HomeMy WebLinkAboutZBA-02/02/2017 Hearing
TOWN OF SOUTHOLD ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
COUNTY OF SUFFOLK: STATE OF NEW YORK
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TOWN OF SOUTHOLD
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
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Southold Town Hall
Southold, New York
February 2, 2017
9:36 A.M.
Board Members Present:
LESLIE KANES WEISMAN - Chairperson/Member
ERIC DANTES – Member
GERARD GOEHRINGER – Member (Absent)
GEORGE HORNING – Member (left at 2:16 P.M.)
KENNETH SCHNEIDER – Member
KIM FUENTES – Board Assistant
WILLIAM DUFFY – Town Attorney
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February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting
INDEX OF HEARINGS
Hearing Page
Dorie and Ari Paparo # 7020 3 - 5
James Huettenmoser # 7024 5 - 7
Kenneth Zahler # 7011 7 - 10
Bruce and Leona Goodheart # 7019 11 - 12
Susannah McDowell # 7021 13 - 16
Albert Leutwyler # 7022 16 - 19
MGH Enterprises, Inc., Verizon Wireless # 7023 19 - 22
William Gremler Jr. and Michael Murphy # 7025 22 - 32
Captain Red’s Marine Sales, Inc. # 7014 32 - 40
Areti LaValle # 7026 40 - 43
Town of Southold Planning Board/Surrey Lane Vineyards # 7039 43 - 44
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February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting
HEARING # 7020 – DORIE and ARI PAPARO
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : The first application before the Board is for Dorie and Ari Paparo
#7020. This is a request for variance under Article III Section 280-15 and the Building
Inspector’s November 1, 2016 Notice of Disapproval based on an application for a permit to
construct an accessory in-ground swimming pool at 1) located in other than the code required
rear yard located at 6182 Soundview Ave in Peconic. Would you spell your name please?
CJ DELVAGIO : Spells name.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : This looks like the pool which is required to be located in a rear yard
is in a side yard right?
CJ DELVAGIO : Right.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : It’s an at grade pool and what would you like us to know about the
application?
CJ DELVAGIO : Just the way the topography of the yard is such that where the pool is being
placed is the highest part of the yard where the back part of the yard kind of slopes down and
goes away into the woods and (inaudible) the back yard would cause a problem because of the
drainage it would be draining towards the pool and you need the side yard variance because
I’m trying not build a retaining wall on the side of the pool. We are also trying to keep a major
huge old tree and not you know affect that.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : By the way just so you know we’ve all been out and visited the site
so we’re familiar with it and looked at the topography and so on. Let’s see if there are any
questions from the Board, George?
MEMBER HORNING : Is there a deck with the pool is that at grade also?
CJ DELVAGIO : Right now there’s no proposed deck or patio. I would imagine if they were doing
one it would be on grade.
MEMBER HORNING : I’m a little bit confused. Is it a steel liner pool or is it vinyl? One place says
vinyl and another place says steel.
CJ DELVAGIO : It’s a steel wall pool and then it’s vinyl liners on the inside of that.
MEMBER HORNING : And the pool equipment?
CJ DELVAGIO : There’s a pool equipment pad a 3X3 concrete pad that we’re going to pour and
that’s basically for a pump and filter.
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February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting
MEMBER HORNING : Okay and you’re proposing the pool equipment pad to be 2 feet setback
from the right of way and the pool proposed to be 73 foot setback from the right of way?
CJ DELVAGIO : Right.
MEMBER HORNING : How many neighbors are on that how many houses?
CJ DELVAGIO : It’s a private road so all I know there’s only one neighbor in front of towards
Soundview Ave.
MEMBER HORNING : And what’s across the street what is that?
CJ DELVAGIO : I think that’s a there’s a piece of an agricultural lot directly across and then
there’s no residents across the street on that private road.
MEMBER HORNING : And that lot runs the entire length of the right of way up to at least your
occupants property?
CJ DELVAGIO : Which lot?
MEMBER HORNING : The lot across the right of way.
CJ DELVAGIO : There’s a there’s two lots that connect no there’s one whole lot across there
sorry.
MEMBER HORNING : And probably would not be developed in the near future would you say?
CJ DELVAGIO : I would imagine not.
MEMBER HORNING : Okay thank you.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Ken any questions?
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : No questions.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Eric.
MEMBER DANTES : I do not have any questions.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : When we were out at the site it’s clear that there’s undeveloped
area then there’s a very large sloping area that you know looks out back on to the North Rd. I
guess. The only other property is the one that’s shares the a property line and is also on that
right of way and that would be the only one impacted there’s a house in between the proposed
location of the pool and that residence so from that point of view it has no impact on the
existing dwelling. Is there anyone in the audience who wishes to address this application?
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February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting
Hearing no further questions or comments I’ll make a motion to close the hearing reserve
decision to later date. Is there a second?
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : Second.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : All in favor?
MEMBER HORNING : Aye.
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : Aye.
MEMBER DANTES : Aye.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Aye.
(See Minutes for Resolution)
HEARING # 7024 – JAMES HUETTENMOSER
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : The next application before the Board is for James Huettenmoser
#7024. This is a request for a variance under Article XXIII Section 280-124 and the Building
Inspector’s November 9, 2016 Amended November 23, 2016 Notice of Disapproval based on an
application for a permit to construct additions and alterations to an existing single family
dwelling at 1) less than the code required minimum front yard setback of 35 feet located at 65
Bayview Drive in East Marion New York good morning Joan. Please state your name for the
record please.
JOAN CHAMBERS : Joan Chambers I’m representing the owners who are here if you have any
questions for them.
CHAIRPESON WEISMAN : Let me just enter into the record here that we’re looking at a front
yard setback of 22.8 feet where the code requires 35. The addition is 101.6 square feet and it’s
for basically for a second bathroom and its following sort of filling in an existing corner of the
house. What is the current setback for the dwelling?
JOAN CHAMBERS : The current setback on the existing dwelling are 30 feet to that north west
corner.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : There’s a fence and all of that you’re talking about the part that’s
not the fence you’re talking about the wall of the dwelling.
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February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting
JOAN CHAMBERS : I’m talking about the wall of the dwelling to the fence is 30 feet according to
Stanley Isakson’s survey okay?
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Okay.
JOAN CHAMBERS : And then what we have is we have 22.8 it’s going to go from the new
addition from the existing wall of the house to the property line let me see if I can find it I don’t
think they actually put that on the
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : You got 22.8 at the closest point and
JOAN CHAMBERS : At the closest point of the new addition.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : What’s the 27 feet?
JOAN CHAMBERS : The 27 feet is from the corner of the house to basically the curve of the
road. This is what caused the letter of disapproval to be reviewed and they said in the letter of
disapproval they had that the addition was 27 feet from the property line and I went back and
pointed out to them that that isn’t the property line that was the line the curve of the property
and he had to be revised to be 22.8 cause we didn’t want to apply for a variance for 27 feet
(inaudible) and really the way the house is laid out there really isn’t anywhere else to put this
bathroom in the house. We tried to keep it minimal and as you know from going out we tried to
just fill in that corner so we could run the roof along from the porch and just you know do the
minimal amount to get a second bathroom in this little house.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Let’s see what the Board has George?
MEMBER HORNING : The existing lot coverage?
JOAN CHAMBERS : The existing lot coverage.
MEMBER HORNING : You’re proposing 10.9 for the lot coverage (inaudible)
JOAN CHAMBERS : No I don’t (inaudible) it’s on the application I don’t have it on the top of my
head.
MEMBER HORNING : You’re filling in the corner to make a bathroom.
JOAN CHAMBERS : Correct.
MEMBER HORNING : And you’re reducing the setback to a proposed 22.8 feet.
JOAN CHAMBERS : 22.8 feet.
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February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting
MEMBER HORNING : Right thank you.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Well I’ll just make the observation that when we were inspecting
when I was inspecting the site the subject dwelling is sitting quite high on a hill which certainly
creates a different impact in a setback than if it were parallel to the road and flat. It’s perceived
to be farther away than what it actually is in terms of the math. Let’s see if Eric you have any
questions on this one? Ken?
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : No not really.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : They’re sleeping today lucky for you.
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : It’s pretty straightforward.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Yeah it is. You’re not really increasing the non-conformance by
anything significant. Alright, is there anyone in the audience who wants to address this
application? Hearing no further questions or comments I make a motion to close the hearing
reserved decision to later date.
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : Second.
CHAIRPESON WEISMAN : All in favor?
MEMBER HORNING : Aye.
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : Aye.
MEMBER DANTES : Aye.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Aye.
(See Minutes for Resolution)
HEARING # 7011 – KENNETH ZAHLER
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : The next application before the Board is for Kenneth Zahler #7011.
This is a request for a variance under Article XXII Section 280-105 and the Building Inspector’s
October 14, 2016 Notice of Disapproval based on an application to legalize an “as built” fence
at 1) more than the code required maximum four feet in height when located in the front yard,
located at 63735 Suffolk County Route 48 (adj. to Long Island Sound) in Greenport. Good
morning would you just state your name please not that we don’t know it but.
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February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting
KENNETH ZAHLER : Kenneth Zahler I have my surveys here would you like me to bring them up?
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Sure, let’s see we need one for the office and I guess one two three
four. We have this which is your
KENNETH ZAHLER : This is the as built which I think it’s what I was required. What did you say
five?
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Five yes thank you so much. Just so you’re aware if you’re not
already informed but the Board has done site inspection so we’ve seen what it is what you
actually built and
KENNETH ZAHLER : Do you like it?
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : I think it looks very nice to tell you the truth.
KENNETH ZAHLER : I want you to know that the flag on the side of the garage was made from
driftwood that I collected on the beach.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : No kidding is that was that horse also made from driftwood on the
beach?
MEMBER HORNING : I thought it was a deer.
