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TRANSCRIPT OF
PUBLIC HEARINGSHELD JUNE 26, 1996
SOUTHOLD TOWN BOARD OF APPEALS
7:32 P.M. Appl. No. 4373A - RONALD J. MAYER. Applicant-owner
is requesting a Variance for alternative relief, under Article 111A,
Section 100-30A.2, and/or Section 100-30C, for occupancy of second
building in conjunction with use and ownership of main dwelling, as a
single parcel. Location of Property: 7735 Main Road, East Marion,
NY; County Tax Map Parcel 1000-31-2-26, a corner lot containing a
total_ land area of 25,210 square feet.
CHAIRMAN: I have a survey which the board is familiar with from
prior hearings in this particular matter, indicating the two story
framed dwelling on the actual corner of Rocky Point Road, and the
Main Road. And then the offset of the second proposed two story
framed dwelling, in the rear of that on Rocky Point Road. I have a
copy of Suffolk County Tax Map indicating this and surrounding
properties in the area. Mr. Mayer, how are you tonight? Would you
like to use a mike and we'll grill you for a little while -
MR. RONALD MAYER: Is it (microphone) on?
CHAIRMAN: Yes, it's on. Just pull everything out there so you are
comfortable, pull the podium out.
MR. MAYER: OK. I just want to say hello to the board members
again., and just to kind of go over the last meeting. You know, as
everybody knows, not everybody, but I was rejected for the
property split, and it was OK for me to come back, and maybe seek
relief. The board knows that this is a financial hardship
situation. As per my affidavit, I stand to lose a lot of money
because of fraud perpetrated on me.
On number ---, on the board's decision six E Mr.
Chairman, it states that if I ( ) was achieve by some method
feasible, other than the area variance that I went for. Maybe I
should have given a few alternatives, the last time I was here.
Again, that's hindsight. I was --. I should have done that. I
would like to approach the board with the facts that, I stand to lose
as per the affidavit, not to rehash it, close to over $150,000.00.
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Maybe even more on this particular deal, where a CO was forged on
me, and I just thought I would have that, when I took it back.
I would like to maybe approach the board, with maybe a
few alternative uses. Either a Mother and Daughter, or a one family
house that cannot be split off, or sold to any other party, unless
that party is buying the whole property.
CHAIRMAN: When you refer to one family, you're referring to the
back building as far as I understand.
MR. RONALD MAYER: Yes Sir, Yes Sir.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you.
MR.. RONALD MAYER: That's currently been used as a two family
for the last seven to eight years, for members of the audience who
might be here on this. And, I subsequently, if there are any
neighbors here, found out that it's zoned a one story non-habitable
accessory building. Because it's not going to effect the immediate
area, to any great degree, and it's been used as such. I'm not
looking to profit off the sale. I'm still going to lose a lot of
money. I'm just looking to limit my losses here.
I would like the board to maybe consider, just a
one-family, that I can't sell. That's just part and parcel with the
front house. Or a Mother-Daughter situation, where there are a lot
of situations around now, where --. I have one and maybe some
other people do, where kids can't buy anything, and they have to
come back and live with Mom and Dad. Maybe, this could be, that
situation, which would add a little more value to the place, and help
a family out. Or a one family house that could be rented out, for
somebody that needs additional income to help him carry a mortgage,
that wants to live in Southold Town.
For me to ---. I don't know what to do with this building
if I'm totally rejected. What am I supposed to do? Take a 2500
foot building down, board it up. Everybody knew that this was
being used, and it was continually used. Again, I don't want to
rehash all of this, but I don't know what this building is supposed
to do. I'm stuck. I don't know what I'm supposed to do with the
building. If I don't get some kind of relief, that I could use that
house as a one family or a Mother and Daughter.
Sep's farm stand is across the way. The commercial thing
is up the road. There's rental properties around it. That's all I'm
asking for. The last time they said well, go after Porfiris. The
Porfiris are bankrupt. He's a very sick man. He doesn't care.
They're gone, they're history. I can't collect anything from them.
I could go after a fraud on them. That's not going to help me any.
Probably, the family will welcome that. They will put him in a
hospital. They wouldn't put him in jail, to help his alcoholism.
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Meanwhile, I'm stuck. So, I come to the Board of Appeals for some
kind of relief. I come up with these two suggestions, and I would
like to leave it at that.
CHAIRMAN: Let me just reiterate those. The first suggestion is to
make it a one-family house.
MR. RONALD MAYER: Yes
CHAIRMAN: OK. Coupled with that is--?
MR. RONALD MAYER: Either a one-family or a Mother and
Daughter. The difference being, as far as the way I'm looking at it
is. A one family can be rented to other than blood relatives.
CHAIRMAN: Right
MR. RONALD MAYER: Mother and Daughter, blood relatives.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Mr. Mayer, what is a "Mother and
Daughter"? We don't have a definition of that in the Code.
MR. RON MAYER: A "Mother and Daughter" is, let me think of the
proper word on this. There are a number of ways you could explain
it. Either a son or a daughter living in a dwelling that's on the
property, that is related to the owners of the property by blood. A
one family would be that anybody other than blood could go in there
and rent that property.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: You mean, like a studio apartment
for family use only?
MR. RONALD MAYER: Yes, in other words, the owners of the main
house. Like if I moved into that main house, I could only rent it
to either my Son, my Daughter.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Yes, family.
MR. RON MAYER: Or their husband or spouse.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: OK.
MR. RONALD MAYER: The other way it would be rented to --. I
could rent it to your Son and Daughter.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: That would not be a
Mother-Daughter then.
MR. RONALD MAYER: Then that wouldn't be a Mother and Daughter.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: OK.
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MR. RONALD MAYER: I'll just throw those two options out, and I
wouldn't be able to split that or sell it, or the owners that
purchase from me, wouldn't be able to split that or sell that
either. It would have to be sold as a part and parcel of one
particular property, and used that way. I don't see any adverse
effects. It's been used that way from eight to ten years, and I
believe everybody I thought it was legal.
CHAIRMAN: Are there presently two kitchens in that building?
MR. RONALD MAYER: Presently two kitchens. It's been used as a
two family since 186 or '87. I'd be, you know --, because it's a one
family I would have to pull out a kitchen, and I'm willing to do
that, take the kitchen out. Under the law, I'm not sure how
Southold is. Just because a house has two kitchens doesn't
necessarily make it a two family either. I mean, I've seen houses
where a one family has two kitchens. But I would be willing to pull
that whole kitchen out, and use it as just another room, if I could
just get it as a one family, and to be able to rent it. Again I am
not, even if it goes to that, I stand to lose at least $40,000.00.
The other way, it just skyrockets, because as the broker was here
the last time, stated that the market value, if that had to be
boarded up, I'm only going to get $160,000.00 roughly for that one
family house. That's what she's telling me. At least the other way,
maybe I could get $215,000.00. She says, $220,000.00, and I'm in
$250,000.00, if I can't use it. I might have to wreck it. I don't
know. That's another major thing I have to contend with, I guess.
That's really all at this point I have to 'say.
CHAIRMAN: OK.
MR. RONALD MAYER: There was a, again, we went over this the
last time that, you know, a lot of parties that were in office at
that time, knew this was illegal. Nothing was done. I got a CO that
was presented to me at the closing, that said it was a legal
habitable one family. I don't have it in front of me, how that CO
read. The broker went down and picked up the papers and found
out it was not habitable. So, I'm back before the board again, and
I'm throwing this open to you, Mr. Chairman, to see what you and
the board could do.
CHAIRMAN: Instead of doing rounds, is there anybody that would
like to ask Mr. Mayer a question, or reflect on anything he said,
prior to us going on, because we did spend a substantial amount of
time the last time on this.
MR. RONALD MAYER: Did everybody, I'd just like to ask this.
Did the board read my affidavit as to the history of this?
MR. CHAIRMAN: Yes.
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SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: I was just wondering. The square
footage of each floor for the decision?
MR. RONALD MAYER: 900 to 1,000 on each floor. I think I
exaggerated a little, but I think it's about 900 per floor. I'm
being taxed as a habitable dwelling too, on that particular house.
CHAIRMAN: OK. I just have one thing to say after, but I'm just
going to go through the audience. Does anybody else want to speak
in favor of this application? Anybody like to speak against this
application? If the board could come up with some creative way,
your open to any alternative situation, OK.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Someone has a question (in the
audience) .
CHAIRMAN: We'll be with you in one second. If the board can
come up with any creative way of dealing with this, you are open to
any suggestions.
MR. RON MAYER: I'm open to any reasonable suggestion, I mean,
you know.
CHAIRMAN: OK.
MR. RONALD MAYER: I don't know what that would mean.
CHAIRMAN: I don't know, we haven't gotten, we did do some
deliberating before, but I mean, we couldn't come up with --.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: But, there was no discussion on
alternatives. This is why Mr. Mayer said he wanted to come back.
At the first hearing they only talked about the subdivision proposal.
MR. RONALD MAYER: I have one alternative that-.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: And he had questioned --.
MR. RONALD MAYER: If you come up with a reasonable alternative
that ---.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: That's right.
MR. RONALD MAYER: Doesn't affect the area, and that everybody
could live with. I mean --.
CHAIRMAN: Yes
MR. RONALD MAYER: That's all, yes.
CHAIRMAN: OK
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MR. RONALD MAYER: I'll answer any questions.
CHAIRMAN: OK
MEMBER VILLA: I was going to say. If it doesn't affect the area,
but if we go ahead and grant two houses on one lot, that sets a
precedent for the whole Town.
MR. RONALD MAYER: I don't understand how, it's been effective
for ten years anyway.
MEMBER VILLA: No, but it was always illegal from the word go. I
mean, it was never legally to be built as an occupied building.
Maybe you didn't realize that, but the way the building permit was
issued, it said, "non-habitable building." We had the old Building
Inspector here who said they knew it was that way but they could
never get an inspection of it. They couldn't get into the place.
MR. RONALD MAYER: Why couldn't they get into the place?
MEMBER VILLA: That was his rational for not acting on it. I don't
know. It seems like a weak argument to me. By the same token, it
was still always illegally occupied?
MR. RONALD MAYER: And there are a few others like that too.
MEMBER VILLA: Well, that doesn't, two wrongs don't make it right.
MR. RONALD MAYER: I agree.
