have to see side elevation.
MS. MOORE: Well, that's
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: No, no, no, on the property, on the property. I
want stakes. They've already staked but ! want lowest floor elevation, i want
elevation, OK. I call lowest floor and so, this is -
MS. MOORE: Maybe just a little explanation of
MR. SCHROEDER:
MS. MOORE: Ithink it's
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Yeah, but the problem with that is, the problem
itself is not so, that's the reason why I'm saying that the
culmination of this hearing, that's what I'm going to ask for at this point. I don't
want a lot of work, I just want to be able to see it, OK.
MR. SCHROEDER:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: But, the problem that We have here Bob are still
before us. There's a request of 45 feet. I mean also it appears to us
right now that that is not the case anymore. So, at the end of this hearing
tonight, OK, we're going to determine what the height of this house is going to
Page 36 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
be and you're going to give me two elevation factors, 'in the front so that we can
see where this foundation is going to lie.
MR. SCHROEDER:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: OK, just talk amongst yourselves. If we can
eliminate a variance here well lets eliminate a variance before we conclude this
portion of the hearing tonight so that we know where we're going. What else do
you have to do for us?
MS. MOORE:
MEMBER COLLINS: Mr. Chairman? This is little about height is really
terribly important because the height variance is a matter of deep concern to me
and I got lost and several people were talking at once and I just want you to say
again what you just said, but slowly. Let me just put my question please? I've
been to the property in my little four wheel drive. ! got all the way up to where
the house is going to go. I know what it looks like. I can read a typographical
map and I understand that the property slopes steeply. We have a cross
section on this plan. It shows why a very tall house was proposed. Presumably
that cross section reflects a foundation that is shown starting at grade and there
would be around it. But, I got quite lost as to what is proposed and how
you ended up now with 35 or 36 feet.
MR. SCHROEDER:
MEMBER COLLINS: So that at the lowest point down on the south side, the
foundation is 2 feet into the ground and obviously as you go further towards the
front of the house, the foundation is more and .more buried, OK, I understand,
thank you.
CHAIRMAN 'GOEHRINGER: Now, in light of that, would you please go to the
Building Department and see if you're still required to have a variance based
upon that aspect.
MS. MOORE: Oh, I did go to the Building Department this morning that's why
we were, I really wanted Mr. Hirsch to be here because Jamie Richter took a
look at t the plans and he said, really where we start with the
grade and again with the changes and the loCation of the house, he said, it's real
close and one foot is real close. He referred to You know
on the phone he tried to determine it, but being here with all the pictures in front
of us, now I have the final decision, but, Jamie said, no, and
I showed him the plan. I showed him the survey and that's why
we were able to, In fact, my original thought was that we could withdraw the
Page 37 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
variance all together. However, because of one differential, We prefer to keep
the one so that during construction we find that grading and so on we don't
get stuck coming back to you. We don't want to do that. At that point he's the
owner and
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Did you cut the roof?
MS. MOORE: Yes.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: OK, where are we going from here?
MS. MOORE: Well we've now reduced our request for the height. We still
require side yard and with construction setback from the bluff. 100 feet is
where the house is going to be built. The pool in the back That is
something that the owner is so much flexible If the Board wants to
keep the we can work with that. That's The second floor
will certainly have a view and that's
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: OK, lets reserve that for the next hearing because
I'm waiting for Soil and Water Conservation evaluation of the bluff. So lets hold
that one in abeyance right now.
MS. MOORE: Oh, alright, if it's not a problem.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER:
abeyance.
Well, it's a problem but we're holding it in
MS. MOORE: Well, I mean we could come back to some
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: That would be wonderful.
MS. MOORE: Do you want to wait?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: No.
MS. MOORE: Soil and Conservation is a -
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: They evaluate every project that we have on the
waterfront and quite honestly it would be to everybody's benefit to have that
because then you would know what their overall evaluation is. Suffolk County
Agency which gets funded from the Federal Government which -
MS. MOORE: You get a
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Southold Town Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN. GOEHRINGER: Yes, Pat, Mrs. Tortora has a question.
MEMBER TORTORA: You say the house is and
the town is objecting the width of the pool is 20 feet.