KENNETH ZAHLER : Well actually I bought that at a store.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Is that a deer or
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : Is that where you got the idea for the flag from the horse?
KENNETH ZAHLER : No I just had the idea in my mind.
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : Yea I noticed that it was nice.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Anyway the property is very improved since the last variance so
what we’re looking at here is the change from the prior grant was really quite substantial. It
was perimeter fencing and you have reduced that down to deer fencing primarily around the
pool. The setbacks are the same, the rights of way are clear, the meter is accessible. All the
things that I recall from the last variance the only difference and I don’t think it’s significant is
instead of deer fencing along the property line it’s a solid wood fence for privacy mainly from
the residence that’s adjacent and you’re back here because it was a substantial change and also
because the pool only requires a four foot height. Is there anything else you would like us to
know about this application?
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February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting
KENNETH ZAHLER : I just wanted to say that since I had the previous variance granted to do all
that I didn’t think that I needed to come in and ask for anything since I was doing less. I was
doing essentially nothing outside of the area granted just a small area and yes it’s around the
pool but I just thought that that (inaudible) and I apologize for that it was my misinterpretation
but in any event after we did all that and I started getting prices for gates that would close and
open (inaudible) I’m not going to go down that road we’ll just stop at this point.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Okay let’s see if the Board has any questions, George?
MEMBER HORNING : Not at this time.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Eric?
MEMBER DANTES : You’re talking about prices for an auto gate or something like that?
KENNETH ZAHLER : Right for a gate that you can push a button or get a remote control and the
gate would open and when I started adding up all the dollars for that as well as the fence I was
like oaky never mind.
MEMBER DANTES : How much was the auto gate?
KENNETH ZAHLER : Depending on what you wanted the gate to look like were starting at
twenty five thousand.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : I see your point.
KENNETH ZAHLER : I was also told that I could instead of the gate I could dig a trench and lay
pipes which are a deterrent to deer.
MEMBER DANTES : Those don’t always work though sometimes they jump over them.
KENNETH ZAHLER : That’s exactly what I anticipated so I just scrapped the whole idea.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Ken?
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : Yes I have a couple of questions, now you’re not applying for a deer
fence you’re applying for a fence that doesn’t conform to the height correct cause I don’t think
you’re the fence is not constructed per code as a deer fence. It may act as one but it is not a
deer fence.
KENNETH ZAHLER : Yeah that was the whole purpose the reason why we did that as opposed to
a four foot fence was simply because it was the one part of the piece of property that we could
actually put shrubbery that deer would eat and we could stop them.
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February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : What is the height of this fence?
KENNETH ZAHLER : The fence that’s there is six feet.
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : Six feet.
KENNETH ZAHLER : We felt that the combination of the height of six feet coupled with the
changing terrain would be enough of a deterrent for deer and so far it has.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Well especially since they have so much of the rest of your property
available.
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : But I just want to be clear on that that it’s not
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : It’s a six foot high fence.
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : Six foot high fence not it acts like a deer fence that’s fine but it’s not as
per code a deer fence cause of the post spacing and the mesh and all that.
KENNETH ZAHLER : Right.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : We should also enter into the record that we received comments
from the LWRP coordinator Local Waterfront Revitalization Program and it’s determined to be
consistent with the policy, anything else from anybody, anyone else in the audience wishing to
address the application? Well good hearing no further questions or comments I’m going to
make a motion to close the hearing reserve decision to later date.
MEMBER HORNING : Second.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Seconded by George, all in favor?
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : Aye.
MEMBER HORNING : Aye.
MEMBER DANTES : Aye.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Aye.
(See Minutes for Resolution)
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February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting
HEARING # 7019 – BRUCE and LEONA GOODHEART
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : The next application before the Board is for Bruce and Leona
Goodheart #7019. This is a request for a variance under Article XXIII Section 280-124 and the
Building Inspector’s September 29, 2016 Notice of Disapproval based on an application for a
permit to construct additions and alterations to an existing single family dwelling at 1) the
proposed additions and alteration is less than the code required side yard minimum setback of
10 feet located at 350 Second Avenue in Peconic. Just state your name please for the record.
MIKE KIMACK : Michael Kimack for the applicants. It’s pretty straightforward. There’s an
existing screen porch one side which is the non-conforming side (inaudible) the walls off of
there and then do an A-line roof extension over a portion of the deck on that one side. None of
the lines are encroach any further into the side yard (inaudible)
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : This addition is it’s a 7 foot side yard setback correct?
MIKE KIMACK : I believe so yes.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : The code requires 10.
MIKE KIMACK : It has been I mean the house basically has been at that particular location from
permitted as such.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Okay let’s see if the Board has any further questions. I’ll start with
Ken down there, Ken anything?
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : No I understand it it’s pretty straightforward you want to cover a portion
of the deck.
MIKE KIMACK : Exactly right Ken nothing further into the 7 foot just taking out the two walls of
the existing porch and just (inaudible) A-line over the existing deck with that portion and it
would be open porch.
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : Open porch and serve as entrance covered entrance as well.
MIKE KIMACK : Yea.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Eric?
MEMBER DANTES : No I don’t have any questions.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : George? Somebody ask something or we’ll be too for the next one.
MEMBER HORNING : I’ll ask a question existing lot coverage 27.3?
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February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting
MIKE KIMACK : Yea that hasn’t changed that was the original permission given.
MEMBER HORNING : And that will not change?
MIKE KIMACK : That will not change.
MEMBER HORNING : And utilities any extension of utilities?
MIKE KIMACK : No, no not on this at all it’s just a deck situation none of the utilities need be
extended or interior house changing (inaudible) no bathrooms, no additional bedrooms or
anything like that.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : What’s I’m looking at the floor plan what’s it proposed to be used
for?
MIKE KIMACK : Just an open deck with an open deck underneath a A-line roof line.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Yea I’m looking at the elevation now it’s clear.
MIKE KIMACK : (inaudible) basically it would be this sheet here the
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Yea that’s what I’m looking at alright anything from anybody else,
anyone else in the audience wishing to address this application? Hearing no further questions
or comments I’ll make a motion to close the hearing reserve decision to a later date is there a
second?
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : Second.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : All in favor?
MEMBER HORNING : Aye.
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : Aye.
MEMBER DANTES : Aye.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Aye.
(See Minutes for Resolution)
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February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting
HEARING # 7021 – SUSANNAH MCDOWELL
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : The next application before the Board is for Susannah McDowell
#7021. This is a request for a variance under Article III Section 280-15, Article XXIII Section 280-
124 and the Building Inspector’s October 26, 2016 Notice of Disapproval based on an
application for a permit to demolish and reconstruct an existing non-conforming accessory
garage at 1) less than the code required minimum front yard setback of 40 feet, 2) less than the
code required side yard setback of 10 feet located at 180 Strohson Road (adj. to the Sheep Pen
Channel) in Cutchogue. Would you state your name for the record please?
JOSEPH WALKER : My name is Joseph Walker for the applicant.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : This would appear that this is an existing three car garage. We’ve all
inspected the property so we see what’s there. You want to replace it on the existing
foundation is that correct?
JOSEPH WALKER : The foundation will require some work because some of the footing work is
below the grade which has contributed to the demise of the silts so some of we’re going to
have to underpin some of the foundation actually has no footing so we’re going to have to
underpin that and then put block on it but the to raise the sill out of the ground but the height
will remain the same it would be consistent with the you know detached structure.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : And the setbacks which currently are five foot eight inches for the
front yard and where the code requires 40 and five foot two inches for the side yard where the
code requiring ten. It looks like it’s 9.1 feet at the far end of the garage. They’re going to remain
the same?
JOSEPH WALKER : Yes.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Let’s see about Ken questions?
MEMBER SHCNEIDER : Yea do you know when the garage was built?
JOSEPH WALKER : I can only guesstimate to that because the garage is I’m going to say it was
built some time shortly after the original structure was built because if you look at the framing
(inaudible) it’s two by fours or ceiling beams and it’s really very old. I think the first time that it
appeared on the town housing report was in 1979 so I can attest to the fact that it’s been there
since 1979 and prior to that just be you know a guesstimate but it’s really very old and that’s
part of the problem that at the time that they built it there’s really no footings under certain
parts of that slab.
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February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : Oh really okay. I’m looking at the C.O. the PreC.O. that is issued June 27,
1979 for the one family dwelling and it didn’t say anything about the garage but looking back at
some GIS phots it appears that there was something there but has any improvements been
done to the dwelling? I think they did get a variance for some improvements.
JOSEPH WALKER : Yes there have been improvements to the dwelling previously in fact this
house or this property was before this Board somewhere around 1999 for a request which was
granted.
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : I don’t know why the garage wasn’t added to the PreC.O.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : I don’t know either.
JOSEPH WALKER : I got a copy of the Town of Southold housing code inspection report that’s
it’s dated June 26 th of ’79 and it refers to a three car wood frame garage.
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : Oh it does?
JOSEPH WALKER : At that time yes however it was not put on the C.O. which was subsequently
dated June 27 th of 1979.
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : Yes that’s what I just speaking to.
JOSEPH WALKER : There’s definitely some inconsistency there.
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : Well okay if that’s in the report then that’s the proof that it was there.
JOSEPH WALKER : It’s been there a long time.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : The application says probably fifty years that’s what it says on the
application that was probably filled out by the owners.
JOSEPH WALKER : I’m going to say minimum. If you look at if you guys went inside and looked.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : We didn’t go inside the garage no I don’t think anybody did.
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : Okay we have something in the file you said about the report.
BOARD SECRETARY : In 1979 there’s this housing code inspection report it talks about a three
car garage.
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : Good I have no further questions.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Eric?
