HomeMy WebLinkAboutCatapano Sr., Salvatore lg87
1'0W11 Chm,l~ ~n,f.h~EPLY TO:
] ~ uFFOLK OFFICE
S4071~ MAIN FID. COFI. B[CKWITH
January 29, 1987
YORK Cl'l~ 02'~ICE
Mrs. Judith T. Terry
Southold Town Clerk
Southold Town Hall
P.O. Box 1179
Southold, NY 11971
Re: Salvatore & Jeanne Catapano
Dear Ms. Terry:
My office has been requested by Mr. and Mrs. Salvatore Catapano
to reply to your letter of January 21, 1987 concerning the Town
Board's denial of their request for a permit to maintain a house
trailer on their property.
Unfortunately, I think that there might be some misunderstanding
in this matter concerning the use of the property and the reasons
for the application. I would like to put the matter into proper
perspective and ask that the Board reconsider their decision.
First of all, the property in question is a farm and is in an
agricultural district. Farms by their very nature do contain a
lot of equipment and materials necessary for farming. The prior
owner, Staller Associates, intended to extend the existing B-Zone
which is just west of the subject property so that the entire
parcel would become commercial. His intent was to change the
whole area into a shopping mall as you enter Southold.
Fortunately, Mr. and Mrs. Catapano purchased the land so that
they could farm the land and raise flowers commercially. Their
plight was similar to the Pilgrims, in that they had to come to
new land and survive the first winter. This was their priority.
The beautification of Southold, although important, was their
secondary goal. They invested a large sum of money and trusted
that they would survive. They built their log cabin on their
land and planted their crop and tried to improve the physical
appearance of the property in any way they could afford.
They survived the winter and they are now "rooted" in the
community. Mr. Catapano works the proverbial farmers day from
sunrise to sunset and hired a night watchman to tend to the
greenhouses at night. Temperature control is critical inside the
greenhouses. Constant watch must be maintained for rips and tears
in the plastic walls and the maintenance of the proper
temperature and humidity within the greenhouse. The past few
days were illustrative, especially when the high winds ripped
through the south wall and the plastic had to be shored up during
Judith T. Terry
1/29/87
Page 2
the night. If the night watchman had not alerted Mr. Catapano,
the entire crop could have been ruined, resulting in financial
disaster.
There are many trailers throughout Southold Town which do house
watchmen and workers. Unfortunately or fortunately, as the case
may be, they are not in the center of town and are not highly
visible. The other farms are not confronted with the same
problems that are present here, namely keeping a farm on Main
Road that is both productive and yet pleasing to the eye.
Mr. and Mrs. Catapano in no way want to be considered
uncooperative or difficult. They in no way ever intended to
violate any aspect of Town Law. Other farmers in the area,
especially the Lapp farm on South Harbor Road have applied for
and received a Special Exception for a Labor Camp to accomodate
their employees and perhaps this is the only way to solve this
problem.
The trailer was being used as a construction trailer by Mr.
Catapano and it seemed an ideal way to accomodate the night
watchman that he hired especially since it appeared to be less
unsightly than a labor camp and especially since the other
farmers have been allowed similar trailers for their watchmen.
The only difference is that Mr. Catapano is on the Main Road and
it does appear to be out of place.
Mr. Lessard suggested that an application be filed for the
instant permit. Only a short time transpired during the holidays
from the time he was advised to file the permit to the time that
the permit was actually filed. There was never any intention to
purposely delay in the filing of the application. Mr. Catapano
fully disclosed that the watchman was staying at the trailer and
he did not try to hide that fact.
I think the matter can be resolved with proper planning. During
the spring of this year, the entire front of the greenhouses will
be planted with cut flowers and the fields cultivated with crops.
The driveway area will be paved with crushed stone and the
vegetable stand will be cosmetically improved and upgraded. In
the spring of 1988, an extensive renovation is contemplated which
will include the installation of a 10,000 square foot glass
greenhouse range, similar to Homeside Florist and Landscape
Adventure in Riverhead. Plans will be submitted in accordance
with the Town specifications and they will, of course, be subject
to site plan approval.
Judith T. Terry
1/29/87
Page 3.
The entire project will cost in excess of $150,000.00 and will
include crushed stone drives, parking facilities and will be
completely landscaped with birms, flowers and shrubs. Hopefully,
rendering and other photos can be supplied to the Town Board
within the week. It truly will enhance the appearance.
Furthermore, Mr. Catapano has indicated that he would be joining
the Southold Chamber of Commerce and will work closely with their
advisory staff in planning the addition.
Relocation of the trailer at this time is possible and it can be
properly screened and fenced from view. Mr. and Mrs. Catapano
wants me to assure you that he wants to do nothing that would be
a detriment to this Town. If his priorities were contrary to
those of the Town Board, then he regrets the misunderstanding.
But the misunderstanding is not irreversible and we hope to
re-establish the avenues of dialogue.
We would like very much to meet with you and discuss our plans
and ask that you reconsider your position and hold this matter in
abeyance until it is fully discussed.
Your attention and cooperation in this matter is sincerely
appreciated.