MEMBER VILLA: And you admitted that at the last meeting, that it
was illegally occupied. That's the point that's before us. It's an
illegal building and you're asking this, the Zoning Board to --.
MR. RON MAYER: But they gave the building permit for it.
MEMBER VILLA: They gave a permit for a non-habitable building.
MR. RONALD MAYER: Yes, but they did inspections, and
everything else. (Inaudible ), they did inspections.
CHAIRMAN: As you know in the past, we've done some creative
things, and this board prior to your tenure, prior to my tenure, has
done things, and during my tenure one that I can remember is one
over in Mattituck, where that house was actually destroyed and there
was a garage that was converted to a dwelling, OK. In the board's
decision it said, that it was supposed to be used in conjunction with
the main house. I think it was not 15 seconds after the Town Clerk
stamped the decision, that the kitchen was moved back in, and that's
just the way it's been. It's been two separate dwellings on the same
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piece of property. So, these things don't work when they are
detached. That's the problem. I'm being honest with you, OK.
MR. RONALD MAYER: That's why I want to zero it in, that it's a
Mother and Daughter, or that they can rent, a Mother and Daughter
becomes ambiguous too, because they just say, "well, If I could rent
it to my Son, I can rent it to somebody else." So really, that's a
little ambiguous. I understand that, so I'd just like to make it ---.
MEMBER VILLA: At the last hearing I suggested perhaps buying a
lot in the area, and moving it, and you just dismissed it.
MR. RONALD MAYER: No, I didn't dismiss that. But, if you did
read my affidavit, this is a financial hardship situation. You want
me to move a house, pay $40,000.00 or $50,000.00. , and you're going
to make me lose another $50,000.00 with you're thinking, no. That's
not reasonable.
MEMBER VILLA: OK
CHAIRMAN: Could you stand up a little so we could get you on
tape, if you wouldn't mind. Thank you.
MS. DEBORAH WINDSOR: I just have a couple of questions about
the property. What is the approved status of the primary business?
Approved as a one or two family dwelling?
CHAIRMAN: One. It's been there for a --.
MS. DEB WINDSOR: It's been occupied illegally as a two family
dwelling.
MEMBER TORTORA: No, there's two residents on the property.
One has a legal CO, the residence.
MS. DEB WINDSOR: The larger front one?
CHAIRMAN: Yes.
MEMBER TORTORA: The other one was approved as a "accessory
non habitable building".
MS. DEB WINDSOR: The front building has two kitchens though,
right?
MR. RONALD MAYER: No.
CHAIRMAN: Not to our knowledge.
MR. RONALD MAYER: That's the back building.
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MS. DEB WINDSOR: The back building, the non-habitable has two
kitchens?
MR. RONALD MAYER: Right.
MS. DEB WINDSOR: Do all these feed into the same septic, or
cesspool?
MR. RONALD MAYER: Two, separate water lines, two separate
septic.
MS. DEB WINDSOR: Water supply.
MR. RONALD MAYER: Yes. The same water supply off the same
well, with two separate septic.
MS. DEB WINDSOR: That's what you see on your CHAIRMAN: We don't have a survey indicating this.
MS. DEB WINDSOR: You don't have a survey that shows two
separate septic?
MR. RONALD MAYER: Hold on one second. Maybe I do have that
for you because I have one----.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: It's not required for the variance to
CHAIRMAN: Yes. It's nice to know.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: It's not really,
MS. DEB WINDSOR: And all these are pulling off a single well.
CHAIRMAN: To our knowledge.
MR. RONALD MAYER: Yes.
MS. DEB WINDSOR: OK. So there is no setback requirements for
the wells, for cesspools with respect to the cesspool, and with
respect to the well?
MR. RON MAYER: Not if it's used under one. I tried to get a
property split that would do that, and that's what they rejected me
on the last time.
CHAIRMAN: But the issue is, first of all it was an ambiguous
application.
MS. DEB WINDSOR: Right.
CHAIRMAN: OK, which we've used the word forged has been used
here, so on and so forth. When the Health Department and Mr. Villa
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was Chief Engineer in the Health Department for 33 years, to my
right. In some cases reconstruction, they did not mandate updates,
between wells and cesspools. I have no idea what developed on this
one. I have no idea what the Building Inspector required and I have
no idea what the Health Department required at the time. I can't tell
you.
MS. DEB WINDSOR: So when you, if you make a determination that
Zoning, the Health Department would still have to come in and make
sure that ---.
CHAIRMAN: Only if we divided the property.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: It may be a new jurisdiction.
CHAIRMAN: Only if we divided the property.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: They would decide it.
MS. DEB WINDSOR: In the primary residences, is a single family
Can you use that?
CHAIRMAN: Yes.
MS. DEB WINDSOR: Did we determine at the last hearing, that the
building was truly less than 18 feet?
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: That wasn't a subject to a
variance. That's not a issue that was discussed or brought up.
MEMBER TORTORA: He was asking for area variance to subdivide
his property.
MS. DEB WINDSOR: I was just wondering ---.
MEMBER TORTORA: An acquired variance in zoning is 40,000 square
feet. He has approximately what, 25,000 square feet. He originally
wanted two lots 12,600 square feet. So his application was for an
area variance, and he needed also variances on his side yards.
MS. DEB WINDSOR: OK. I was just interested in what the septic
situation was.
CHAIRMAN: The minute you see an old house, OK, and this is an
old house. I mean, the house could probably be 60 years old,
right. You're not going to see any major changes in anything septic.
MS. DEB WINDSOR: OK.
CHAIRMAN: Unless the house is destroyed by fire, and in that case
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MS. DEB WINDSOR: It was.
CHAIRMAN: I know, but not down. It was only gutted, OK. In
most cases the Health Department is just going to let it --. I'm not
speaking for the Health Department, but I'm speaking from prior
situations of things that I've been involved in.
MS. DEB WINDSOR: I'm a little suspicious myself about, an
accessory building that has two kitchens in it. Trusting that it's
necessary going be only used by a single family. You know,
counting families is exactly how you got into this problem in the
first place. You were trying to keep track of who was living there,
and Vic Lessard went on at length about it, because you're sitting on
the side of the road, trying to count people going ( ) . So, I
guess I'm just curious about how you legislate that.
CHAIRMAN: How do we legislate it. , We don't grant it. That's how
you legislate it.
MS. DEB WINDSOR: Right.
CHAIRMAN: The best way to deal with it is, to merge the buildings
into one. Then, you never have to worry about it again
because it becomes basically, a self situation where each person is
watching another --- what each other person is doing.
MS. DEB WINDSOR: What do you mean by merge?
CHAIRMAN: Put them together.
MS. DEB WINDSOR: Physically you're talking merge.
CHAIRMAN: Physically.
MS. DEB WINDSOR: Breezeway.
CHAIRMAN: No, right against each other, as one unit. Ok, Mr.
Mayer, I thank you. One more question. Yes?
ROBIN IMANDT: I live in the house next door to,
CHAIRMAN: Could you state your name for the record?
ROBIN IMANDT: Yes
CHAIRMAN: Thank you.
ROBIN IMANDT: The property size is approximately the same, and I
would hate to see in the area, second houses in what to us, is a
yard. And to me it's supposed to be a low. I understand it's a low
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Southold Town Board of Appeals
population density area, and I really think it should be kept that
way.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: I didn't catch the last name.
ROBIN IMANDT: Imandt.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Thank you
MR. RONALD MAYER: Kept which way?
CHAIRMAN: You have to face the board.
MR. RONALD MAYER: I'm sorry. Kept which way?
CHAIRMAN: I have no idea. Kept which way?
ROBIN IMANDT: As it is zoned to be right now.
CHAIRMAN: As a one family.
ROBIN IMANDT: As a one family house on a lot.
CHAIRMAN: One family, OK.
MR. RONALD MAYER: Why? I don't understand because it's been
used this way for 10 years.
ROBIN IMANDT: It hasn't been for 10 years.
CHAIRMAN: Mr. Mayer, this way.
MR. RONALD MAYER: I'm sorry.
CHAIRMAN: That's all right. No problem. It has not been legal.
That is the problem, and that's the issue we have at hand here,
OK. If it was a barn or a garage or something of that nature, which
was raised, put onto the center of the lot. As we know, it was
closer to the center of the road, and raised and reconstructed in the
center of the lot, which has another one family dwelling, which is at
least 60 years old.
MR. RONALD MAYER: Yes, OK. That's all I have to say.
CHAIRMAN: Hearing no further comments. I'm sorry. Yes, Ma'am.
BARBARA Planz: I have one quick comment. A while back I was
sent a letter by the broker for me to sign saying that, or requesting
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Southold Town Board of Appeals
me to write a letter saying, that I wouldn't mind the lot being split
into two.
CHAIRMAN: Yes
BARBARA Planz: What I wasn't ---. I mean, I just wasn't made
aware of the fact, so. I'd just like to say that I'd like to
extend, I mean, the letter that I had written to them.
CHAIRMAN: OK. Can we have your name for the record?
BARBARA Planz: Barbara Planz
CHAIRMAN: OK. Let me say this to you. If that ever happens
again, and you don't have the luxury, because most of us work
during the day, and we don't have the chance to get down here.
Then, just ask us to recess the hearing for a couple of minutes, and
look over the file, you know, and we'd be very happy to do that.
BARBARA PLANZ: I know that now.
UNKNOWN: Linda, did he apply for two variances on this property?
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: What are you talking about?
UNKNOWN Did he put in an application,for a area variance and
easements.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: On this one?
UNKNOWN: Yes.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: He's applying for alternative relief
on more than one unit on the lot. It's a use variance.
UNKNOWN: (Inaudible)
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: For what. ( inaudible ) .
MR. RONALD MAYER: I don't know about any alternatives other
than what I just discussed with the board except that, I have to
keep going with this. I can't financially stand the gap so I have to
keep going with other avenues. So, I really hope we can work this
out.
CHAIRMAN: And for the record. How much is the property listed
for at this time?
MR. RONALD MAYER: Two, I think it's $215,000.00 or $225,000.00.
I think it's $225,000.00.
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CHAIRMAN: Thank you.
At this point, the Chairman made a motion, seconded by
Member Villa, it was
RESOLVED, to declare the hearing closed (concluded) , reserving
decision until later. Ayes: All Members.