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February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting
MEMBER DANTES : No I don’t have any questions.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Well it certainly appears based upon the location of the property
that there’s wetlands on the seaward side and that makes it impossible to have a garage there
also with the driveway and landscaping so and to move it any closer to the front of the house
and farther from the street or to move the side you know increase the side yard would in fact
block the house. It would either block the entry to the house or block one of the big windows
that are in the house and so on so it’s pretty much where if you’re going to have a garage it
needs to be it seems to me and it looks as though there’s some other structures along Strohson
that also have non-conforming side yards and front yards. George?
MEMBER HORNING : Did you consider attaching the garage to the house?
JOSEPH WALKER : The owner of the house didn’t consider that. It really wasn’t a priority or a
(inaudible) consideration. They wanted just to really (inaudible) of the code structurally
because it’s weak in that regard and the other concern would be if it’s attached to the house
that the setback requirements would be actually more severe than it would be for a detached
structure. So we’re trying to I mean you know the owners her parents live on Strohson up the
road on Strohson so you know it is in terms of the degree of relaxation we know that it’s a lot
we’re just trying not to encroach on to inflict anymore relaxation on any structure that’s all.
MEMBER HORNING : Are there any other detached garages on that street amongst the
neighborhood? I think I observed at least one.
JOSEPH WALKER : I can’t speak to that. I didn’t look at that and the only reason that I didn’t is
that when I looked inside the thing has been there forever. It’s just so old that I’m sure it was
built shortly after the original house was built.
MEMBER HORNING : Could you verify for us then whether or not let’s say the neighbor to the
west has a detached garage in the front yard or any other neighbors on the street?
JOSEPH WALKER : I can’t recall I don’t know.
CHAIREPRSON WEISMAN : Well I know there are at least three other houses on Strohson that
have attached garages with non-conforming setbacks. They’re almost as close to the front yard.
JOSEPH WALKER : That’s what I was trying to get at before if this was to become attached I
think that the you know we would have to be talking about more relaxation for setbacks than a
detached structure so that’s why one reason that wasn’t considered and one reason we don’t
want to move it you know closer one way to the front or to the side.
MEMBER HORNING : Any proposed living space inside that proposed garage?
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February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting
JOSEPH WALKER : No.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Anything else, anyone in the audience wishing to address this
application? Hearing no further questions or comments I make a motion to close this hearing
reserve decision to later date all I favor? Oh wait I didn’t get a second sorry.
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : Second.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : All in favor?
MEMBER HORNING : Aye.
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : Aye.
MEMBER DANTES : Aye.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Aye.
(See Minutes for Resolution)
HEARING # 7022 – ALBERT LEUTWYLER
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : The next application before the Board is for Albert Leutwyler #7022.
This is a request for a variance under Article XXIII Section 280-124 and the Building Inspector’s
November 21, 2016 Notice of Disapproval based on an application for a permit to construct
additions and alterations to an existing single family dwelling at 1) less than the code required
minimum front yard setback of 35 feet, 2) less than the code required minimum rear yard
setback of 35 feet located at 4573 Wickham Ave. (adj. to Long Creek) in Mattituck. Good
morning thank you for your patience, would you please state your name for the record please.
ALBERT LEUTWYLER : My name is Albert Leutwyler.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : This is a second story addition that you want to put on your existing
dwelling. It’s 277 square feet and the front yard setback is 30 feet 7 inches from the right of
way where the code requires 35 feet and the rear yard setback is 30 feet 10 inches where the
code requires 35 feet. You want to put the bedrooms up on the second floor I take it and you
got a prior variance I remember it well on August 18, 2009 for the front yard and rear yard
setbacks.
ALBERT LEUTWYLER : For the addition of the deck.
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February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : For the deck correct and we have inspected the property. I see that
the buffer along the wetlands is in place. The house is at a dead end on the creek and the
nearby homes are setback considerable distances from your property. We did get an LWRP
recommendation and it says that it’s consistent with the policy so that’s good then. Let’s see if
the Board has any questions on this application. Ken do you want to start?
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : (inaudible) a second story. It’s going straight up.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Yea, Eric?
MEMBER DANTES : Yea no second story and then an outdoor shower that does have a code
conforming setback so.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Okay so there will be no change in the setbacks to what exists
currently?
ALBERT LEUTWYLER : No there won’t be as a matter of fact when this house was built in 1967 at
which point there were no legal setback requirements and every time I do something to the
house I’m coming up against a variance because of the law that is now attributed to my
property as well so (inaudible)
MEMBER DANTES : Did you say ’57 or ’67?
ALBERT LEUTWYLER : not really increasing any dimensions in terms of proximity to the front or
the rear yard setbacks.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Right. The only thing that I think Eric was about to correct you on is
the code came into place in ’57 not ’67. George questions?
MEMBER HORNING : Yea, not to labor this too much but the reasons for the appeal I presume
you hand wrote these yourself sir?
ALBERT LEUTWYLER : Yes I did.
MEMBER HORNING : I was having a little difficulty reading your answers.
ALBERT LEUTWYLER : Reading my handwriting.
MEMBER HORNING : So do you have a copy of it there?
ALBERT LEUTWYLER : No but I’m very familiar with it.
MEMBER HORNING : Well reason number 4 variance will not have an adverse effect or impact
on physical or environmental condition in the neighborhood in this district because and I think
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you wrote the neighbors will be inconvenienced during the construction adding a second floor.
The wetland area has doubles or more since I received the prior variance so how did the
wetlands double?
ALBERT LEUTWYLER : Because I added a lot of native species native plantings to the wetland
area once prior to the deck approval and in that period between the deck approval and now all
of the material that I planted has increased and actually changed the wetland boundary
considerably closer to the house than it was in 2009.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : I think that was because there was a condition to establish a buffer a
non-disturbance buffer of native species in order to mitigate the impact of the deck against the
existing wetlands at the time so I think he’s really George referring to the buffer that he planted
when he got the deck.
MEMBER HORNING : Okay.
ALBERT LEUTWYLER : I was trying to make a positive statement there.
MEMBER HORNING : Alright statement number one undesirable change will not be produced in
the character of the neighborhood and your answer the house could you read that to us please.
ALBERTY LEUTWYLER : Yea as it is the house as it is now will not change in look only the height
see plans of house. (inaudible) and look forward to the osprey returning to my tree.
MEMBER HORNING : And statement number two benefit cannot be achieved by some other
method would you read that also.
ALBERT LEUTWYLER : The option was (inaudible) to the footprint by plus or minus two hundred
square feet or add an addition out to the east side yard enlarging doubling the footprint so we
tried to figure out is are we better going up or better off pushing back and our choice was to
raise the house up also to conform to FEMA which is another next hurdle to overcome.
MEMBER HORNING : And statement three the amount of relief requested is not substantial you
say because
ALBERT LEUTWYLER : The increased additional space in terms of encroaching on the rear or the
front or the side yard is minimal we’re going up not really pushing out the house to the side
yard.
MEMBER HORNING : Okay thank you.
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CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Anything else from the Board, anyone else in the audience wishing
to address this application? Hearing no further questions or comments you know what I’m
going to say I’m going to close the hearing reserve decision for a later date. Is there a second?
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : Second.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : All in favor?
MEMBER HORNING : Aye.
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : Aye.
MEMBER DANTES : Aye.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Aye.
(See Minutes for Resolution)
HEARING # 7023 – MGH ENTERPRISES, INC. VERIZON WIRELESS
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : The next application before the Board is for MGH Enterprises, Inc.
Verizon Wireless #7023 . This is a request for a variance under Article XIII Section 280-56 and
the Building Inspector’s October 18, 2016 Notice of Disapproval based on an application for a
permit to co-locate a wireless communications facility on subject property at 1) less than the
code required minimum side yard setback of 25 feet located at 40200 NYS Route 25 (adj. to
Gardeners Bay) in Orient. Good morning would you state your name for the record please.
DENISE VISTA : Denise Vista with the Amato Law Group 666 Old Country Rd. Suite 901 Garden
City New York.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Thank you. So this is a co-location on an existing wireless facility and
you’re creating a new compound for the equipment with a side yard setback at 7.3 feet the
code requires 25 feet. I want to just enter into the record a couple of things before we hear
what you’d like us to know and that is that the Planning Board supports this application. I know
you need site plan approval. They do so with the caveat well or recommendation is a better
way to put it that we include in our determination that the proposed location and height must
be conforming confirmed rather by the Planning Board and their technical consultants as per
town code which of course will be part of the site plan approval anyway. Secondly we have here
a recommendation from the LWRP coordinator which says that that is is that an exemption, I
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think it’s exempt yea it’s exempt okay and lastly we did receive an email that was sent to me
that I forwarded it to the Board and the office from the Chief of Police and that’s Chief Martin
Flatley and I would like to read that into the record and then turn it over to you. As you are
most likely aware two he was basically told that Verizon was before us today and he wanted to
make some comments and then he says as you are most likely aware two of the critical
infrastructures as designated by the counter terrorism community that we are a part of for our
township lie in Orient Point, Plum Island Animal Disease Research Center and the Cross Sound
Ferry system. We participate with various agencies and drill at these two locations and have
responded several actual criminal incidences at these two locations with our county, state and
federal partners. A recurring issue has always been communications from Orient Point and
Plum Island both by radios and by cell phones. If your meeting today addresses an approval
process for Verizon Wireless I would fully support the improvement of a Verizon wireless
telephone signal at this location as it would have a direct positive affect on our department’s
communication between Orient Point, Plum Island and our headquarters and points beyond
especially our marine units that patrol this area by boat. Let’s see if there’s anything else just to
again reiterate that the Zoning Board granted a side yard setback for another compound #6533
on February 15, 2012 which granted the same side yard setback of 7.1 feet that you are
proposing.