Does that mean the construction is only 2-1/2 feet on either side?
MS. MOORE: A, just that I couldn't follow on that, I'm sorry. I could the
surveyor.
MEMBER COLLINS: Lydia the 100 feet is to the upstairs deck and -
MEMBER TORTORA: 20 feet, you have -
MS. MOORE: No, no, no.
MEMBER TORTORA: The pool is 27x 40, correct?
MS. MOORE: Right.
MEMBER TORTORA: OK, that's 20. Now, what is the width of the deck, if
you're saying the house is 100 feet?
MS. MOORE: No, no, no. We're beyond that 100 feet. No, if you look at your
extension we are much further setback. 100 foot
MEMBER COLLINS: It's just there for reference.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Where are we going from here? I'm trying to
move this along.
MS. MOORE: That's fine. One of the complications but, the
Building Department So, one of the additional
expenses that Dr. Hirsch so again, we're not going
to find an able, willing buyer as easily as Dr. Hirsch, that's Dr. Hirsch that
has to spend the money and buy variances, surveys and ,
excavations and then ultimately The ultimate variance is
that the existing road is getting out of here. We have fire emergency
vehicles. You have trucks that have trouble on the existing road.
But, the neighbors would be likely to benefit from Dr. Hirsch's ,. He's going
to bare the full cost of to the road So, it will be a benefit to the
property owner that
Page 39 -August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: OK, let me just ask one quick question before we
turn it over to Did you discuss anything with Mr. Tothill concerning this
application? This is an unfair question.
MS. MOORE: No, no, no, I mean we called each other and I did offer any
constructive comments that the neighbors We finallY got together as a
group in the hallway
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: No, no, I'm asking the question because there may
be some unanimity that we would during the process.
MS. MOORE: We're willing to listen
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: We'll wait for it
pleasure.
Mr. Tohill, it's always a
MR. TOHILL: Anthony Tohill, First Street, Riverhead, N.Y. I'm representing
Robert Rothberg from the aerial photographs isolated especially in
that section representing everybody in the community
except for this parcel There were three hearings that I'm prepared to
address but, I'm not sure what I'm dealing with I can address it
now. I'm fully prepared, that's a single issue. It's
The second issue is the height and as that's a specialized issue.
and I spent three years of my life dealing with That shouldn't
happen here. There were serious problems Now, I don't know what
to do. They said come back to us with elevation plans.
There are no elevation plans anywhere in this Town Board except They
didn't exist unless they see elevation plans and the reason
they say, is that the mast the roof of the mast, that has everything
to do with the analysis built of height and then the the total slide
doors, are two individual and it may or may not be
How do you proceed because there's no drawing on the table tonight that the
consistent is approximately 2 feet on the ground, 7 feet above the ground, 29
feet , the total 36 feet. What do ! show the planner? He wants to put it on a
, he wants to come 'n here of the DeGraff house, which is less than 20
feet high the Rothberg house which is less than 50 feet high and then the
I can't proceed
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Well that's the reason why I'm confused with the
elevation. I mean I understand exactly what Mr. Schroeder is saying, but, I'm
confused with those elevations because I can't think of the, of course as you
know, I only have small expertise in this area, OK, but, I cannot take those
elevations and even if they're super planted on the site, OK, maybe not
understandable, OK, so I still need them super planted on the site to understand
Page 40 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
this. Maybe if we ask them to stake them, maybe you can utilize that aspect of
it.
MR. TOHILL: Then there's that 75 feet from 100
feet where there are separate significance on
my street. Maybe I'll be here next, isn't that something?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Well I'm very simply going to ask them again to
place those two stakes so that I can
MR. TOHILL: There's nothing that shows the elevation
of what 36 feet. The one that we have We should be
able to ask house plan. That's not fair, and they should the
town is allowing this kind of thing to happen. I'm here, I'm hired, I'm
in charge of these people. I could not get a professional , show me what it
is you want me to talk about. So somehow or other we ended up here with no
purpose to select from. No part of the plan to 'be discussed, and it
shouldn't be going forward unless that's on the table so that ! can hire my expert
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: What are you going to do Ms. Moore?