End of Hearing.
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8:00 P.M. Appl. #4389 - TIMOTHY GRAY AND JIMBO REALTY:
The owners are requesting a Special Exception as provided under
Article X, Section 100-101B of the Zoning Code, for use of a portion
of the property as a dwelling unit for occupancy by an on-site
manager. Location of Property: 43560 and 44360 County Road 48,
Southold, NY; Lots #8 and 9 as shown on the Minor Subdivision Map
for Pudge Corp. approved by the Planning Board on or about
7/19/82. Property Tax Map Designation: 1000-59-4-8 and 9 (two
separate lots to be combined as on for this building and site plan
project) . Zone: B General Business. Total Size of Combined Lots:
2.8+-acres.
8:00 p.m. Appl. 4389 - TIMOTHY GRAY and JUMBO REALTY. As
authorized under New York State Law, Section 274-B-3, the owners
are applying for Variances from Article X, Section 100-103,
subsections A & C, of the Zoning Code, for: (a) excessive length of
two proposed buildings and (b) reduces front yard setback of two
proposed buildings. Location of Property: 43560 and 44360 Country
Road 48, NY; Lots #8 and 9 as shown on the Minor Subdivision Map
for Pudge Corp. Property Tax Map Designation: 1000-59-4-8 and 9.
MR. JIM GRAY: Good evening. My name is Jim Gray. What we're
asking on that property is to put as storage building on there, and
these building are going to be climate controlled, so they have to be
large, in order for the inside to be air-conditioned. The setback is
supposed to be 50 feet. We want to go 90 feet back.
CHAIRMAN: OK
MR. JIM GRAY: I'm sorry . The setback is 100 feet. We only want
to go 90 feet, because we have to have a big enough building to have
the inside air-conditioned, and the outside ( ) for a storage
building. The ( ) is 154 feet and ---.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Mr. Gray, I can't hear you too
well. Could you put the mike up a little closer.
CHAIRMAN: Hit that button on the mike there.
MR. JIM GRAY: That's OK, now.
SECRETARY LINDA KAWASAKI: Try it.
MR. JIM GRAY: Is it OK now?
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: No. We still don't hear you.
CHAIRMAN: Hit it on the mike.
• Page 15 - June 26, 1996
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MR. JIM GRAY: How's that.
CHAIRMAN: That's great.
MR. JIM GRAY: Good. We're asking for Caretakers quarters on the
property to give it security, and the caretakers quarters will not be
rented to anybody at any time, and not have any children. It's just
a caretakers quarters ( ), large operation. We'd be glad to
give the board any guaranteed that this will never be turned into a
shopping center, or any retail sales operation. If it works out
we'll put in deeded, that we've done so.
We need two stories to get that much quality of air
conditioned space inside the building. And the maximum height will
be about 22 feet. It's done in good taste, landscaped to your
specifications. Whatever you want.
CHAIRMAN: OK. The reason for the air-conditioning is, and heat I
assume.
MR. JIM GRAY: Yes
CHAIRMAN: Is to put expensive things in these storage buildings as
oppose to ---.
MR. JIM GRAY: Antiques, clothing, whatever it might be.
CHAIRMAN: I see, and have you laid out what each unit would
consist of, how much room.
MR. JIM GRAY: I don't think they're going above 12 by 15 in size.
They may go as small as 5 by 10. Something like that.
CHAIRMAN: Interesting. Now, the reason for the 120 foot building
is what, as supposed to four separate building at 60 feet?
MR. JIM GRAY: Well, then you couldn't air-condition it because, you
wouldn't have enough outside building around it to insulate the
air-conditioning. Otherwise it would be prohibited, an
air-conditioned building, just for storage purposes.
CHAIRMAN: I see.
MR. JIM GRAY: That's the sole reason.
CHAIRMAN: Now, the other operation is not heated or
air-conditioned, right.
MR. JIM GRAY: No.
CHAIRMAN: OK. So this is a first.
Page 16 - June 26, 1996
Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
MR. JIM GRAY: This is the first climate control. Full climate
control. This is a speciality building for antiques furniture.
Anything --, no mold, nothing happens to it. Wood does not dry out.
CHAIRMAN: Interesting. OK. I think we'll start with Mr. Villa.
MEMBER VILLA: This is like a self storage kind of a thing.
MR. JIM GRAY: Yes, it is.
MEMBER VILLA: Like compartments. How do you get into them?
MR. JIM GRAY: Well, there will be doors around the place. You
will come into the door and go into your quarter.
MEMBER VILLA: Each compartment has a door.
MR. JIM GRAY: No, no. Only on the outside front, there will be
an overhead door for storage, or rear storing within 15 feet. But
then the others, you have to come in through a main entrance, and
go through, into a room, because they would be inside units.
MEMBER VILLA: The outside units would have doors on them?
MR. JIM GRAY: The outside units would have overhead doors, small
doors, yes. ( ) lined doors.
MEMBER VILLA: So how is that going to be climate controlled if they
have all these --.
MR. JIM GRAY: They won't. The outside units will not be climate
controlled, ( ) . It's like, this room was inside the inside.
The whole building would be easy. It's easier to air-condition this
room, as far as having this building just separated on the outside,
by itself.
MEMBER VILLA: And how do you get up the second story, for
elevator?
MR. JIM GRAY: We know they're in both buildings.
MEMBER VILLA: Well, you don't even know how many units that
would even be in there, because you're saying, it's going to be 5 by
15 or 15 by 20 or ---.
MR. JIM GRAY: Probably. It's going to be 5 by 5, 5 by 15, 5 by
or 20.
MEMBER VILLA: That's on the inside.
MR. JIM GRAY: That's on the inside and outside.
• •Page 17 - June 26, 1996
Public Hearings
r Southold Town Board of Appeals\
MEMBER VILLA: How can you have a five foot building with an
outside door?
MR. JIM GRAY: You have like, locks. They won't be on the outside
like a ( ) inside a side door, where you go in 10 feet and
behind it, the front one, and then you have a small door going into a
small room. My Granddaughter ( ) .
MEMBER VILLA: It's going to be like a small maze.
MR. JIM GRAY: Yes, like a honeycomb.
CHAIRMAN: Interesting.
MR. JIM GRAY: Typical mini-storage.
CHAIRMAN: You'd think ---.
MEMBER VILLA: It's not typical mini-storage.
CHAIRMAN: No.
MEMBER VILLA: I'd say it's not typical mini-storage. Typical
mini-storage has overhead door, overhead door, overhead door, and
any of the units back to back, and that's --
MR. JIM GRAY: They have turned in large department stores into
mini-storages.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: I'm sorry, go ahead.
MR. JIM GRAY: OK
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: They have elevators and ---.
MR. JIM GRAY: Elevators, enclosed building completely.
CHAIRMAN: There are secure compounds in each unit of these
buildings.
MR. JIM GRAY: Yes, absolute top security. Has to be.
MEMBER VILLA: What is the demand for something like that out
here? Have you done any study on that or anything?
MR.. JIM GRAY: Yes. We run the mini-storage here in Town now,
and we're at capacity, beyond capacity. We lost an awful lot of
business without climate control. They go into the other end, and
there is nothing in climate control past Riverhead. You have to go
( ) airport to get ---.
•Page 18 - June 26, 1996
_ Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
MEMBER VILLA: You're saying, you can't have a climate control on
outside units, even if they're no doorways or anything, on the
outside units.
MR. JIM GRAY: These outside units. It's like adding a room on
here. That room would be air-conditioned, but that would help
insulate this room to be air-conditioned.
MEMBER VILLA: I can understand that. But, why wouldn't that
room without adding on a unit, be air-conditioned? I mean, you're
saying, you have to have a building this big, because you have to
have inside rooms that are air-conditioned.
MR. JIM GRAY: That's right.
MEMBER VILLA: Why can't you just build a smaller building with
air-conditioning?
MR. JIM GRAY: Well, the size of the building. I'm allowed to build
the size of the building on the lot. It's the idea that we want to
build one big building, two story's high. But if ---.
MEMBER VILLA: But, that's against the code though, as far as
dimensions go, right.
MR. JIM GRAY: No. Only on the width, on the front.
MEMBER VILLA: Yes, 60 feet.
MR. JIM GRAY: Yes, but I'm allowed to cover, the coverage of the
lot.
CHAIRMAN: Oh yes.
MEMBER VILLA: We realize that. It's the configuration.
MR. JIM GRAY: The only thing that prohibits me from increasing a
building on the ground floor, is the setbacks and the side yards. So
we have to go up.
CHAIRMAN: You want to look at one of these buildings?
MEMBER VILLA: What?
CHAIRMAN: Do you want to look at one of these buildings?
MEMBER VILLA: Back West.
CHAIRMAN: Yes
'Page 19 - June 26, 1996
Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
MEMBER VILLA: Basically, it's not going to be engineering people
down there, in air-conditioned building. It would seem like ---
CHAIRMAN: No, but what he is having is pull ups on the outside.
So, what he is using the wall in back of that as the insulating wall,
to back the honeycomb up to that.
MEMBER VILLA: I realize that. But, that outside wall is not going
to be, not the greatest to look at because, you have all these doors
in it.
CHAIRMAN: Right. It's going to be like the one on the Expressway
at Exit 65.
MEMBER VILLA: Exactly.
CHAIRMAN: That is correct.
MEMBER TORTORA: I --
CHAIRMAN: Wait a minute, it's Mr. Dinizio turn.
MEMBER DINIZIO: I assume that --. The reason why you're not
dividing it into four, sixty foot buildings is because then you would
have to have two additional air-conditioners units, four additional
walls. Meet certain setbacks. If you're looking for efficiency,
building a nice square building, obviously. This the way it looks to
me Mr. Gray. Be it 120 feet long, the efficiency you are going to
gain from that is, having a single air-conditioned unit in each
building. The reason for the size of the building is that you'll
gain insulation, from the outside walls. Am I correct?
MR. JIM GRAY: That's right.
CHAIRMAN: And outside storage, unheated storage.
MEMBER. DINIZIO: I'm not concerned about doors. Those don't
offend me. You got maze one. What I'm thinking here is. We're
looking at the law of Southold Town, that says, you have to divide
this up as four. You're supposed to divide this up into four
buildings. You have a lot, that's only so wide, and so deep. It
certainly looks to me like, this would be a more efficient use of
land, then dividing it into four separate little things, with the
four air-conditioning units, and ---.