DENISE VISTA : As you have indicated we are here today to seek a side yard variance for the
requested actually setback 7 feet 3 inches as opposed to the 7.1 but you know give or take a
few inches. So we will be consistent with the existing AT&T compound both visually and setback
the same distance. The compound will be enclosed fully enclosed with a 13 foot high fence and
then 14 foot high trees on two sides. So essentially what you see there today will just be
extended. We’re also proposing to extend the existing monopole with a 20 foot (inaudible)
extension. As you had indicated there is lack of service in the area which we hope to resolve
which we will resolve with this proposed extension to the monopole. We had also submitted
previously into the record a letter from the Suffolk County Police Department also supporting
this application. So what I would like to do is I do have a number of reports I know you
appreciate written testimony so I would really like to submit the reports into the record at this
time and I do have the authors of those reports with me today make it known on the record
what I’m going to be submitting. I do have one for each of you if I may approach a packet for
each. Enclosed in your packet is correspondence from the Suffolk County Police Department
attesting to their expressing their support of the application and second is the Engineering
Report prepared by Daniel Falasco who is also with me today. Planning zoning and visual impact
analysis prepared by VHB Engineering Surveying Landscape Architecture (inaudible) to testify if
you have any questions. I have an RF Report prepared by C 2 Systems and I have Martin Lavin
with me here today. An Antenna Site FCC Compliance Assessment and Report which
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demonstrates compliance with the FCC regulations and last but not least the Real Estate
Consulting Report prepared by Michael Lynch who I also have with me here today. So if you
have any specific questions regarding any of those items I do have those experts with me if you
would like to open up for questions.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Well I just want to say one thing part of the reason for the previous
side yard setback was that the adjacent parcel is zoned R400 and is not sub dividable and
therefore has no impact that side yard setback variance has no impact on the adjacent property
and also it has already been screened with the same kind of screening evergreen screening that
you’re proposing along that side yard. Let’s see if anyone has any questions we’ll start with Ken.
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : I have no questions.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Eric? George?
MEMBER HORNING : You’re going to expand twenty feet above the existing tower?
DENISE VISTA : Yes it’s a twenty foot extension so essentially the pole will look visually similar
although it will be twenty feet taller.
MEMBER HORNING : So it’s going to be enclosed the way it is now?
DENISE VISTA : Yes the antennas will be concealed within.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Well previously the code required the Zoning Board to grant Special
Exception permits and height variances and so on for cell towers now the Planning Board has
that jurisdiction and so many of any unresolved issues will be discussed before them and taken
care of through the site plan process. I have no further questions I think our community
welcomes additional capacity for good communication. We rely all of us particularly the police,
the ability to use digital medias, cell phones and so on for not only security purposes and life
safety purposes but for all of us to be able to communicate with our cell phones so the way it is
until satellites are up in the sky I guess and the towers become obsolete.
DENISE VISTA : Well we appreciate hearing that because a lot of Boards don’t share your
thoughts.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Well look if something is in a historic district and the scale has a
huge impact that’s one thing. We have had those. When it’s sitting where it’s sitting now and
has existed for a number of years without any adverse impact the Board recognizes all of those
things. I’m sure you’re familiar with the state statutes that we have to follow and the balancing
tests that we have to impose in our decisions and we take those very seriously and I don’t have
any further questions. Is there anyone in the audience who wishes to address this application?
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Well thank you all experts for being here. We’re going to have a lot to read but I suspect I know
what the reading is going to include. Nevertheless we appreciate your time and your being here
and I’m going to make a motion to close the hearing reserve decision to a later date. We will
have a decision in two weeks.
MEMBER HORNING : Second.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : All in favor?
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : Aye.
MEMBER HORNING : Aye.
MEMBER DANTES : Aye.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Aye.
(See Minutes for Resolution)
HEARING # 7025 – WILLIAM GREMLER, JR. and MICHAEL MURPHY
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : The next application before the Board is for William Gremler Jr. and
Michael Murphy #7025. This is a request for a waiver of merger petition under Article II Section
280-10A to unmerge land identified as SCTM#1000-41-1-30 which was merged with
SCTM#1000-41-1-24 based on the Building Inspector’s September 29, 2016 Notice of
Disapproval which states that a non-conforming lot shall merge with an adjacent conforming or
non-conforming lot held in common ownership with the first lot at any time after July 1, 1983
and that non-conforming lots shall merge until the total lot size conforms to the current bulk
schedule requirements (minimum 40,000 sq. ft. in the R-40 Residential Zoning District) located
at 980 Washington Ave. in Greenport. Would you state your name for the record please?
ANTHONY PALUMBO : Certainly good afternoon Anthony Palumbo on behalf of the applicant
from the law firm of Palumbo and Associates. I actually have if you’d like maybe a quick
presentation I do have some packets that I’d like to provide the Board so it’ll be easy to follow
along.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Mr. Palumbo before you get started I just want to enter into the
record what is involved here. We have two lots that the Building Department has determined
have merged. These lots were not were actually sold outside of the family okay is that correct?
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ANTHONY PALUMBO : Subsequent to the application being filed and the Notice of Disapproval
but yes it is now owned by someone other than the family but we made the application prior to
the deed being filed.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Alright then let me hear what you have to say and we’ll carry on.
ANTHONY PALUMBO : Certainly thank you. In the packets I provided the Board as you can see
in the center of the front page is the tax map and 24 and 30 are the two lots in question. They
are still separate lots on this particular map and as you can see being familiar with the area as
well as I’m sure you all are they’re all similarly situated. It’s essentially the entire character of
the community and one of the lots has a house on it and the second one is vacant and 30 the
one on Washington is the one that actually has the building on it. Then I provided I didn’t staple
them together so you could spill them out is that I heard some grumblings from the audience
did I confuse that? I think the Wilmarth one that’s correct that’s correct I apologize the
Wilmarth building has a building on it which was an older building and then we have the vacant
lot on Washington and the subsequent photos are the neighboring homes just to give you folks
an idea of the character of the community. The first two pages this is on the Washington side
then this is the house to the east and then a picture of the lot where you can see the posted
sign and the house to the west and then across the street as well as subsequent photos
representing the Wilmarth side that has the building. You can again see the posted sign and the
neighboring homes. All these lots are similar to the lots as they were prior to the merger and
the last two pages are the separate tax map bills that are still in two separate names or
considered two separate lots just for the purposes. So the nature of our waiver is essentially
these are lots that under the Tillinghast by way of the life estate were transferred to the same
individuals and then that individual sold them to my clients and as I indicated our application
was made prior to the actual transfer but those neighboring people and the folks that have
been notified and noticed pursuant to this hearing we have spoken with a few of them. My
office spoke with Mr. Melanaki’s son across the street on Walmarth who indicated that they
were happy that it was bought and I guess if I can just briefly suggest that the intent of that
being of the transfer being within the same family is that the logic behind that statute is that
you don’t want someone who intentionally merges some properties to maybe make it an estate
of some kind or a larger property and then subsequently someone else buys it and tries to split
it up and build a few mcmansions or whatever it may be that this is the situation where in fact
the building was in total disrepair so all the neighbors we’ve spoken with in fact my office my
partner spoke with two of the neighbors Mrs. Harris and Mr. and Mrs. Melanakis’s son. I spoke
with Rose Denado who is working in the city and they all have they have no opposition they are
thrilled that it’s been bought and being is currently being renovated and in the intention this
application is granted the intention of the new applicant is to the owner is to ultimately just
build a second home and keep it of course well maintained and put a new building on it so
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that’s really the gist of it being the character of the community is certainly consistent in fact this
is a buildable lot according to the Health Department on the 1983 map is it Tracey ’81 or ’83?
The ’81 map that this is still considered as far as they are concerned a buildable lot and a pre-
existing non-conforming as far as the ultimate issue being that you can’t do anything without a
Health Department approval so it’s otherwise compliant but for the estate plan that Mrs.
Tillinghast had ultimately engaged in these would still be separate lots and this wouldn’t even
be an issue.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : There is no relationship between the applicant and the estate is that
correct?
ANTHONY PALUMBO : Not between the applicant and the Tillinghast’s no but as I indicated the
at the time of this Notice of Disapproval as you can see in the packet it was still owed by the
Tililnghast’s so I don’t know if it would be appropriate and I’m sure they would be willing to
cooperate they knew this was coming we could substitute them as the applicant. We just
figured the timing of it being the deed wasn’t filed until the end of October so it hadn’t
transferred ownership at that point.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : So let me get this straight application say that again an application
by the estate was filed. Why would they do that if the lots had not had the lots merged already
according to the Building Department?
ANTHONY PALUMBO : I don’t believe so. I don’t believe they’ve even merged at this point
because they still are getting separate tax map bills. We’re looking for a waiver so we can
proceed with and the one house has been cleaned up and as that was Mrs. Harris had indicated
she was thrilled that it was finally taken out of disrepair because it was an eyesore in town. I
don’t believe the Tililnghast’s son who ultimately is the owner based upon the operation of law
and the way that that estate plan had worked that it had gone from Mrs. Tillinghast to her son
when she passed that he was really it was not using the home. There were animals living in it I
mean it was really in bad shape so the fact that they didn’t really have the (inaudible) or the will
to make the application. They could have and I think it would have been easily granted but
quite frankly they wanted to just move the house and sell it and my client’s had come in and
immediately had workers there and cleaned it out and basically gutted it and then have gotten
it to the point that it’s at least livable and they intend to do a lot more in the near future.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : All merged properties receive separate tax maps. Unfortunately it
has been a point of confusion you know since the time that this waiver this merger law went
into effect so that’s not necessarily an argument for the fact that it merged or didn’t. We don’t
have much wiggle room when it comes to either qualifying or not and the fact that it was
transferred to an owner that was not related to the original owners since disqualifies the
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waiver of merger but there are some other options. If you read the code which is section 280-
10A you will see that it says a non-conforming lot shall merge with an adjacent conforming or
non-conforming lot which has been held in common ownership with the first lot at any time
after July 1, 1983 so we know that happened. An adjacent lot is one which abuts with the parcel
for a common course of fifty feet or more in distance. Non-conforming lot shall merge until the
total lot size conforms to the current bulk schedule requirements. What is the width of both of
those lots?