MS. MOORE: Well, to start with I offered Mr. Tohill, Certainly
making the application, we asked for certain things, in light of the opposition,
we said, let's try to make I gave I would hope that after
what you heard, recognize that one we wait for conservation
accessory structure rather than the foundation.Also, if you look
at the aerial, every single one of these homes that have been constructed are at
the exact same position and some are actually very close to the bluff there.
They should spend the money and consider their own impact and
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: So, that means no elevation?
MS. MOORE: No, no, no, I haven't said that, no.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: OK.
MS. MOORE: I'm just addressing some of the points. That's the
addressing that. The second When I got the plans and had an
opportunity i wanted to make sure that somebody at the Building Department
because again, you don't want to make a request that is not necessary. Based
on the plans that you have, they did have an opportunity to review we had
several hearings tonight that's not a problem. I would hope that graphics
that I'm sure you have seen on zoning of We're talking now
Page 41 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
about amending my application to make 36 feet. That's one foot
variance and that is necessary only because the foundation, the 100 foundation
is grade. We believe that that 1 foot may be necessary based on how
much build you want to bring to property and grade. So, our application formerly
on the record through here is that we are requesting a height variance 1
fOot. Treat is a very minor application. Certainly I appreciate the concern of
the , the surveyor. I'm sorry if it's very alarming to them, but that's what
we had at the time we The draft is a preexisting house that in
all honesty, we can sell for a great deal of money probably have
options of tearing it down. the other homes that were built It's a lovely
house, but, if you have somebody that can buy the properties in that area,
they probably would build into the scale. Rothberg is a very small cottage that
you so that you can't compare what he proposed here. When you talk about
the place of the footprints, I would ask permission for someone from our side to
go and measure what is the height of the I don't have the elevations.
When you look at the photographs they are very high foundation:
In addition, .all of the homes that were discussed, they have an unobtrusive view
of the water because they don't have the bluff that
goes up so high. They can have grandchildren water to view. We
unfortunately we don't have that and that's why this parcel has been the last to
be developed, and property values go up, parcels of
property will take the longest to sell now start coming for the The
Board has numerous applications that are unique as this one is and to compare
this application to DeGraff, Rothberg aerial example is apples and oranges when
you compare.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: So we take that as a no?
MS. MOORE: No, it is not a no. What I will do, I will ask, well we, can I say
informally for the record, you want me to do it by way of a written to the
formal, you refused our height requirement -
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: We are aware of that.
MS. MOORE: I can ask the surveyor to take that parcel and. give you the height
of 36 feet which will get the elevations the surveyor and the builder and
the excavation. I think you can all work together relatively afterwards the
picture of where it would the first floor, the second floor I
think that would certainly give the Board a detailed
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: It would certainly help me that's for sure. I don't
know if it will help counsel.
MS. MOORE: We have no objection.
Page 42 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Mrs. Tortora, do you have a question?
MEMBER TORTORA: What's an elevation plan?
elevation plan?
MS. MOORE: It comes up anyway.
You will provide us with an
MEMBER TORTORA: You don't revise the elevation plan? It
MS. MOORE:
MEMBER TORTORA:
MS. MOORE: You want those?
MEMBER TORTORA:
MS: MOORE: OK, i just want to make sure I
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: OK, well we're going to ask Mr. Tohill what he was
looking for. I'm going to suggest two things, OK, that maybe you two should talk
about this point, the aspect of it, OK. You know, seriously, ~ mean, you
know.
MR. TOHILL:
MS. MOORE:
MR. TOHILL:
MS. MOORE: I would ask that the Planning Board,
you would, if you the courtesy of
it would be helpful if
MR. TOHILL:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: OK, Mr. Tohill, Doc, Doc, yes, i'd like to speak to
Dr. Hirsch for one second. Dr. it's a pleasure to meet you. We sometimes go
through these, we'll refer to them as minor travesties.
DR. HIRSCH:
community and
friend
Fork and my wife
First off i want to say that, as Mr. Tohill said, this is a
one of the things that inspired me is my
South Fork and myself i have property on the South
wanted something a little quieter and yes we looked for
Page 43 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
a while and.many years ago this piece of property
and we liked it very much but, I might say the longest contract
of record. The contract was acquired a year ago and we have this situation that
the contract a variance because itself. Where it is a unique
piece of property, it is established The fact of the matter is, that
when you walk on this property there are problems. I spoke with Mr. Schroeder
many months ago and the attorney made several recommendations, ?