MR. JIM GRAY: Also, they are much smaller units. If you make
them 60 feet wide, you have to have driveways on each side. The
Fireman have to get around these things.
MEMBER DINIZIO: Right. Now, is this the plan? Is this the
current one?
'Page 20 - June 26, 1996
Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
MR. JIM GRAY: Yes, that's the plan.
MEMBER DINIZIO: There was one. There was one only 35 feet
between the two building. But, this is the one.
MR. JIM GRAY: This is the one that we want to go by.
MEMBER DINIZIO: OK
MR. JIM GRAY: No
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: They didn't mention it.
MR. JIM GRAY: But I know I have to supply the number of parking
spaces ( ) of building. There is enough land there to do
it.
MEMBER TORTORA: What I'm concerned about is the 100 foot
requirement in the layout that you have, would appear to force you
to some extend to put the parking in the front, and 1991 the Town in
some fashion, hosted a group of Planning experts from USUK and also
from De. Lee Koppelman former director of Long Island Planning
Board, and Dick Yarro, another expert planner. And at this
conference there was a lot of discussion about the quote-unquote,
sea of asphalt in Southold, in front of commercial buildings. It was
general agreed at the time, that this was not a good planning
technique. We didn't want to do this. We wanted to do away with
this, and what I'm really concerned about is, the new requirements.
The new 100 foot setbacks requirements, particularly on a plan like
this, really needs no alternative, except to create that sea of
asphalt in the front, which seems to be contrary to our
comprehensive plan.
So, what I would like to suggest. I think there are a
number of alternatives that can be looked at in this plan, that can
accommodate you and the community, and work within our jurisdiction
as the Zoning Board of Appeals. I for one, would like to look at
those alternatives during the next month. Get some kind of an idea,
what kind of parking will be required because that is directly tied
to my decision', on whether to grant this variance, what degree, and
I'd like to look at some other alternatives.
MR. JIM GRAY: I see what your getting at. We have a 25 foot
setback out front, and we could ---.
MEMBER TORTORA: 25 foot buffer zone.
MR. JIM GRAY: Buffer zone, rather, yes. We could increase that
and reduce the number of parking in that, because we have more
than ample parking. So, I wouldn't care if we gave you the ample
parking and 75 foot landscape, there in the front. I wouldn't object
• •Page 21 - June 26, 1996
Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
to that one bit, and we would landscape across the front, the way
the board sees it, with trees and stuff, and it would be hidden back
far enough. You'd never see a parking field from the street because
it's high above the ground. It must be 10 foot higher than --.
MEMBER TORTORA: This board can't put conditions on, as far as
parking. As I said. To me, parking is directly related to the grant
of the setback variance. I'd like to look at it, and with the board
sit down, and go over the next month, and look at some of the
alternatives.
CHAIRMAN: I think you may also involve the possibility of meeting
with members of the Planning Board.
MEMBER TORTORA: Very good idea.
CHAIRMAN: OK, that's what we're going to have to do Jim, •if that's
all right with you.
MR. JIM GRAY: OK, sure thing.
CHAIRMAN: OK, we have one more person, Mr. Doyen.
MEMBER DOYEN: No.
CHAIRMAN: No questions. OK.
MEMBER VILLA: Jerry.
CHAIRMAN: Yes
MEMBER VILLA: In meeting with, I'd like to see some sort of a plan
of the building, so you know what you're looking at.
MR. JIM GRAY: Definitely.
MEMBER VILLA: And also, you just mentioned something that I had
concerns about. The land is high, but there is nothing that says,
you're not going to go in there and level that down to the highway. I
mean, I'd like to see a Toro as to how that thing is going to end up.
MR. JIM GRAY: We have no intentions of lowering the ground. We
leave it the way ( ) .
MEMBER VILLA: Yes, well. That's ( ) . I'd like to see that
on paper, so that I have something ---.
MR. JIM GRAY: Let's see where it's going to go.
CHAIRMAN: OK. Is there anyone else in the audience that would
like to speak in favor of this application? Anybody like to speak
Page 22 - June 26, 1996
Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
against the application? OK, hearing no further comment, I'll make a
motion recessing the hearing for the next regularly scheduled meeting.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Could we get a date with that, July
24.
CHAIRMAN: Sounds good.
MEMBER DINIZIO: I'd like to discuss that.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: I've already given out the signs
Jim.
MEMBER DINIZIO: I may not be here.
-Page 23 - June 26, 1996
Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
8:18 p.m. Appl. No 3627 (as Amended) . LILLIAN VISHNO. This is
an application for a Waiver under Section 100-26 of the Zoning Code,
based upon a disapproval issued under Section 100-25A, for three
lots (created by deeds between 1947 and 1967) which have been
determined merged as one parcel due to common . ownership since on
or about 7/1983, confirmed in the Building Inspector's Notice of
Disapproval issued 5/24/96 under Section 100-25A. Property
described by deeds dated 10/6/67, 6/17/55, 11/26/47, 6/17/61, to
predecessors in title, and acquired 1/26/84 by Lillian Vishno.
Former County Tax Map Parcel Lots #k44.1, 45, 46, 47, and Section
48, block 1 (now identified as 47.1); and former subd. Lots ##s 16
and 17 on the 1904 Map of S. Buel Corwin Estate. Zone District:
R-40 Residential
CHAIRMAN: I have a copy of a survey indicating the lots on the
corner of 9 Street and Corwin Street, and the house indicating, the
center of it. Lot A is proposed at 49 by 99.95. Lot B at 50 by
99.61 and Lot C, which is the house lot, which is ---. Well, we'll
ask. I have a copy of the Suffolk County Tax Map indicating this
and surrounding properties in the area. Would , you like to be
heard? How are you?
MRS. VISHNO: Good evening. Nice to see everyone. Thank you
for hearing. my appeal. When I purchased the property back in 1984,
the owner told me that inadvertently, the property lots had been
merged, upon the death of her husband. I suppose when you're
trying to sell a property, it sounds as though it's going to be easy
to unmerge. Well, 12 years later I did research, and indeed there
were four separate deeds for the property. I also have an old
survey done by the Van Tuyl's from 1947. I believe I submitted that
to the board, and that also shows very clearly four separate lots.
When you look at the property even today, the parcel was
treated as three separate parcels. There is a planting along the
driveway of the house to sort of separate it, from the parcel. I
believe, I show it on the map survey and, they're other plantings on
the other side that sort of treat it as separate parcel. When the
property, when the properties merged. It's a rather modest house,
in a modest neighborhood, and the property taxes were quite high,
because there is a large parcel of land, and I think it would be a
hardship to sell the house at a reasonable rate, and still have the
high property tax. Also, there is commercial property directly
across the street from the land that I'm talking about, on Corwin
Street.
Also, in the same block, the block of Corwin and 9th, and
I think it's Wiggins, that runs along the back. They are houses built
there, that show the old property parcels. They're smaller
consistency as ( ) to some of the others. It's a rather weird
configuration, with the parcels. I'm hoping that the board will see
-Page 24 - June 26, 1996
Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
fit to conform to the original property lines, and consider dividing,
and giving those lots back, the way they were.
CHAIRMAN: OK. We're going to start over with Mr. Doyen this time.
MEMBER DOYEN: No.
CHAIRMAN: No questions. Ms. Tortora.
MEMBER TORTORA: The only thing, I don't have it in front of me.
The old map which you refer to, which was the 1904 map. On that
map, which is apparently this map.
MRS. VISHNO: I'm looking at a 19---.
MEMBER TORTORA: , This is dated 1904.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Mrs. Vishno doesn't have that one.
I got that one from the Assessor's office, so you might want to --
MRS. VISHNO: I don't have that one. I'm looking at 1947.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: We got the oldest map, the original
sub-division map of Corwin, Buel Corwin.
CHAIRMAN: We'll give you that.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: That shows how the lots were laid
out, back then.
MEMBER, VILLA: The frontages are the same.
MRS. VISHNO: Oh
MEMBER VILLA: As it is now.
MEMBER TORTORA: And actually, that correspondents with the
current Real Property Tax Map. The sub-division line goes right to
the middle of your house, on all four lots.
MRS. VISHNO: Yes, well. I was looking at this one.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI Yes, she has the one that was
changed later.
MEMBER TORTORA: That was the proposed sub-division.
MRS. VISHNO: Well now, this is even earlier than that. This is
1947 and it certainly doesn't look like this one. I've never seen
this one before.
Page 25 - June 26, 1996
Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
MEMBER TORTORA: No well, that one is also similar to --. I guess
you haven't seen this one either.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: County Tax Map, today. She has
that Lydia.
MRS. VISHNO: Yes, I do.
MEMBER TORTORA: The County Tax Map isn't exactly parallel to
this, which shows the property line for the four lots, going right
through the middle of your house and your garage.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Well, she's buying it though, based
On the 1947 map. That's when she purchased.
MEMBER VILLA: But that's not the way it was sub-divided.
MRS. VISHNO: Well.
MEMBER TORTORA: It's been there --.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Yes, but the --.
MRS. VISHNO: Yes, but the two center lots are not an issue.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Different centuries.
MRS. VISHNO: That's what I understand.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Yes, but the way the law is. It
doesn't bind you to ---.
CHAIRMAN: What she really is saying, Lillian. The , lots now
running this way. That's what she's saying. The Tax Map, 47.1
are now running. The dotted line are now running in the opposite
directions, through the center of the house. Not vertically, but
horizontally. That's what she's saying.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: But when it was deeded to Mrs.
Vishno, prior to zoning. This is why she's asking for waiver
because it was deeded like many other lots. In Town, they could be
of any size, any dimension. They didn't even have to be on a
sub-division map in order to qualify for asking for a waiver. And
that's where we are. Not 1908, it's 1947.
CHAIRMAN: Right
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: We could probably go back to 1800
and probably find another map. Who knows, right.
Page 26 - June 26, 1996
_ Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
MEMBER TORTORA: Where we are, in 1996 Real Property Tax Map,
which there are two lots running right through the. middle of her
house.
CHAIRMAN: Is there anything else you would like to say?
MEMBER TORTORA: No, other than. When you purchased this,
from what I can see on the Tax Maps, you wanted to create two,
5,000 square foot lots. Is that correct, roughly?