V~urs,
PAC: sol
JUDITH T. TERRY
TO~YN CLERK
OFFICE OF THE TOWN CLERK
TOWN OF SOUTHOLD
Town Hall, 53095 Main Road
P.O. Box 1179
Southold, NewYork 1971
TELEPHONE
(516) 765-1801
January 21, 1987
Salvatore Catapano, Sr.
48130 Main Road
Southold, New York 11971
Dear Mr. Catapano:
The Southold Town Board, at their:regular meeting held on January
21, 1987, reviewed your application for a house trailer permit for a night
watchman at your property at 48130 Main Road, Southold, and it was the
unanimous decision of the Board to deny your application. Please be
advised that this trailer must be removed from your property immediately.
By copy of this letter I am notifying the Building Department of the
Town Board's decision and direction that the trailer be removed.
Very truly yours,
....
Southold Town Clerk
cc- V. Lessard, Exec. Admin,
.dx'd~.4... - . -
TOWN OF SOUTHOLD
TOWN CLERK'S OFFICE
SOUTHOLD, N. Y.
RECEVE)
JAN '1 5 1987
Town Clerk Sout~d~
Application No .....................................
Approved .................................... , ]9 ........ Permit No .................
AFPLICATION FOR LOCATION OF SINGLE AUTOMOBILE TRAILER OR HOUSE CAR,
OUTSIDE OF TOURIST CAMF.
Instructions
a. This application must be completely filled in by typewriter or in ink and submitted in duplicate to
the Town Clerk.
b. Plot plan showing location of lot and of buildings on premises, relationship to adjoining premises or
public streets or areas, and giving a detailed description of layout of property and proposed location
of trailer must be drawn on the diagram which is part of this application.
c. Upon approval of this application, the Town Board will issue a trailer permit to the applicant. Such
permit shall be kept on the premises available for inspection.
d. No trailer shall be occupied or used in whole or in part for any purpose whatever other than specified
in permit.
Application is hereby made to the Town Board for the issuance of o Trailer Permit pursuant to the
Building Zone Ordinance of the Town of Southold, Suffolk County, New York, and other applicable Laws,
Ordinances or Regulations. The applicant agrees to comply with all applicable laws, ordinances and
regulations. ~. ~
(Signature of applicant)_ _ ./I ,~
(Address) /~'~'-~'~"7/-'-~' 7
State whether applicant is owner, lessee or agent .......... C:~.L~...~.~....~.. ........................ ,~ ../..~.?..:....'~....~...~...~
"ame of Owner of r i ~ ~/~'~---~Y~ "~.-~-L¥~' ~_~'~,:"~L~'
p em ses ...................................................................................... ¥~...;...;.~_:.~/. ...............
If applicant is corporate, signature of duly authorized officer
(Name and title of corporate officer)
I. Location of land on which proposed trailer will be located ............................................................
Street and number . ,'. '..
2. State existing use and occupancy of premises and intended use and occupancy of proposed trailer:
a. Existing use and occupancy .............. ..~. .......................... ~ ......................................................
b. Intended use and occupancy ...........................................................................................................
c. Period of time trailer is to be located on premises ...... ~......~ ..........................................
3. Fee ...... ~.~,~.....~.... ............. (To be paid on filing application)
4. Dimensions of trailer, length ...L../..~../ .............. width / ' ~
.; ....... ~ ..................... height ...~ ......................
Registration Number ......................................... Serial Number ..................................... : ......................
§. Size of lot: Front ............ /. ........................ Rear .................. Depth ....... ..~.~...~... ..............
6. I~e of purchase ar lease of land ............................................................................................
7. Zone or use district in which premises are situated ......... :. ................................................ .~.
8. Does proposed use violate any zoning law, ordinance or regulation? ....~..~. ........................................
9. a. Method of Sewerage disposal ........... ..~..~..~,~..9.~.~. .........................................................................
b. Source of Water Supply ........ .~..e_~. ........... .~..~......~.....~.~_~~ ...............................................
c. Source of Electricity .............. L.~'./.~C.~.. ..........................................................................................
PLOT DIAGRAM
Locate clearly and distinctly all buildings, whether existing or proposed, and indicate all set-back dimen-
sions from property lines. Give street and block numbers or description according to deed, and show street
names and indicate whether interior or corner lot. Indicate clearly location of proposed trailer on prem-
ises, showing distances from all buildings and property lines.
STATE OF NEW YORK ),
COUNTY .OF SUFFOLK j~ ,
.... ~ ....................... ; ............... :.:.....~. ............................................ being duly sworn, deposes and says that
he is the applicant named above. He is the ....................... ~.~4~....,~..~...~... ...................................................
(owner or lessee or agent)
of said owner or owners, and is duly authorized to make and file this application; and that all statements
contained in this application are true to the best of his knowledge and belief; and that the trailer will
be located in the manner set forth in the application filed herewith.
Sworn.~.~to before me this ...../...~...'-.,-~/-~ ............ 19..Z~....dayx~. ~ oaf ..~
~' (Signature)
(No~6ry Public~