Steinberg. At any rate, but we prior to this and we find out , the
first thing they learned is that the last man coming in would have to do
improvements. Now, certainly, one of the neighbors think,
is that people talk. I was quite surprised that the neighbors had hired an
attorney by the way. The neighbors discussed this and find out
what's appropriate and what's not appropriate. One of the reasons we
presented all three different aspects is that the house
there's flexibility I don't want to go It's not my style. I
would like to have a house that we get the benefit of a piece of property on the
sound. Certainly there are others that have been grandfathers Also,
the area demands that as an agricultural group This is a very special
piece of property and I'm not here to prevent the people around
me so that I can build a house at a smaller scale perhaps so that
we can find the proper house to put on this property. One of tl~e other thing
again, is not a preexisting structure The end structure
that's adjacent to family house coming up the other road. I had a
chance, I never saw the house, but I knew that and I was quite surprise at the
size of the house, . The other thing was that the
corporation that the people that are buying the property from, one of the reason
it's such a beautiful sale, is (a) I have , and since the cost of
defending an action is and one they're two lawyers and there
are five to ten people and So, I'm a little The thing is, that
you can do something that's not abusive. I think that the road has to be clean,
that's one tt3ing, the size of the house, that's another issue, but, it concerns
about and all that. Surely, these things can be worked out and I'm willing
to do that and I'd like to try and get that done. The biggest issues I , this
erosion and the way the property slopes down and the wooded parcel
and that's probably one of the reasons it hasn't been sold. So, I'm willing to
put the effort in, the time in I think in the end, the community will be better for it.
I think that if the neighbors that are concerned if they address it directly to me,
the attorneys will discuss it, that's how I feel.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: OK, thank you. Mr. Tohill, anything in rebuttal at
this point or anything you want to discuss?
MR. TOHILL: I don't want to get into the
Page 44 - August 18, t999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN. GOEHRINGER: 20 years of history.
MR. TOHILL: Right, he doesn't know that simply
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: OK, right, it doesn't have anything to do with the
actual construction. So, what we're going to do here, is we're going to Member
Collins who always mentions to me, that she likes to wrap things up in a tight
little package, she says just tell me where we're going, OK. We're going here is
this. We're going to get the proper maps, we're going to submit the proper
maps to you. You're going to submit the proper information or documentation to
applicant's counsel prior to the next hearing. The question is, when are we
going to get the maps? When is the hearing going to commence, so on and so
forth? The'point is, that since we are at the 18th and since the next hearing is
at the 16th, we assume that we can get the maps in an appropriate fashion.
That would be approximately two weeks before the hearing or sometime
thereabouts the week of Labor Day. If we don't get them, we're very simply
going to hold it over to October. However, we are going to get the evaluation to
Soil and Water Conservation which we will submit to counsel and we submit to
you and as you know, they tend to be very helpful in these areas. It's somewhat
invaluable actually and so you'll find that Doctor to be a very good tool in
reference to whatever neutering of the bluff you may have to do and they
are a very, very, very adequate outfit in this whole scheme of things. Once we
commence the hearing then we will be able to, I will go back to the site. I've
been there three times already. I am very familiar with the road. This Board has
heard this a hundred times but I've been a fireman in the Town of Mattituck for
almost 32 years and I have gone up and down this road at least twice a year with
fire equipment to make sure fire equipment can pass through there and primarily
ambulance.
MS. MOORE: If you could be so kind. The main issue for the applicant are the
side yards. I think in all
fairness Mr.'Tohill plead his argument is that the side yard because what
exactly is the problem with the side yard line to be proposed? or
what in their mind could be Certainly 45, 40 feet which is what
the Code requires is unacceptable to the applicant and we could end it all here
because the is not as a practical area variance we could certainly
and Tohill knows that we could end that argument We are willing to
listen, first place repeatedly offered to listen to their concerns,
we tried to accommodate their concerns, -
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I don't think, I'm not speaking for them, but, I'm not
sure that I understand the impact of the house and I'm not sure that they
understand and I'm not speaking for them, I think elevation factors will help me
understand though. As you know this Board regardless of what they say, has
Page 45 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
the right to. anything, OK, so we will do so, collectively in a normal fashion
the way we do in every application that is before us. I have to go back and
understand this situation, OK.