MRS. VISHNO: Yes.
MEMBER TORTORA: And the parcels are about one half acre. When
you purchased this, apparently the prior owner, according to the
property tax card 53184 combined, into four parcels, at that time.
That's what's on the property card.
MRS. VISHNO: Yes. When I purchased them, they had been
combined already.
MEMBER TORTORA: So, you've been receiving one property tax
bill, since.
MRS. VISHNO: Yes
MEMBER TORTORA: : Since the time that you owned it. And since
the time that you've owned it, it's been in one ownership. Is that
correct.
MRS. VISHNO: Yes
MEMBER TORTORA: Thank you
CHAIRMAN: Mr. Dinizio?
MEMBER DINIZIO: No questions.
CHAIRMAN: Mr. Villa?
MEMBER VILLA: Well, I have the same concerns that Lydia does.
This is a R-40 zone, and you actually have a lot that size, that
slightly over 19,000. square feet, which is only half of what zoning
allows. You're asking to actually make three lots out of it.
MRS. VISHNO: Well again, as I say, the consideration there, in that
same block. It doesn't actually abut my property, because Costello's
comes in there. But, if you look at the County Map, there are two
houses that are built on that block, on lots that are perhaps. They
may even be a little bit smaller, than what I now stand for here. So,
MEMBER VILLA: Yes, but they predate. They go back quite
awhile, right.
-Page 27 - June 26, 1996
Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
MRS. VISHNO: , Yes, yes they do.
MEMBER VILLA: Do you live in this house?
MRS. VISHNO: No, I don't.
MEMBER VILLA: Have you ever lived there.
MRS. VISHNO: No, and it's also adjoining an apartment, sort of
complex, and as I said. The commercial across the street, it's
difficult to cope with, that land there and that house.
CHAIRMAN: OK, anything else?
MEMBER VILLA: Basically then, you actually purchased this as an
investment.
MRS. VISHNO: Yes
CHAIRMAN: Lillian, while you're standing there. Let me see if
there's anybody in the audience that has any questions, that may
relate back to this anyway.
CHAIRMAN: Is there anyone that would like to speak in favor of
this application? Anybody like to speak against the application?
All right. We'll see what happens. We thank you. It's so nice to
see you again.
MRS. VISHNO: Thank's very much.
CHAIRMAN: Hearing no further comment I make a motive closing the
hearing, and reserving decision until later. All in favor, aye.
• -Page 28 - June 26, 1996
Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
8:30 p.m. Appl. 4393 - EDWIN E. GRAEB. This is an application
for Special Exception Use of an established Accessory Apartment, as
provided by Article 111, Section 100-31B (14) of the Zoning Code, in
conjunction with owner's residence at 16645 Main Road, Mattituck,
NY; County Tax Map Parcel No. 1000-115-2.4. Zone: A-C
Agricultural and Residential.
CHAIRMAN: We have been to the house and we've seen the floor
plan. The house is a stately house, in excess of 100 years old, and
we are familiar with it. It is the second story that is the nature
of this application or the special exception. I have a copy of the
Suffolk County Tax Map indicating this and surrounding properties in
the area. Mr. Gra.eb, would you like to be heard?
MR. GRAEB: Mr. Chairman, this is an application for a
non-conforming apartment into one that is conforming, and has been
in existence for roughly, 12 years.
CHAIRMAN: Does anyone have any questions of Mr. Graeb or his
daughter? Bob.
MEMBER VILLA: Does this basically have a C of O, the way it was
constructed?
CHAIRMAN: You mean the house?
MEMBER VILLA: Well, he put the dormer in?
CHAIRMAN: Well, it was always a two story house, right. All you
did was convert it.
MR. GR.AEB: Yes. It did have a CO for the ---.
CHAIRMAN: Existing house.
MEMBER VILLA: The certificate of occupancy of 185, is for the
dormer. So, they must ---. The question I, the ceiling height,
( ) height because I know they get hung up on that at times,
without a C of O.
MR. GRAEB: You can give him this. In fact, you have a copy of
it.
MEMBER VILLA: Yes.
CHAIRMAN: Jim.
MEMBER DINIZIO: No
CHAIRMAN: Lydia.
Page 29 - June 26, 1996
Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
MEMBER TORTORA: What's the total square footage on the house?
MR. GRAEB: I don't recall right offhand, but you do have a
diagram submitted with the application.
MEMBER TORTORA: You do but it's ---.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI : About 1800 or 1900 feet?
MR. GRAEB: I'm sorry.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: 1800 or 1900 square feet total, both
floors.
MR. GRAEB: Yes. The apartment, I think the minimum
requirements are 450 square feet and it does exceed that.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Yes
MEMBER TORTORA: No. I'm just concerned about that. The only
other thing I though was very nice, some concerns about off "street
parking. We did not look at that when we were there, and we do
need three spaces for the off street parking.
MR. GRAEB: Right now, there is one driveway and previous
) . It's just an ( ) on it, one driveway. There is ample room
to park three cars.
MEMBER TORTORA: So, you would have no objection.
MR. GRAEB: Not on the street.
MEMBER TORTORA: As far as to put that in -----
MR. GRAEB: No objection at all.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Is there a garage used for parking?
MR. GRAEB: Yes, yes
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: You can count that space too.
MR. GRAEB: Single car, that my daughter uses.
CHAIRMAN: OK. Mr. Doyen.
MEMBER DOYEN: No
CHAIRMAN: Is there anything else that you would like to add to the
record Mr. Graeb?
-Page 30 - June 26, 1996
Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
MR. GRAEB: Nothing more. I think you all visited the place and
seen it.
CHAIRMAN: Right. Is there anybody else that would like to speak in
favor of this application? Anybody like to speak against the
application? Laurie, anything else you would like to add? Nothing,
OK. Any other questions that we left unturned.? Nothing, all
right.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Jim wants to make a motion.
CHAIRMAN: OK, make it.
MEMBER DINIZIO: I'd like to make a motion that it be approved as
applied.
CHAIRMAN: OK
MEMBER DINIZIO: Three spaces I guess, they have to follow the
law.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: OK, you just add the conditions of
the code, right.
MEMBER T•ORTORA: What were the second part --.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Added the conditions of the code
that's specified in the code, A through J.
MEMBER TORTORA: OK.
CHAIRMAN: Second.
Wage 31 - June 26, 1996
Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
8:35 p.m. Appl. No. 4388 - EDWIN C. KIRSCHERF. This is an
application for a Variance from Article XXIV, Section 100-244 based
upon the Building Inspector's Notice Of Disapproval issued May 3,
1996, for proposed addition at rear of existing dwelling with reduced
rear yard setback at less than the 35 ft. requirement. Location of
Property: 395 Inlet Lane, Greenport, NY; County Tax Map Parcel No.
1000-43-4-35.
CHAIRMAN: On this one we have a survey from Roderick Van Tuyl
PC, dated ---. It was amended on September 10, 1956, amended
on June 8, 1988, and resurveyed June 23, 1986 indicating this one
story frame home, and pending in the rear is the addition that they
are requesting, at 21 feet to the rear yard. How are you tonight
Sir? Could you just state your name for the record?
MR. EDWIN KINSCHERF: Good evening. My name is Edwin
Kinscherf.
CHAIRMAN: How are you?
MR.. EDWIN KINSCHERF: I'm looking for an additional 14 feet. I
intend making it my permanent home, and this additional footage will
enable me to enlarge two rooms that will make it a lot more
convenient for me.
CHAIRMAN: OK, we'll start with Mr. Doyen.
MEMBER DOYEN: No
CHAIRMAN: Mrs. Tortora.
MEMBER TORTORA: No
CHAIRMAN: Mr. Dinizio
MEMBER Dinizio: No
CHAIRMAN: Mr. Villa.
MEMBER VILLA: Were you the owner when this was split up some
time ago, when they had another hearing?
MR. EDWIN KINSCHERF: Beg your pardon?
MEMBER VILLA: I said, this looks like it was a subject of a fire
ZBA decision which granted a subdivision.
MR. EDWIN KINSCHERF: I've owned this property since 1951, but it
has merged on me. I went through the process of having it reviewed
and having it reverted back to it's original status.
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Southold Town Board of Appeals
MEMBER VILLA: The house in the back that was previously part of
it is not --. You don't own that one.
MR. EDWIN KINSCHERF: Yes, I still own that one.
MEMBER VILLA: And the house that was built along side of that, is
the third lot? Do you own that one too?
MR. EDWIN KINSCHERF: Inaudible
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: That's not part of this application.
MEMBER VILLA: I realize that. I'm just curious of what the
ownership was.
MR. EDWIN KINSCHERF: There is a parcel that actually is 100 by
200, and it's split up into three parcels. The front parcel is 100
by 100, and the back parcel is 250 by 100, with a house on that.
MEMBER VILLA: I was there at the site. I saw the one house. I
was thinking it was the second house on the lot.
MR. EDWIN KINSCHERF: No
MEMBER VILLA: So basically, you would not have any opposition
because you own that other house.
MR. EDWIN KINSCHERF: No, I hope not.
MEMBER VILLA: I don't have any other questions.
CHAIRMAN: OK. Is there anybody else, while you're standing
there, in the audience, that would like to speak against this
application? Is there anybody that would like to speak for the
application? I don't have any particular problems with it. I'll be
honest with you. I thank you for coming up and speaking Sir.
MR. EDWIN KINSCHERF: I thank you for your time and
consideration.
CHAIRMAN: Anybody want to move this, or what do you want to do?
MEMBER VILLA: I have a problem with this.
CHAIRMAN: You have a problem with this.
MEMBER VILLA: Pretty close corner ( ) .
MEMBER TORTORA: Can I ask for the record establish plans.
CHAIRMAN: Sure.
-Page 33 - June 26, 1996
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Southold Town Board of Appeals
MEMBER TORTORA: It's in your application that it did not mention
in the application. What is the reason why you don't want to have
this on a different level, a second story, the bathroom?
MR. EDWIN KINSCHERF: I can't handle stairs very well.
MEMBER TORTORA: Could you just state that for the record, please.
MR. EDWIN KINSCHERF: I'm a little handicapped and stairs is not
the ---. That's why I'm retiring out here, because it's all on one
level.
MEMBER TORTORA: And that's why you want to --
MR. EDWIN KINSCHERF: Extend it a little, yes.