ANTHONY PALUMBO : It’s really tough to see on here.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Well we got the survey right here.
ANTHONY PALUMBO : The larger survey in my application that’s what I looked at.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Would you like me to tell you or do you want to enter it into the
record? I can save you the time.
ANTHONY PALUMBO : 44 and 41 is that what I have?
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : That’s correct. Lot 50 is 41 feet wide lot 41 is 47.86 feet wide. Now a
strict interpretation of this code would suggest that lots that do not share fifty feet or more in
width are exempt from merger.
ANTHONY PALUMBO : Understood and I would certainly would ask that the Board consider
under those grounds the nature of this community and as you can see from those photographs
you can see that they’re all very well kept adorable cottages. They’re really nicely done so I
think it would certainly fit with not only the consent of the people as they’ve indicated to me
already but it would certainly fit the character of the community to build that lot and develop it
and make it consistent with the rest of the street and area.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Well of course we all have inspected the site. We know the property
well. We’re your neighbors we live here. We know where the property is and we’ve looked at
the neighborhood. It’s basically a built out neighborhood. The only lot that I could see that was
undeveloped was across from the vacant parcel which is still wooded but all the other
properties are and have been developed with dwellings for a long time. So that’s one issue to
explore cause that’s a very strict interpretation. The Building Department obviously did not
interpret the merger law to look at the fifty foot width. They looked at the fact that it shares a
continuous common boundary rather than a small piece of the boundary because there’s a
little confusion part of the exemption could be that instead of them really being adjacent all the
way across maybe ten fifteen feet of a forty, fifty, sixty foot lot is shared so in that sense the
intent of the code was to exempt those properties from merger but the strict interpretation of
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this code would suggest that it’s referenced to a common course of fifty feet and width and
these two properties do not have fifty feet of width.
ANTHONY PALUMBO : Understood and thank you for pointing that out.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Let’s see what questions or comments the Board might have at this
point and then we’ll see what the audience has to say about it, George anything?
MEMBER HORNING : No I’d like to hear from the neighborhood.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : You want to hold off questions until we hear from
MEMBER DANTES : I don’t really have any the code’s pretty plain.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Yea okay alright so who would like to address this application?
PETER HARRIS : Peter Harris I live at 212 Knapp Place Greenport but I’m here with my parents
who happen to live on the eastern side of the former Tillinghast dwelling. To the best of my
knowledge when the Tillinghast’s went to build their house they were told that in order for
them to be able to build they would have to purchase both lots and combine them as one. It
wasn’t a buildable lot on the south end at the time because it narrows and it widens out as you
go towards Wilmarth and originally that piece of property from street to street Washington and
Wilmarth was a right of way which had been given to the Town of Southold by the Tasker family
which in turn the town decided that they didn’t want to continue to put a road between
Washington because just to doors down on Booth there was a cross street between
Washington and 25 and it didn’t intersect with Madison so it would have been offset street
which would actually would serve no purpose so the Tillinghast’s purchased both lots and to
our understanding those lots were combined because they had to have access to for the
building lot on Wilmarth. Just to set the record straight as far as I’ve heard my mother’s Mrs.
Harris said yes they were very happy when they heard that the house had been bought because
the house had fallen in such disrepair from the former tenants who were related to the owners
and they actually trashed that house and the house they he finally got them evicted and the
house was in such disrepair that the owners Mr. Murphy and Mr. Gremler they did they
basically had to go into that house and gut it because it was a total disgrace in there. Another
thing that I will say there was a side porch that was added on after the original dwelling was
built I don’t even know if they ever had a building permit for that. It’s two feet originally it was
right was actually the cement patio actually was on my parents property. They ended up cutting
it back two feet off the property line and they built an enclosed porch. I don’t know if it was
even a building permit gotten on that. On the opposite side of the house cause there’s only two
feet on my parents side and I believe I’m not a hundred percent sure but either ten or twelve
feet to the property line on the west side and there is also a deck on there, which was built I
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don’t know if they even had a building permit for that and that has nothing to do with either
one of the gentlemen that currently own it. It was there when they bought it. Another thing
every single home in that whole surrounding Wilmarth, Washington, Madison, Booth,
Middleton every single home has driveways. If in fact there is allowed to split these lots and
they build another dwelling on the southern lot where’s all the cars going to park? I don’t think
that the residents of the area should have to look at cars parked out on the road because it
doesn’t fall in with the I forgot what Mr. Palumbo said the character of the neighborhood cause
that certainly wouldn’t fit the character of the neighborhood.
MEMBER DANTES : Sir there is a code that when they apply for a permit to build a house that
will require parking so that will be addressed.
PETER HARRIS : So what’s going to happen on the north end? There’s no driveway on the north
end. They use they come in off of Washington right now.
MEMBER DANTES : They’re going to have to build one so that’ll be addressed when the building
permit is filed with the Building Department.
PETER HARRIS : Okay listen I’m here asking questions. You asked for someone to speak and I
speak what I have to say I’m saying what I got to say. The other gentleman’s name that Mr.
Palumbo said I believe he’s a new home owner. He bought the house basically directly across
the street. Again what they have done to this point with the dwelling it’s a hundred and ten
percent better than what it was but the fact of the matter is that you know you people know
the law. I’m not a lawyer I don’t claim to be a lawyer but as far as what our family was under
the interpretation from what was told to us by the Tillinghast family that those lots had to be
merged before he could build the original dwelling and that it was never you know it was a right
of way for him to come in. He gets his water; he gets his electricity from the village of
Greenport. It comes off of Washington. They’re not hooked up to PSE&G so that’s all I have to
say right now thank you.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Thank you Pete. Anyone else?
GREG HALLOCK : Greg Hallock I live on Wilmarth Ave. I live on I own the house next door to the
existing structure. My conversations with Mr. Tillinghast were that he had to in the ‘70’s when
he built put that house up the town and you might want to look at the records the town made
him do all kinds of covenants and things to he had to buy that second lot, he had to merge it
and he couldn’t build anything on it. If there’s another house put there, there would be no way
to do any maintenance to the back yard. There’s only two feet on both sides of the house my
side and Harris side. There’s no way you can get down there. They had a rescue for Mrs.
Tillinghast and they had to bring the ambulance around to the back side cause they couldn’t get
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her out of the house on the side with the fences. So that presents a problem with firefighting
and the cesspools as far as I know are right on the line for the right on the property line. The
water main like Pete says the water main comes from across that lot to feed the house. There’s
a utility pole that provides the electricity for that house. You can see it on their survey that
utility pole is on the other lot alright. The I suggest that you look at the records, you have
records back from the seventies at least when he put that house up because it was a right of
way and it was so narrow he had the way before this 1983 merger he had merged that back in
the seventies. That’s what I was told by him too. To quote Mr. Tillinghast he said he had to get
everybody but the pope to sign off on it that’s what he told me.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Alright thank you so much anybody else I think you wanted to say
something.
LINDA BEDERMAN : Hi my name is Linda Bederman. I live in the house adjacent to the lot, lot 50
and I can understand why he wants to get you know get this lot cleared out here once the
whole problem clears but I don’t know is he going to have enough room to really build a house?
I don’t want to be living in a trailer park and right now next to me I mean to the west to the east
of me there’s a (inaudible) trailer and then across on Wimarth which adjacent to that lot 50 the
house is a prefab or double wide. That’s my only complaint I mean if Billy wants to build a nice
house next door to me fine but I just don’t want it to look like a trailer park any more than it
looks like it right now. That’s all I really have to say.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Thank you anyone else, questions from the Board?
MEMBER DANTES : My only question is based on the comments are there any covenants and
restrictions in the deed that are recorded against the property?
ANTHONY PALUMBO : There were none in the title report that we saw, no C&R’s and as far as
the representations of the Tillinghast’s I’m sure that they’re recalling these facts accurately but
they purchased this in 1973. I don’t believe this merger stature was even in existence in 1973
so.
ANTHONY PALUMBO : (inaudible) it looks as though the last (inaudible) that I pulled was 1995
so in any event any if it’s granted the application of course it would be subject to all of the
approvals necessary regarding setbacks and driveways and so forth so hopefully that does put
some of the neighbor’s minds at ease that in the event they’re going to do that it would
certainly be in conformity with the Building Department and if there are any violations I’m sure
that there will be some subsequent questions and the applicant’s will clear that up right away. I
mean they haven’t again this is just a they’ve only had this property for a very short period of
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time but they obviously they’re obligated to do so and they certainly will. Actually my client
would like to address the Board if that’s okay.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Certainly.
BILL GREMLER : I’m Bill Gremler one of the partners in the property. I’m in the trades and as far
as the lean to next to Mr. Harris’s house we don’t want it we’ll take it away we don’t need that
lean to. As far as the deck too close I spoke to his daughter and said I’d like to cut down this
tree she said Billy cut down the tree do whatever you’d like to do. I’ll shorten the deck. I can put
a front door on 59 and Walmarth this afternoon. I can put a driveway in 59 and Wilmarth
tomorrow morning. I’m a builder. We’re just going to keep to the conformity of the property.
The piece of property across from mine is an eyesore, it’s an eyesore. People throw their debris
there. Michael and I brought in two forty yard containers the afternoon we bought the
property. We have a regular maintenance company maintaining the properties. We’re not
going to be taking away from the neighborhood. We’re going to conform to the sidelines, the
driveways I do have a driveway at 110 Ave. Pete. We will put a driveway at 112 Washington
Ave. So we’re only there to make the neighborhood look better. I feel a maintained home on a
lot looks a lot better than a lot that gets muddy in the spring and dried out and blowing dust all
summer and it could look like the one across the street from us with the debris. We don’t
intend on parking cars all over the street. The street is littered with cars and we will maintain
everything right to the inch of what we need to do on this piece of property.