MS. MOORE: Well maybe we can hope that at the next hearing they can be
more specific on the grounds of the hearing, of what exactly are their concerns.
You know, to put up a 45 foot house, they know it's unreasonable, Tohill
knows it's unreasonable and taking that position, I hope he takes that position
because that is a very unreasonable position -
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: I understand. I don't think we've gotten to that
point yet to be honest With you. I don't think we've gotten to that point. So we
thank everybody -
MEMBER COLLINS: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN'GOEHRINGER: Yes.
MEMBER COLLINS: You know in the interest declared, the , when you
were agreeing with counsel what we're going to do before the next meeting, you
were usually the term maps, and I think that the things that we have asked for
are a revision of the cross sectional drawings showing how the house fits into
the land and do I also understand that we were asking for elevations of the
building from the other two sides? We have the front, a west and the east now.
I'm not sure that was being asked for and I want to know what we asked for.
MR. TOHILL: North and the south, there was discussion with the Board about
east and west but I'm against the elevation wall gives the surveyor a second
wall and I cannot
MEMBER COLLINS: An elevation drawing. I'm sorry, I'm confuSed.
MR. TOHILL: That's OK, but they're here.
MEMBER TOHILL: Here?
MR. TOHILL: That's them, those are elevation .
MEMBER COLLINS: What we have, OK, I want to make sure. I understand this
is a -
MR. TOHILL: Yes, you're calling them cross sections and I'm calling them
MEMBER COLLINS: No, no, no, Sir, I was calling this thing cross section.
Page 46 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
MR. TOHIII: OK, that's something ~ may not have.
MS. MOORE: That's the cross section I understand what you're saying.
MEMBER COLLINS: Right and we have here only acquired today, elevations of
the front and the back of the house. Was anyone else looking for any other
elevations? You just want to get your hands on these elevations?
MR. TOHILL: Those primarily. ~ would love to have the rest
MEMBER COLLINS: Is to get hold, fine, now one other thing Mr. Chairman, are
we going to ask the applicant to sort out with the Building Department whether or
not they're seeking that height variance?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Well, I would hope that these maps would be
documentation if they with Mr. Richter who is an engineer, they'll be able to tell
him that. ! don't mean to sound sarcastic -
MEMBER COLLINS: Well I'd like us to know because I want to know if we're
hearing a height variance argument or not. If we are, I'd like to have it defined.
MS. MOORE: The only
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Are we asking for the east, west elevation?
MEMBER COLLINS: No.
MS. MOORE: Well I'm going to give you all
CHAIRMAN .GOEHRINGER: I will recess this to the next regularly scheduled
meeting, OK? However, if we don't receive it in a timely fashion, we are very
simply going to skip over that meeting, and at that meeting we're going to say,
exactly what I've just said. We have not received the documentation. This is no
hazard to anybody, we have not received it timely, but, we're going to jump over
that meeting and we'll zip right into the October. How does that sound?
MR. TOHILL:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Well that's what I just said. It has to be
somewhere in that week so that we can have it a week, a week and a half
before. I said two weeks, but I'm just saying.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: It could be the day after Labor Day.
Page 47 - August 18, 1999 Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Which is what, the 7th?
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: The Tuesday after Labor Day.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Tuesday, after Labor Day, alright?
MEMBER DINIZlO: Well I'm concerned that if we come back and we're ready to
go
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: No, I think we all want to conclude this hearing well
before that. OK, so that's where we are here, is that correct? Are we going for ~
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Pat you can send the plan directly to Mr.
Tohill, just timely.
MS. MOORE: I think I probably will.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: OK, thank you.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: So I offer a Resolution ladies and gentlemen to
recess to the next regularly scheduled meeting.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: September 16th then.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: All in favor?
Motion carried. See Minutes for Resolution.
End of Hearing.
Prepared by Lucia Farrell.
RECEIVED ~ND FILED BY
THE SOUTHOLD TOWN CLERK