MEMBER TORTORA: Is there anyplace else on the property, where
you could put this bathroom, where it would be easily accessible to
you.
MR. EDWIN KINSCHERF: Not really'.
CHAIRMAN: This is not just a bathroom, it's an addition which
includes two rooms.
MEMBER TORTORA: ( Inaudible ) .
CHAIRMAN: OK thank you. Sorry to make you get up again.
MR. EDWIN KINSCHERF: That's quite alright.
CHAIRMAN: I guess we're going to close this and reserve decision.
I'll make that motion Ladies and Gentlemen.
Page 34 - June 26, 1996
Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
8:43 p.m. Appl. No. 4387 - DONNA I. WEXLER: This is an
application for a Variance from the Bulk Setback Schedule, Column
"i," based upon the Building Inspector's Notice of Disapproval issued
April 24, 1996, for proposed addition at rear of existing dwelling
with reduced front yard setback at less than the 60 ft. requirement.
Location of Property: Inlet Lane, Greenport, NY; County Tax Map
Parcel No. 100Q-43-4-35. Size/Zone: 1.8 acre lot in an R-80
Residential Zone.
JENNY GOULD ESQ: I'm here for Dr. Wexler and Mrs. Wexler
tonight. Linda I'm assuming that the board got all the facts.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Yes, they have all the new
information.
JENNY GOULD ESQ: One thing I would like to do is start off with.
To amend, or modify the application. Originally, the application was
concerned with ---. Yes, we're dealing with a 60 foot setback, but
the house was originally constructed in 1981 on a 50 foot setback,
which is how the plans were originally submitted to the Building
Department, in conformance with a 50 foot setback. My application
addresses the garage encroaching into that 50 foot setback, but it
should also address the facts that the steps to the front door will
be in that 50 foot setback, and I also want to add that. It's a
relocation of old steps to the front door, which also encroached into
the 50 foot setback. It looks to me about the same distance. I'm
just ---. If you have the existing survey?
CHAIRMAN: Yes, we think we do.
JENNY GOULD ESQ: You'll see the steps.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: They have it, but you can show him
again.
JENNY GOULD ESQ: This was the main ( ) section.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Is it a 35 foot setback, though?
The old steps, because remember ---. I think the new steps are
closer, that's the difference, similar.
JENNY GOULD ESQ: ( Inaudible ) .
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Yes, you're right.
JENNY GOULD ESQ: On the steps, the proposed new steps, will be
35 feet from the road. It will be a terrace effect going up, and it
will be landscaped. We think it will look nicer than the old steps,
which sort of went straight up. It will be nice addition to the
)property. I don't see where there will be any determent to the
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Southold Town Board of Appeals
neighbors, who's property is totally landscaped and shielded from the
road, and no impact on the environment. Because of the topography,
in order to enter the first level of the house, the first floor, you
need a set of steps. Otherwise, your front door is going to be the
basement. That's how it was before and we're just proposing a
relocation of the steps.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: It's about 12 foot high, right.
JENNY GOULD ESQ: Right. The old steps were 12 foot high too.
Because the first level, the grade hasn't changed. On the garage,
what happened was. As it was under construction, Dr. Wexler
realize that he couldn't fit a full size car in the garage unless it
was modified. So, on the fact that you got to show the difference
between a 60 foot and a 50 foot setback. It's really a very small
encroachment into the 50 foot setback. At most, it's four feet and
it goes down to zero. I don't know what this word footage would be,
but it's a very small encroachment. Again, I don't think this is
something that would bother the neighborhood, and certainly the
benefit to my client. It's not a determent to anyone else. So, if
you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them.
CHAIRMAN: I don't have any at this particular time. I was up
there last week and it was extremely enjoyable. I can assure you,
it's a beautiful spot. We'll start with Mr. Villa.
MEMBER VILLA: No, I think you just explained it. I wondered why
that garage doors came out with that wing. Is it the length of the
car.
JENNY GOULD ESQ: It's the length of the car. It was just a gap.
It just had to be corrected.
CHAIRMAN: OK. Mr. Dinizio.
MEMBER DINIZIO: I was wondering where the stairs was, so I went
out there yesterday, and someone explained it to me. So, your
right. It's going to be more landscaped than stairs actually.
JENNY GOULD ESQ: It's going to be quite attractive. It's going to
be very nice.
MEMBER DINIZIO: The extension on the garage doesn't appear to be
closer to the front yard, if you look at it. It doesn't appear that
way.
CHAIRMAN: There are so many angles that makes it difficult to
visualize, from the ground.
MEMBER VILLA: For the record, you might want to say that
basically the access to it, is a private road too, right.
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Southold Town Board of Appeals
JENNY GOULD ESQ: It is a private road and when you consider that
there is no, on street parking. All the cars will be in the garage.
So, from a neighborhood standpoint, it's quite desirable to have it
that way.
MEMBER TORTORA: I have no questions or objections.
CHAIRMAN: OK, while you're standing there, let me just ask the
audience. Is there anybody else, that would like to speak in favor,
other than the applicants. They are welcome to speak too.
Anybody like to speak against? OK, hearing no comment, anything
further Ladies or Gentlemen, on the board? Anything further that
you would like to ask the Attorney? I guess we're done. Anybody
want to offer a resolution.
MEMBER DINIZIO: We'll just have to clarify the setbacks I guess.
So, I'll make the motion that we grant it
CHAIRMAN: As applied
MEMBER DINIZIO: - Right, as applied. We need specific setbacks for
the steps, and that little addition for the garage, so that ---.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: It might be 46 feet. Do you think?
MEMBER DINIZIO: I'm thinking 30 somewhat feet.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: To the building.
JENNY GOULD, ESQ: I only know what we calculated yesterday,
that I obtained from the architect. He says it's 35 feet from the
road.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: To the set.
JENNY GOULD ESQ: To the gate step, it would be 35 feet.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: We're talking about the building,
though.
JENNY GOULD ESQ. : To the property line.
MEMBER DINIZIO: From the property line. Well, the property line
is ( ) .
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: What is it from the building,
though. From the building?
CHAIRMAN: From the building?
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: 45 feet, 46 feet you think.
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Southold Town Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN: Will you call in tomorrow and ask, and call us back.
JENNY GOULD ESQ: Yes
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: We'll put them both in the decision
that way, OK.
JENNY GOULD ESQ: OK
CHAIRMAN: OK
MEMBER DINIZIO: To the property line. 35 feet to the property.
CHAIRMAN: OK
JENNY GOULD ESQ: It's probably 46.
CHAIRMAN: 46
JENNY GOULD ESQ: It's only four foot.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: I thought it was four feet.
JENNY GOULD ESQ: I could verify that. It's four feet at most.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: It is four feet from the house.
From the protrusion from the house into the ---.
Everybody's talking at once. (inaudible)
MEMBER DINIZIO: To the steps.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: No, to the garage.
MEMBER DINIZIO: Oh the garage, OK. The steps are definitely
going to be --. Those steps are going to end up much closer.
JENNY GOULD ESQ: Right, ( Inaudible )
MR. WEXLER: That's called landscaping. That's not a building.
MEMBER DINIZIO: No, but just specifically, I want to be sure that
we include that in our decision.
MR. WEXLER: Right.
MEMBER DINIZIO: So that you're not coming back later on, because
you exceed some ----
JENNY GOULD ESQ: It will be much better for you.
MR. WEXLER: Absolutely.
' Page 38 - June 26, 1996
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Southold Town Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN: Anything above eight inches Dr. is required billable,
and there is only a small exclusion for a small set of steps.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: 30 square feet. That's it.
CHAIRMAN: 30 square feet and you have exceeded that by nine fold.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: I'd also like to mention that I asked
for the setback from the building because, that's also a different
setback, building the steps. Building is not part of the
landscaping. I have to define that in the findings.
CHAIRMAN: That is correct. Right.
MEMBER DINIZIO: When you're saying that, the building is four
feet.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Four feet.
CHAIRMAN: Right, OK. 4 to 6 feet, so you're into --.
MEMBER DINIZIO: With all that said, I'll make a motion.
CHAIRMAN: All in favor, aye.
Page 39 - June 26, 1996
Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
8:50 P.M. Appl. No. 4394 - WILLIAM and ELEANOR FORTE.
Applicants-owners are requesting a Variance based upon the May 29,
1996 Building Inspector's Notice of Disapproval, under Article XXIV,
Section 100-244B for Permission to build portion of a new principal
building (garage portion) with a reduced front yard setback.
Location of Property: 1155 Harbor Lane, Cutchogue, NY; County
Tax Map Parcel #1000-97-6-12.3; also referred to as Lot 3 on the Map
of Minor Subdivision for Peter and Elloys Sterling.
CHAIRMAN: The applicants are applying for a variance, which
indicates the nature of this application produced by Roderick Van
Tuyl, dated November 24, 1982 and a copy of the Suffolk County Tax
Map indicating this and the surrounding properties in the area. How
are you tonight Sir?
MR. FORTE: Thank you, very good. Thank you for hearing me Mr.
Chairman, and members of the board.
CHAIRMAN: No problem.
MR. FORTE: I would like to build a one story ranch on this one
acre property, that I purchased many years ago, in 1982 from the
Sterling family. Of course, over a period of years the setback rule
has changed, and there is a problem here. There is a
private road between my property and the neighbor, and instead of,
----. Well, the requirement is 60 feet setback from my garage. I'm
asking a setback of 42 feet be allowed.
CHAIRMAN: OK, we'll start with this side of the room, Mr. Doyen,
Mrs. Tortora.
MEMBER TORTORA: Have you considered any other locations on the
property, for the garage not to require a variance?
MR. FORTE: Well, it makes sense to face the garage to the center of
that driveway. My neighbor has the same garage situation. He's
facing his garage towards that center right of way, and it makes
sense for me to do that also. To turn the house sideways or to put
it in another situation, wouldn't make much sense. It would really
destroy the character of the house I'm going to build, or would like
to build.
CHAIRMAN: Mr. Dinizio
MEMBER DINIZIO: No
CHAIRMAN: Mr. Villa
MEMBER VILLA: Yes, my question is basically you're saying, you're
asking for a 42 foot setback. But that's a 30 foot right of way,
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Southold Town Board of Appeals
with 15 of which is into your property. So, do we really have a 42
foot setback, or do we have a 27 foot setback?