ANTHONY PALUMBO : Thank you any further questions?
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Well I’ll make some comments. It’s too small to see on this plat but
one of the you don’t really let’s get this clear you may have had this merged as a consequence
of the history of the property okay as two people have testified that there was some things the
town asked the former owners to do because of the width probably of the lot. It’s a very
narrow lot so that may well have been accurate but regardless it became one lot. The question
is it’s on this plat as two separate lots the question is do you qualify for the recreation of those
two lots the answer is no because it was sold outside of the family and we don’t have as we do
with variance relief the ability to change those standards. You either meet them or you don’t
and in this case you don’t. There are two ways to go about this though either deny the waiver
of merger because it doesn’t qualify, look at the strictest interpretation of the code which had
to do with the fifty feet of distance or suggest that you apply for variance relief for insufficient
lot are in the zone district and if that’s granted then you go to the Planning Board to get a lot
line change a subdivision. So you apply to us for a lot line change those are the options.
ANTHONY PALUMBO : Just so I’m clear then the Board’s taking the position that even though
the application was filed prior to the subsequent transfer after the application is satisfying or is
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February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting
in contravention to 280-11 under the waiver the Section A that it’s a third party so that still
doesn’t cover that for those purposes and then secondly I would just again ask if that is in fact
the case an alternatively as we’ve discussed it it appears from Section A of the merger statute
of 280 subdivision 10 or 280-10 subdivision A that the forty foot it doesn’t meet the forty foot
compliance requirement and as such it would be exempt so even though it may in fact have
been one lot because we haven’t seen any actual mergered documents from the Building
Department is there any findings that it has merged?
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : No that’s true of all properties. The only time that it becomes
apparent is when someone goes in for building permit to the Building Department or to the sell
lots then it becomes apparent that the lots have merged by force of law based upon the law
that was determined and I believe it was 1985 the merger law. So it kinds of blind sides people
but that’s been the case since the law was passed. Action has to be taken in order to discover
that in facts lots have been merged. It sounds as though this may have predated the merger law
by virtue of the fact that it was historically a right of way and what I’m trying to find out is
whether or not this lot is considerably narrow in width and street frontage then the other lots
that are going along Washington and Wilmarth it looks like it’s a little bit smaller I mean there
are two other lots on both streets that are quite large much larger and then the other lots
between Booth and I don’t know it was the next one over Middleton I guess I have to look and
see if the print is so tiny on this plat my aging eyes will not I need a great big magnifying glass to
see what those lot widths are unless you guys can see it.
ANTHONY PALUMBO : It looks like they’re all around fifty so they would necessarily be exempt
lots until we get further down to 38 looks to be less than fifty and maybe even of course and I
can provide a better detailed map but I’m obviously you folks have them as well but I’ll do the
leg work for you if you’d like to just get a better blow up of this map.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : I believe there’s a gentleman in the back that wants to speak again.
Did you have your hand up? You have to come to the mic please and restate wait wait till you
get to the mic cause it’s being recorded thank you.
GREG HALLOCK : My name is Greg Hallock the average lot size there is about a hundred a
hundred and twenty. My lot is a hundred by a hundred and twenty and I’m pretty sure Stanley
Harris is and Linda Bederman’s is the only small lots are the one with this trailer on it and this
right of way. Everything else is about a hundred by a hundred and twenty. I have my survey
here if you want to look at it.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Okay thank you. Go back to the mic if you have something you want
to say. Sure.
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February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting
LINDA BEDERMAN : I’m just thinking out loud Linda Bederman. Billy also owns lot 49 next door.
Now if he wanted to have the merge if he wanted to unmerge himself from that other piece of
property and he merged with 49 he’s have a big enough piece of property to put something
there. Right now he has a trailer there.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Well that’s any property owner who owns adjacent lots has the
option of voluntarily going to the assessor’s office and merging the properties for whatever
reasons but that’s really not what’s before us now. We’re only here to look at whether or not
the applicant qualifies for a waiver of merger and that will in part we know that based on the
strict standards the applicant does not okay but we need to do an we really need to look at the
code very carefully to see whether or not other standards would be applicable and whether or
not that fifty foot width what the intent of the town code was when they described that fifty
foot width common boundary. Ken do you have anything you want to ask or add or?
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : No, no I don’t thank you.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Eric?
MEMBER DANTES : No.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : George?
MEMBER HORNING : Should we adjourn until next month?
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : So you’re lot how far down is your lot no I see what it is it’s 97.99
feet wide however what I’m asking you is where
ANTHONY PALUMBO : He’s lot 25 just to the east of ours on the map I gave you he’s the larger
almost square lot.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Oh yea that’s the bigger one. There are several others all the way
down the street that are more in keeping with the size of the other lots you know.
PETER HARRIS : But the map that he’s showing you isn’t representative cause the lot next door
Mrs. Bederman’s he’s got that split down the middle that’s it’s one lot that’s the same width as
mine across the back.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Well we’ll looking at this okay you see what that is that is the plat
out of the plat book for the Town of Southold showing all the lots along those both Washington
and Wilmarth. It’s the Suffolk County Tax Map we have those books to identify tax maps
PETER HARRIS : It shows my lot the dotted lines don’t count so those are double width lots
there.
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February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting
MEMBER DANTES : Yea the dotted lines don’t count.
PETER HARRIS : Yea see he’s not showing you what the representation
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : The dotted lines don’t count that’s correct. Alright well if you’d come
up here you’d see what we’re talking about it’s just that there are some lots that have frontage
that have a dotted line going between Washington and Walmarth and that is not a separate lot
that’s all I’m saying. That’s what Eric was pointing out. Why don’t I give you your surveys back
sir. Is there anything else from the Board or anyone in the audience who wishes to say anything
further about this application? Mr. Palumbo do you have anything to close with or
ANTHONY PALUMBO : No thank you I really have made the representation that we’d like we
would just like if the Board alternatively feels that this does not meet the waiver requirements
to recognize that this is an exempt lot is it doesn’t meet the fifty foot frontage but thank you.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Hearing no further questions or comments I’m going to make a
motion to close this hearing reserve decision to later date. Is there a second?
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : Second.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : All in favor?
MEMBER HORNING : Aye.
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : Aye.
MEMBER DANTES : Aye.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Aye.
(See Minutes for Resolution)
HEARING # 7014 – CAPTAIN RED’S MARINE SALES, INC.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : The next application before the Board is for Captain Red’s Marine
Sales, Inc. #7014. This is adjourned from a prior hearing so I don’t need to read the legal notice
but I will just reiterate the fact that this is a proposal on a split zoned property to have a front
yard for a large boat storage facility with boat parking on the rear of the property which is
zoned residential and we’re looking at a front yard setback of 95.5 feet for this proposed
storage building where the code requires 100 feet and a side yard setback of 5 feet where the
code requires 25 feet. Thank you for the updated survey.