MR.. FORTE: I think the rule says, it has to be 60 feet from the
center of the driveway, and the --
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: The Building Inspector usually uses
the center of a right-of-way, especially when you own half of it.
MR. FORTE: So, it would be 42 from the center of the private road.
MEMBER VILLA: Yes, I see that. I was trying to clarify in my
mind, whether it was 42 feet or 27 feet.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: 42 feet from the center of the
right-of-way.
CHAIRMAN: Well, the issue is. You have a right-of way over a
right-of way, right.
MR. FORTE: Correct.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Plus, he owns that portion of it.
CHAIRMAN: Plus, you own half of it.
MR. FORTE: I own half of it, yes.
CHAIRMAN: OK
MEMBER VILLA: If it's still considered as roadway, the offsets are
generally from the roadway, right? That's the question.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: What's your question again?
MEMBER VILLA: The 60 foot setback is from the roadway, right?
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: The Building Inspector has
determined that it's 42 feet from the middle of the right-of-way,
when you own that portion of that right-of way. ok. So, that's how
I'm answering that. It's 42 feet, not 27 feet.
MEMBER VILLA: Inaudible
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: He's asking for a variance of 18
feet.
MEMBER VILLA: Now, who has the right to use this, other than
yourself?
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Southold Town Board of Appeals
MR. FORTE: There are four acres here, two on the rear and two on
the front facing Harbor Lane. The two people in the rear of course,
need this private right-of-way to get to their homes. So, there are
four people only using this right-of-way.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: How is the other side of the
property where the neighbors house, his garage. Does it come off
that right of way also?
MR. FORTE: Yes, Mr. Hoffa whose here I think this evening. He
built his new home and his garage faces that right-of-way. He uses
that. He has to use that.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: How close is he, about?
MR. FORTE: He is about 51 feet, I think from the center of that
right-of-way. The law changed recently. It went from 50 to 60, I
was told.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: It was changed in December,
actually. If you came in prior to that, you could have gone with the
50 foot setback.
CHAIRMAN: Inaudible
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: This is an old subdivision that was
done under an old code. The way the old zoning code was written
back in December, it said, you could refer back to the year that that
subdivision was approved. At that time it was a 50 foot setback.
CHAIRMAN: OK
MEMBER VILLA: So, he'd still be asking for 8 feet at this point,
instead of 18.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: No, a variance --- That's right
Bob. Yes, 8 feet.
MEMBER TORTORA: Not according to the Building Department,
Notice of Disapproval.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: What does that say.
MEMBER TORTORA: Notice of Disapproval says 60 feet is required.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Yes, under today's code.
CHAIRMAN: Under today's code.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: It changed in December.
page 42 - June 26, 1996
Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN: It changed in December.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: When we changed the merger law,
we took out that provision that said, you could go back to the old
subdivision zoning regulations.
MEMBER TORTORA: Inaudible
MEMBER DINIZIO: It doesn't have to say it.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: It doesn't have to say it. I'm
telling you --.
MEMBER DINIZIO: It's not the law anymore.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: It's not the law. He refers to
today's law.
CHAIRMAN: OK. While you're standing there, is there anybody else
that would like to speak in favor of this application? Anybody like
to speak against the application? OK, anything else of this
gentlemen while he's standing there? Any other questions. Anybody
have a specific problem with this application?
MEMBER VILLA: If there is no opposition I will vote.
CHAIRMAN: Would you like to make a motion Mr. Villa?
MEMBER VILLA: Yes, I'll make a motion that we approve it as
applied for.
CHAIRMAN: OK. All in favor, aye.
• Page 43 - June 26, 1996
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Southold Town Board of Appeals
8:05 p.m. Appl. #4379 - LISA AND NIKOLA GALJANIC
(Continuation) Front yard setback for new dwelling. 1065 Bay
Avenue, East Marion.
CHAIRMAN: Is the applicant here, or the builder?
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: The builder is here.
CHAIRMAN: Hi, how are you, tonight.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Saetta
CHAIRMAN: Thank you for those great stakes and all that ---. We
had a great time there last Saturday. We woke the owners up but
MR. RICHARD SAETTA: Just stakes it out and they really--. On
the survey it shows 17 and change, to the road. It's actually in
line with the deck. The foundation itself is 29 feet, and the
overhang of the second story is 23 feet. Our reason for doing that
was to stay as close to the letter of the law, which I explained
before, so that you'd be able get into the house and keep it, a line
up in the foundation, so that we could run water off, and keep the
foundation deep enough in the ground that it would not be considered
CHAIRMAN: OK
MEMBER VILLA: You're going to have a six foot overhang, on the
second story.
MR. RICHARD SAETTA: Yes. It will actually be 23 feet, the actual
building line itself, and the second story will be 20 feet. It might
have been a little confusing the 17.6 we're showing. That's the line
we want to keep the deck on, as you come off the road. Which, if
you look at the elevation it would probably be a little lower than
the actual crest of the road, where you came off of, to enter the
house.
CHAIRMAN: OK
MEMBER VILLA: Is that second story going to be, that kind of
overhang all the way around it.
MR. RICHARD SAETTA: Yes
MEMBER VILLA: Cantilever effect all the way around it.
MR. R.ICHARD SAETTA: A cantilever effect all the way around.
Page 44 - June 26, 1996
_ Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN: OK, Mr. Division
MEMBER DINIZIO: No, I don't have any questions.
CHAIRMAN: Mrs. Tortora.
MEMBER TORTORA: No, I visited the site.
CHAIRMAN: Again.
MEMBER TORTORA: It's a very unusual site.
CHAIRMAN: Mr. Doyen, no questions. Anybody else, any questions
for or against this hearing? OK, I guess that's about it. Does
anybody have any recommendation they want to bring up at this
point? No.
MEMBER VILLA: Well, Lydia wants to put in there, that she doesn't
want any excess fill in the backyard, to block up any of that
drainage.
MR. RICHARD SAETTA: (Inaudible) There would be no excesses --.
CHAIRMAN: You're also trying to keep those tree's that are down
there, in the hole.
MR. RICHARD SAETTA: That's right.
CHAIRMAN: And hold.
MEMBER TORTORA: One of the concerns that I had that I discussed
with the other board members that, if we required that the house be
moved further back, that it would require additional fill.
MR. RICHARD SAETTA: Yes
MEMBER TORTORA: And that is a natural drain into East Marion
Lake.
MR. RICHARD SAETTA: Yes it is.
MEMBER TORTORA: I would not like to see any infringement in that
area. So, actually I support your proposal.
MR. RICHARD SAETTA: Thank you.
MEMBER VILLA: Now wait a second now. You're saying that --.
I'm looking at a further complication here. The existing grade back
there, is 9 foot 6.
MR. R.ICHARD SAETTA: Yes
Page 45 - June 26, 1996
Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
MEMBER VILLA: And the septic system is going to go in there, and
the finished grade. The septic system is supposed to be 12 feet, so
there's is going to be three feet of fill in the back.
MR. RICHARD SAETTA: In the septic area ( )
MEMBER VILLA: Well, that's where the brick patio is, so I guess
that's going to be gone.
MR. RICHARD SAETTA: Where that patio is now, if you look at the
yellow basin. I don't know if you have it. I'll explain it. 9.6 is
the very, very, lowest elevation back going towards the lake. Where
our foundation is, is actually 10.6 is the elevation of the grading.
We're really higher than the DEC requirements or any other
requirements. The lowest section of that property is 9.6. We're not
going to be involved working in any of that area, that 9.6.
MEMBER VILLA: Yes
MR. RICHARD SAETTA: We're going to work in the area's that are
above that.
MEMBER VILLA: Yes
MEMBER DINIZIO: This slopes quite a bit from one side to the
other.
MEMBER VILLA: It's still close to 12 feet here, when you're finished .
grading on that septic system. I just wanted to point that out.
CHAIRMAN: Yes
MEMBER VILLA: If you go there and you see some fill, it's going to
require some ---.
MR. RICHARD SAETTA: What we're trying to do is, maintain as
much of the natural terrain as we can, because people don't want to
use it either. They like it like that. The other options are
not---. I mean, I think this is the simplest. The building will
look nice. All the neighbors have signed ( ) letters to the
Zoning Board saying, they would like to see this happen, and we did
it in the simplest way, without interfering with as much as the
natural terrain as we could, to give these people a house on this
piece of property and I don't understand ---. I mean, what we're
trying to do is maintain that property.
CHAIRMAN: Right
MR. RICHARD SAETTA: As best as possible.
CHAIRMAN: You see, we couldn't ---.
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Southold Town Board of Appeals
MR. RICHARD SAETTA: The other options are to extend off the
existing house, which wouldn't bring us ( ) . We're trying to do
the right thing.
CIAIRMAN: Right
MR. RICHARD SAETTA: And it was a lot of work and study that
went into this, to make this the job that it should be.
MEMBER DINIZIO: What was obvious to all of us, was that you were
building a house that was compatible with that particular piece of
property. The stakes indicated that --. I could just envision more
or less living in the trees, because that's what it going to be like
on that second deck.
MR. RICHARD SAETTA: A tree house there.
MEMBER DINIZI0: We all pretty much discussed that, when we were
there. We woke the people up and they left. I didn't know that
there was anybody in the house, but --. We appreciated, I certainly
did, appreciate the fact --
CHAIRMAN: I did too.
MEMBER DINIZIO: That the stakes were there, and that one large
stake that was on the tree was the indication, an indication of just
how the house is going to wash out, so it was helpful for you to do
that, and I appreciate you doing that.
CHAIRMAN: OK
MR. RICHARD SAETTA: Is there anything else that I can answer?
CHAIRMAN: So, are you going to go with that or what? Are you
going to go with the Resolution?
MEMBER TORTORA: I'll make a motion to approve this as applied
for, or with the condition that no excess fill be placed, except
around the cesspool.
MR. RICHARD SAETTA: OK
MEMBER TORTORA: The cesspool area.
CHAIRMAN: Second.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Would you like to give a distance,
when you say around it? Do you want to give a diameter?
CHAIRMAN: Three foot around.
• -Page 47 - June 26, 1996
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Southold Town Board of Appeals
MR. RICHARD SAETTA: Within the Suffolk County Board of Health
requirements.
MEMBER DINIZIO: Ten feet.