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February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting
KAREN HOEG : Karen Hoeg from Tuomey, Latham, Shea. I just have an additional green card. I
just wanted to give the Board some background. The applicant purchased the subject property
on March 10, 1999. The prior owners of this property included Bergen Oil Company that owned
and operated the property in the mid 1980’s. The property is roughly eight hundred feet deep
from Main Rd. to the Long Island Railroad and is a hundred feet wide. It is a unique parcel in
that it’s one of the few properties in the town in a split zone with the northerly half zoned R40
and the southerly half that is on Main Rd. being in the B zone. The B zone is approximately 100
by 441 feet and the R40 zone is slightly smaller at 374.66 feet. The applicant had submitted a
site plan application back in 2001 and it was advised by Planning to address the issues of the
parking of boats on the R40 portion of the property with the Zoning Board as an accessory use
to the business and the boat parking in the front of the property in the B zone. The application
never progressed to completion in part because the application was unfamiliar with the
regulatory processes in the town so here we are years later trying to work with the Planning
Department and Zoning Board to bring this site more in line with the town’s goals also
achieving the owner’s goals of erecting a storage building and seeking to maintain boat storage
in the R40 zone as an accessory use to his business. The applicant has the business use
consisting of the display storage, sale and service of boats in the B zone. Over the course of the
past few years we’ve had many meetings with various town departments and explored the
option of a zone change to convert the R40 portion to a B zone. It was decided and
recommended by town staff to reapply for a site plan and to include the request for the
proposed storage building and boat parking/storage in the R40 zone as an accessory use to the
business. However in order for us to move forward with the site plan application before
Planning we need to address these issues with this Board. We are in receipt of the Planning
Board memo dated December 21, 2016 regarding this application and the issues pointed out by
the Planning Board are issues we are willing to address. These issues include screening; parking,
buffering and we can address those in the site plan process. Over the years the applicant has
been cleaning up the site and it is a vast improvement from what it once was. The applicant is a
respected business man in the community and provides services to locals and summer
residents alike. The proposed 5,520 square foot storage building which is proposed at 120 by 46
is necessary and essential for the orderly storage of boats and to aid and maintain the front
street scape of the property. It is proposed at 18 feet high and 21 feet at its peak. The proposed
building will have concrete flooring no heat no water and its proposed to be located tucked
behind the existing office building in line with the Dickerson structure on the adjoining lot to
the east. It will not be higher than the Dickerson structure. The existing office building is
roughly 1,104 square feet and is situated 59.5 feet from the front line and 42.1 feet from the
west side line. The front yard setback is 100 feet and we are proposing the building 5 feet short
of being in compliance. The side yard setback is 25 feet and we are proposing a setback of 5
feet. The existing building on the property is 6.9 feet from the east side line. The location was
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February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting
selected is really the only suitable location as it is tucked behind the existing office building and
situated it adjacent to business zoned properties. If we moved it 5 feet further back from the
Main Rd. in order to comply with the front yard setback we would be pushing it further
adjacent to the residentially zoned properties to the east. It was also recommended by Planning
staff that the proposed location on the easterly side of the property was more suitable as it
wasn’t adjacent to the residentially zoned parcels to the west even though the application owns
the parcels to the west. Another reason for the building to not be pushed further back is there
is a slope in the rear of the property pretty close to where the zones splits which would make
the construction and use of the building difficult. Any existing temporary sheds and structures
will be removed to create a neat appearance and accommodate the proposed structure. The
proposed building will not extend northerly beyond the existing building on the Dickerson’s
property. I have brought some photos of the Dickerson property facing from Factory Ave. to the
west so you can get an idea. The concept of boat storage in the R40 zoned portion owned by
the applicant came as a result of discussions with the chief building inspector as an accessory
use to the applicant’s business. The proposed boat storage in the R40 portion is basically
seasonal. During winter months on the R40 portion there are roughly fifty boats stored and
come April 1 st most if not all of those boats are removed. The required screening and buffering
of the R40 area will be addressed with Planning staff during the site plan process and we will
work with them to comply with the town code requirements on the screening and the
landscaping in that area. We have had preliminary discussions with the Planning staff in regard
to that. Turning to the variance standards the grant of the variance will not cause an
undesirable change in the character of the neighborhood. To the east of the property towards
Factory Ave. is Dickerson’s Marine Sales, Tony’s Automotive, a cellular company and Magic
Fountain. Access and parking for these businesses is along Main Rd. and many times in the
State right of way. A large shopping center is across the street from Factory Ave. Directly across
the street from the property are also businesses including a retail pool service store, a Chinese
restaurant and vacant land. Directly to the west are residential lots that are owned by Michael
Hughes and his wife that they had acquired in 2006 and 2007. Mr. Hughes is the principal of the
applicant. In the rear of the R40 portion of the property are adjacent residential lots and the
tracks of the Long Island Railroad. It should be noted that the Dickerson property is one of the
other few parcels in town also in a split zone with a southerly half being in a B zone and the
northerly half is in a R40 zone. That’s site consists of a wood frame commercial business
including a building for service repair, maintenance and storage with an attached two car
garage. This business hub is unique in that several types of businesses have operated in this
area. The range of businesses since the 1940’s including trucking companies, Bergen Oil, Auto
body shops, boat storage service and repair shops. Although this property does abut residential
properties so do many other retail marine businesses in town including Strong’s Marine near
Camp Mineola and New Suffolk Ship yard. For the foregoing reason there won’t be an
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February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting
undesirable in the character of the neighborhood. Again this area variance is necessary so that
a building can be erected as storage to erect a building for the storage of boats. There is no
other optimal place on the property to put such a building. It’s only the property is only a
hundred feet wide and at a midway point roughly near the R40 section the property slopes
towards the railroad. The width of the building was selected to accommodate trailers and boats
and also to align with the width and location of the existing office building that is 46.7 feet. The
side yard was selected to be close to the adjoining business parcel and existing office building.
The variance relief is not substantial cause the front yard setback is only five feet short of
compliance and in between the front yard setback and the proposed building is the pre-existing
office building. The side yard setback although setback five feet from the property line is in line
with the existing building and adjacent to neighboring businesses including the Dickerson
Marine property. Granting the area variance will not have an adverse impact on the
environmental or physical conditions of the neighborhood because the variance that’s being
requested is minimal. There will be no adverse impacts to the town. On the westerly side of the
properties are owned by the applicant. The easterly side consists of a business of a split zone
and residences. The proposed storage building will enhance the appearance of the site and we
will work with the Planning Board in addressing the concerns raised in their December 21 st
memo. We can only get to the site plan process with ZBA approval for the building and
accessory use of storage in the R40 portion of the property. We want to work with the Planning
Board in the site plan process so that we can bring the property more in line with the town’s
goals. The storage of boats in the R40 portion will not have an adverse impact and as we said
we will address the concerns of buffering and screening during the site plan process with the
planning staff. The split zone of the property creates an undue hardship to the applicant. The
width and length of the property taken together with the needs of the applicant’s business
leave no other area to erect a storage building but where it is being proposed. If the Board has
any questions I’d be more than happy to address them.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : I’ll start with a question. The five foot side yard setback that’s being
proposed I’ve looked at the elevations on this building at first I thought perhaps it was because
you needed the rest of the width of the lot which is pretty narrow for a commercial of this sort
in order to get equipment in and out for hoisting boats up and so but I see that actually the bay
is on the end wall it’s on the east elevation not east north elevation and so my point is if you
can get the boats passed without having to do like a turn around on the side in order to make
the turn and get boats in and out from that end wall cause the other the long walls are solid
walls there’s no bays there to show boats you know going in and out of them, could you not
move the side yard somewhat to increase it so that it’s a little bit more conforming to the code?
KAREN HOEG : I think that the proposed opening for the proposed storage building would be on
the west side of that building on the long portion which is 120 feet
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February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Well then these are the drawings that we got for this Morton
building and there’s nothing showing those bays on the long sides you see what I’m saying?
KAREN HOEG : Yes I see what you’re saying and I know that those drawings are not the actual
building it’s a type of the building that they’re going to that they want to erect. In order to get
the plans for the actual size and where the door frames are was pretty expensive so we had
told the applicant if we can get the dimensions we can kind of figure out where we can locate
the doors and put the bays in but I think we can probably move it a little bit further off so that
they can get trailers and trucks and boats in and out of that side entrance. We would just try to
hug it as tight as we could trying to keep in line with the existing office building and not push it
too far back where it would extend beyond the R40 portion of the Albertson’s property.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Okay well the survey is showing a canopy to be removed so that’s
overlapping with the site for the proposed building is and those other small storage buildings
were being removed.
KAREN HOEG : Yes those will all be removed and I think in the application there was a
photograph of the green canopy that you know which would be the location just so the Board
can get a sense of what that looks like.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Well I would like to have a better understanding of what the
equipment maneuverability requires in the way of width because obviously we were misled in
characterizing a generic building type with what’s actually what’s being proposed which is to
load boats in and out of the east actually it’s the west elevation but I want to know how much
maneuverability is required because I think it would be better if that side yard was increased to
the maximum extent practicable which is what the law requires us to do to grant the least
variance justifiably grantable by this Board.
KAREN HOEG : Okay is it something where you want to see maybe on a survey the location of
where a proposed entranceway and exit way into that building would be or do you want to see
plans that would show that I mean I have the applicant here who could talk probably about the
mechanics of what he needs in order to get in and out of that building.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Well it’s not even we could figure it out based on the width of the
building and the five yard setback what’s left you know the space between the other property
line and the side elevation the long elevation the building is but it’s not called out on the survey
so we would just have to calculate that by adding up five 5 feet and 46 feet and then
subtracting that from the 100 foot width of the lot to see what space is left and what we would
then need is to understand why that side yard cannot be increased or yes it can be increased by
x number of feet.
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February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting
KAREN HOEG : Right okay.
MEMBER DANTES : Leslie I’m just thinking maybe a survey showing some doors would be nice
and then just the average length of a boat and trailer.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : That would work.
MEMBER DANTES : I don’t know that off the top of my head.
KAREN HOEG : We can certainly do that showing doors.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : There’s so many different sized boats but let’s say that the typical
boat size that you would be storing there the largest boat maybe that you would be storing. Yea
that makes sense I mean just a little more and I don’t understand the mechanics of a lift that
would you know I’ve seen them in action where boats have been picked up and lifted but what
we would need to do would be to see precisely what is involved in the mechanics of running
this business. At first I thought well if you’re loading from the short end in and out then you
certainly have a lot more flexibility with moving that over so the front yard setback is not a
substantial difference from what the code requires and you know that gives you maximum
storage behind it but
KAREN HOEG : Right we can revise the survey to show doors, access areas you know what the
typical you know maybe even put together some kind of protocol on how this all will operate in
terms of getting a lift in there what size lift just so that the Board has a better understanding of
the operations of the business.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : This is not part of this application but I’m assuming maybe rightly or
wrongly since you have a gate across the front building you know parallel in line with it that the
front would be customer parking?
KAREN HOEG : Yes well we had talked to Planning about that.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : That’s going to wind up through site plan obviously.
KAREN HOEG : Yes and we did speak to them about that because they also in addition wanted
more landscaping and if there was going to be customer parking you know it would obviously
have to comply with the handicap and the amount of parking allowable per square footage of
the storage building as well as the office space so all that information we will put on here. You
know we wanted to come to the Board first prior to doing that just to get a sense of the
location of the proposed storage building to see if that was something that the Board would
consider prior to doing the site plan application and include all of the detailed information that
we need.
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February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Well much of this will happen through site plan but should the Board
be inclined to grant the use of boat storage on the residential portion as an accessory to the
business use on the front portion of the building certainly it would be tied to the current
applicant and would be conditioned as an approval that would be actually expired should the
business change business type or ownership. In other words what boat storage the kind of
space that boat storage requires would be very different than some other use. No one is
expecting to have a house put back there obviously but still it would be accessory to this
current business and fencing would also be some sort of an obligation at least minimum six foot
fencing perimeter fencing would be required.
KAREN HOEG : Right I believe that there is fencing along the well I guess the northerly and the
easterly side property and I know in talking to
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : It does show that here. Well currently boat storage is taking place on
to the west on residential parcels that we understand the applicant owns however that has
nothing to do with what we’re looking at.
KAREN HOEG : Correct.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : We would only be granting the right to park boats, boat storage on
this subject lot nowhere else.
KAREN HOEG : Right on the R40 portion.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : And fencing along that property line would be something that would
be necessary in order to separate the business use from residential property. Let’s see what
else George anything?
MEMBER HORNING : No.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Ken?
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : The boat storage would just be done on boat trailers and then boats I
guess just jacked up or something?
KAREN HOEG : Yes.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Alright well we would have to leave this to Planning. I know certainly
boats have been put in the space adjacent to Route 25 for display and all of that and also on
Route 25 right of way shoulder that is no longer going to be permissible.
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February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting
KAREN HOEG : Yes we did speak to Planning about that and they had talked to us about the
display and you know it was something that you know as we said will come up and be discussed
further in detail in the site plan process.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : We do have some comments from Planning and they are not
generally supportive of this application.
KAREN HOEG : Right I did see those and those are they’re comments that we had talked about
previously and in meeting with Planning staff as well as the chief building inspector it was
determined that the best course of action would be to come here first seek the relief that we
needed and then address the issues with Planning once we get before them and the site plan
process. I know the concerns had to do with complying with buffering and landscaping
provisions of the town code. They understand the owner’s objectives as well cleaning up the
front right of way in terms of displays so that those were all items that we’ve discussed with
them many times.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Where are these residentially zoned properties to the east in
relationship to the proposed location of the boat storage building?
KAREN HOEG : If you look if I may just approach you can see where the split zone comes in.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Okay this is better.
KAREN HOEG : Right so here’s the Main Rd., there’s Magic Fountain, there’s the business
portion of Albertson and then everything from Albertson’s north is residential. There’s a church
and some residential homes. It’s very crazy how this all
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Yea right. So my question is we probably need to see perhaps what
would be useful since you’re doing the survey is to locate along these areas well
KAREN HOEG : Different zonings.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Well yea you could do that but also with regard particularly with
regard to these properties where the boat storage is this is Magic Fountain I take it and this is
Dickerson or is this Dickerson?
KAREN HOEG : This is Dickerson (inaudible) holding, this is Magic Fountain and this is Tony’s
Automotive in here.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Yep oaky so the point is the proposed footprint of this building is not
paralleling or is not behind a residential property.
KAREN HOEG : We’ll show
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February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : That’s what I’m asking you know where this is because we’re looking
on impacts on residential properties of a commercial use so these are commercial uses retail
right or whatever and this is butting up against those properties and from here over is
residential that will make a difference.
KAREN HOEG : Okay we can overlay the zoning map onto the survey.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : That helps. Is there anyone else in the audience who wishes to
address this application, anything else from the Board? What I think we should do is adjourn
this to the Special Meeting to give you time to amend the survey to provide the additional
information and the dimensions about the maneuverability of equipment and so on and so
forth. If the Board has no further questions having receive that information we will close the
hearing at the Special Meeting two weeks from today in the evening. If we have additional
questions we will carry this over to next month’s regular meeting to ask those questions. So I’m
going to make a motion to adjourn this hearing to the Special Meeting on February 16 th. Is
there a second?
MEMBER DANTES : Second.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : All in favor?
MEMBER HORNING : Aye.
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : Aye.
MEMBER DANTES : Aye.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Aye.
(See Minutes for Resolution)
HEARING # 7026 – ARETI LAVALLE
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : By the way member Horning lives on Fishers Island and he wants to
stay as long as he can but he may have to leave in ten minutes or so but he wants to hear the
beginning of this hearing. He’s got to catch two ferries to get home tonight so. The next
application before the Board is for Areti LaValle # 7026. This is a request for variance under
Article XXII Section 280-116A and the Building Inspector’s November 16, 2016 Notice of
Disapproval based on an application for a permit to construct additions and alterations to an
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February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting
existing single family dwelling at 1) proposed additions and alterations located less than the
code required 100 feet from the top of the bluff located at 555 Soundview Avenue (adj. to Long
Island Sound) in Orient. Would you please state your name?
CHUCK THOMAS : Sure my name is Chuck Thomas I am the architect for the project.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Welcome.
CHUCK THOMAS : If I could just give these to Kim. These are tracking memos. I only received
one green card back but I tracked it and have the tracking information. This application is for a
second story addition above an existing residence. The proposed addition is going to be 67.5
feet from the top of the bluff which is the same setback that currently exists on the site to the
existing porch so we’re not looking to go any closer than a non-conforming setback. The
properties to the east I have an aerial google map showing the average setback line houses to
the east are fifty feet plus or minus fifty one so we’re not looking to create a situation where
we would be the closest one. We would be conforming it would be more than what is
consistent with the neighborhood. The existing house the setbacks are defined as I said this is a
second story addition. We really don’t have any other place on the property to go. This
property received a variance for a front yard setback and that’s in your paperwork I gave to you
so we’re kind of boxed in. It’s a nice sized piece of property but due to the restrictions of the
bluff and the setbacks so we’re not expanding the footprint other than a second story balcony.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : We do have a recommendation from the LWRP coordinator of
consistency with code always helpful. What is the existing bluff setback?
CHUCK THOMAS : The existing bluff setback to the porch is 67.5.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Okay and you are not proposing to decrease that setback?
CHUCK THOMAS : That is correct. If the line there’s the bluff line is on an angle to the house so
basically we step back our porch to conform to the existing setback.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Let’s see what questions the Board the additions second story
enclosing existing porch relocating two car garage and balcony.
CHUCK THOMAS : And the second floor bedroom above the existing garage.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : So you’re really kind of going over and filling in parts of the existing
house.
CHUCK THOMAS : That is correct. I enclosed the architectural plans with the application.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : We have them. Alright let’s see what Eric questions?
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February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting
MEMBER DANTES : No I really don’t.
MEMBER HORNING : I could ask a question. Do you have anything to show us about bluff
stability in that area?
CHUCK THOMAS : That bluff it’s a low bluff and it is very stable so we haven’t addressed it. We
have no plans to do anything to it so the answer no we haven’t addressed bluff stability and we
don’t see a need to do at this point.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : George actually we have the office has asked for Soil and Water an
analysis but they’re so darned delayed we just haven’t gotten it yet but there’s no this does not
require excavation this is a second floor addition so the land disturbance will be minimal to
nothing and no setback decrease is being proposed.
MEMBER HORNING : May I be excused?
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : You certainly may nothing from anybody here?
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : Yea I just have a quick question. The elevations let’s see what sheet is
this A-5 I think showing the existing you got that one?
CHUCK THOMAS : The existing elevations yea.
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : The bottom one is the rear?
CHUCK THOMAS : The bottom one faces the north so the rear or
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : So we’re saying the north faces okay it just got confusing cause it said
two fronts.
CHUCK THOMAS : I’m sorry it is two fronts it’s waterfront property.
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : So the bottom elevation of existing is the north elevation?
CHUCK THOMAS : That is correct.
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : And that’s what you’re calling the rear elevation?
CHUCK THOMAS : Correct.
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : And I see where the deck is going to go second story little balcony there
okay.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : I believe you testified that bluff setbacks along there are consistent
with the subject property?
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February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting
CHUCK THOMAS : That is true.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Is there anyone in the audience who wishes to address this
application? Hearing no further questions or comments I’m going to make a motion to close the
hearing reserve decision to later date is there a second?
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : Second.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : All in favor?
MEMBER DANTES : Aye.
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : Aye.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Aye.
(See Minutes for Resolution)
HEARING # 7039 – TOWN OF SOUTHOLD PLANNING BOARD/SURREY LANE VINEYARDS
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : The next application before the Board is Town of Southold Planning
Board/Surrey Lane Vineyards #7039. We have in our file a request to adjourn the hearing. Let
me see and I will read that into the record. Ladies and gentlemen we are the attorneys for
Surrey Lane LLC. We write pursuant to our discussion with and at the direction of the Town
Attorney’s office to ask and confirm that the hearing scheduled for tomorrow (this is dated
February 1 st ) February 2, 2017 at 1:45 be adjourned to April 6, 2017 which we understand is
your next available date and that no hearing testimony will be taken today. Please confirm by
return email. We appreciate the Board attempting to schedule the meeting so quickly however
neither our client or it’s agent were notified of the hearing date and discovered it inadvertently
only two days ago leaving insufficient time to prepare. Further our client’s principal Mr. Shanks
is out of state and unable to return for the hearing or to prepare for it. I am also unavailable
tomorrow due to a long scheduled prior engagement in western Suffolk County at 2 p.m. We’ve
previously expressed our opinion to the Planning Board that the referral to your Board for an
interpretation is not appropriate under the town code and the town law and that your Board is
being asked to decide matters beyond its jurisdiction. This letter is written without prejudice so
that position and any remedies our client may have with respect hereto. Thank you for your
consideration Abigail Wickham. So I have a motion on the agenda to adjourn this hearing to
April and that is a request for adjournment from attorney and letter dated February 1, 2017. Is
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February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting
there any comment from the Board or do you want to just vote or Mr. Bressler are you here
just to observe?
MR. BRESSLER : (speaking from the audience not from the microphone) No thank you just to
say that if they didn’t know about the time and date of the hearing it’s a little off I think. There
have been notices outside both entrances to the vineyard for a month since the last hearing
indicating the date and the time.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Well what generally happens is the applicant’s do have the right to
request adjournments and the Board is generally willing to support them. I’ve stated in the
record the reasons they have written to us about but frankly an applicant doesn’t really even
have to have a compelling reason other than the fact that they are unable to do the specific
date they were given.
T.A. DUFFY : To clarify they’re not the applicant but they are obviously an interested party.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Oh that’s right thank you Bill yea the Planning Board is the applicant
Surrey Lane is the subject. It’s like a noun and a verb and a whatever. So I’m going to make a
motion to adjourn this hearing per request of Abigail Wickham Attorney and a letter dated
February 1 to the April regular meeting. Is there a second?
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : Second.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : All in favor?
MEMBER DANTES : Second.
MEMBER SCHNEIDER : Second.
CHAIRPERSON WEISMAN : Second.
(See Minutes for Resolution)
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