MEMBER VILLA: It's got to be leveled 10 feet, beyond this added to
the cesspool.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: So, it's about a 20 foot diameter,
Lydia
MEMBER TORTORA: OK
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: 20 foot diameter? OK
MEMBER TORTORA: Bob, is that OK?
MEMBER VILLA: Yes.
CHAIRMAN: Second. All in favor, aye.
Page 48 - June 26, 1996
Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
9:15 p.m. Appl. No. 4391 - JOHN AND PATRICIA McCARVILL.
This is an application for Variances, based upon the Building
Inspector's Notice of Disapproval issued 5/30/96 in an application
proposal to "subdivide existing lot", and disapproving the project
under Article 111A, Section 100-30A.2, for: (a) insufficient lot
area of proposed Lot #3, and (b) insufficient yard setback(s) of
existing principal barn building. Property Location: 150 Waterview
Drive, Southold, NY; County Tax Map Parcel No. 1000-78-7732.7.
Zone: R-40 Residential Flood Zone: (Proposed Lot #3 - B Zone
area) .
CHAIRMAN: I have a copy of a survey, Roderick Van Tuyl dated
May 8, 1996 indicating the #1, #2, and #3 lots. The third lot is the
one that's the nature of this application. I have a copy of a
Suffolk County Tax Map indicating this and surrounding properties in
the area. Ms. Moore, would you like to be heard?
PATRICIA MOORE, ESQ: Yes, thank you. Patricia Moore, 315
Westphalia Road, Mattituck. I represent Patricia and John
McCarvill. John is here today with his father Roger. I pass this
property every day, and have been marveling at the development
that's gone on. It's just been transforming this " fixer/upper"
into, quite a piece of property. This property, and it's all being
done by the McCarvill family. So this is sweat equality, at it's
best.
The property was known as the Zebroski. The Julius
Zebroski farm, the three acre farm, part of the three acre property,
with the barns, the house. Well essentially, two barns and a house.
While Mr. Zebroski believed, my understanding that he believed, that
if he never did anything to his house, his taxes would remain
consistently, and the tax bill that's showed it's $1200.00 in 1996.
I think this theory I guess, was right if you were willing to live in
a dilapidated area.
The variances that we have, that we're requesting are
really for Lot 3. It's a 30 foot front yard setback from the
existing flag or the lot line. This is one of the lots that's
creating, and it's going to be a flag lot. We hope it will be
approved to be a flag lot, and the barn which is shown on your
survey, is presently there. It's on foundation, and it's a massive
structure, and that is 30 feet from the front property line. The
square footage which shows on your survey for this particular lot, is
37,295.
However, this square footage is for the Planning Board,
does not include the right-of-way. We have to exclude the
right-of-way square footage. So, in reality the lot is in fact, a
total square footage 38,795, so we're short 1205 square feet, from a
40,000 square foot lot.
-Page 49 - June 26, 1996
Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN: You're talking about the flag, not the right-of-way.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ. : No, the flag in total.
MEMBER TORTORA: That's including the right-of-way.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: Correct. So, that the actual square footage
to the Zoning Board is concerned with is 38,795. , OK.
MEMBER TORTORA: Where is the right-of-way.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: I'm sorry. It's a flag lot. It's not a
right-of way. It's part of parcel 3. You see the flag.
CHAIRMAN: Just the flag, parcel 3, yes.
MEMBER TORTORA: Right, OK.
MEMBER VILLA: Clarification for the Planning Board purpose, they
consider it 37,000. , right.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: Yes. The Planning Board does not include
the flag as part of their square footage calculation. So, when we
prepared our survey, we had to exclude that square footage.
MEMBER VILLA: So, if we're granting a variance, we have to grant
it for 37,900 or whatever it is, 95. How could we consider the flag,
if they don't?
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Well, it also ---.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: The subdivision regulations doesn't exclude
that square footage. I mean, the Zoning Board regulations, it's
a lot area.
CHAIRMAN: Bob, it's a deeded piece. We can include it. It's
absolutely ridiculous. If it was a right of way common, as we had in
the last hearing, to four people, all right. We could only include
that portion of it, that was generic to this particular piece of
property we had in the hearing before. This particular piece is only
serviced by that piece of property, and is deeded to it.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: It's an exclusive strip, as part of the lot 3
zone. But, whatever number you choose to use, I will (
but just keep in consideration that, the square footage that is
necessary for purposes of making this a 40,000 square foot lot, is
1205, OK.
CHAIRMAN: The purpose of the front yard setback, is that the barn
is going to be converted to a house.
Page 50 - June 26, 1996
Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: It's a principal structure.
CHAIRMAN: Right
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: It could be converted into a house, or the
Building Department in order to get a CO for the barn as a
structure, a principal structure.
CHAIRMAN: OK
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: Still needs the front yard setback.
CHAIRMAN: OK. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to jump the gun on that.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: No, no. I'm happy to answer any questions
you have them, on the way. I have --. Mr. McCarvill did me the
favor of photographing, before and after. It really is an incredible
property. I have the first photograph, if I could approach you.
CHAIRMAN: Sure
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: Is the house. It's a Victorian, or he tells
me, it's a Victorian house, and it will be improved ultimately as a
Victoria. There's two photograph's. The top picture is the before,
and the bottom picture is the after. Just so you can see the entire
parcel, OK. The subject property shows you the barn here. There
are two photographs of the barn.
Again, the top picture if the before, and the bottom
picture is the after. Here's the Winter picture before, and then the
after. That also had additional improvements. As you can see,
there is an extra bay garage on the bottom, and there is also a
foundation and a retaining wall. So realistically, this structure
has been established. The setback has been established. We can't
do anything with it. It's there. Here's another photograph of that,
before and after.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: We have to copy those Jerry, before
we give them back.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: I can leave those for you.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Oh, you're going to leave them.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: Yes, those are for the record.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: OH, thank you. I can give them
back in a couple of days.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: Oh, no. I don't need them.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: OK
-Page 51 - June 26, 1996
Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: The structure showing on your survey, as a
shed, is a barn, and that again you see the before and after. The
top is the before. The bottom is the after. This is ---. I don't
know. I didn't describe it, but --. This is the right-of -way. I
don't want to say the right of way, the flag driveway.
CHAIRMAN: The flag driveway.
MEMBER DINIZIO: Hold on Pat.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: Yes
MEMBER DINIZIO: This picture I'm looking at now, is what.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: That's on the survey as a shed. I don't
know why it's called a shed, but that's what they called it.
MEMBER DINIZIO: This is what you see from the front. This
building here, is what you see from the front, from the road?
MEMBER VILLA: That's the barn.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: You see, Jim.
MEMBER DINIZIO: It seems to me like ------
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: No. This is the barn, and this is the
shed.
MEMBER DINIZIO: This is the shed. So this is what you see, when
you drive by. I see the house ---
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ. When you drive by, you see ---.
MEMBER DINIZIO: You see the house and then you see this --.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: You see this angle, right.
MEMBER DINIZIO: You don't actually see this.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: You should be able to ---. Mr. Dinizio
makes a good point, that really. The distance from the road to the
first structure, is 168 feet.
CHAIRMAN: That's correct.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: So, you don't see very much, when you're
looking from the roadway.
MEMBER VILLA: Looking from the roadway, the shed is actually
taller than the barn.
Page 52 - June 26, 1996
Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: Yes.
MEMBER VILLA: Higher.
CHAIRMAN: It could be.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: Pardon. It could be. There still there and
they are old barns.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: There is a hill in the back too,
right?
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: Is there a pair of hills.
MR. McCARVILL: If you shoot a line across the roof. If there is a
foot difference, it's alot.
MEMBER VILLA: (inaudible)
MR. McCARVILL: You actually have to ( ) to see it.
CHAIRMAN: Go ahead. Mrs. Tortora has a question.
MEMBER TORTORA: What is the shed going to be. The shed looks
like a huge barn, going to be used for?
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: Well, it will probably continue as a barn,
and ideally, either of those structures, could be converted into a
house. Architecturally, they're both unique. I could see, being an
architect's daughter, I could see myself, very happily redesigning
either one of those structure's, as a. very unique house. But, at
this stage in the game. This is John. He and his wife are newly
married. It's their property. I don't see anything occurring in the
immediate future, but as a possible down the road, one of those could
be converted into a house.
MEMBER TORTORA: At which time he would come back, for some
kind of a variance.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: Probably wouldn't need it, because the
structure's are already established. It would be just a building
permit, to convert a barn, either barn, into a residence. You would
only be allowed one residence.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Right, right.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: With an accessory barn or garage. You
would have two residency's, so that's why I'm asking.
MEMBER TORTORA: Right
Page 53 - June 26, 1996
Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
MEMBER DINIZIO: Well, the nature of your application now though,
is that 30 feet also.
CHAIRMAN: That's why they're determining that, that is the
primary structure.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: That's why they want it, yes. For the
Building Department at a later date, won't have a ---.
MEMBER DINIZIO: You could apply right now, without asking for
that 30 feet, as long as you called it an accessory structure. They
didn't deny you for that.
CHAIRMAN: Yes they did.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Yes they did
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: Well, they denied me for the ( )
increases a lot, that requires a structure, with 30 foot setback from
the front.
MEMBER DINIZIO: OK, so they did.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: Maybe, that's why they denied me.
CHAIRMAN: They did.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: It's only for one of them.
CHAIRMAN: And it's undersized.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: Oh yes, the lot and the undersized. There
are two variances here. One is the undersized lot and the other one
is the front yard setback, from the front property line, which is
actually 168 fee,t from the road.
MEMBER VILLA: Would there be any problems with having some
wording, or covenants for something, that only one of these
structures would be converted into a habitable building.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: Well, that's what the code is now.
MEMBER VILLA: I know that's what the code is, but we sit here and
we face this all the time, where these things get converted and
suddenly we're looking at two houses on a lot, and I don't want to
see that happen again.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: Roger has a question as to that. He's
obviously, the one --
Page 54 - June 26, 1996
Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
MR.. ROGER McCARVILL: I believe that, the buildings --. Were you
there?
CHAIRMAN: Yes
MR.. ROGER McCarvill: Where the sidewalks go up, there is a
separate little attachment to what's _ marked here as the barn.
That's attached by all the concrete, the foundations are all
attached. If you notice that. It would probably be considered an
attached building.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: No, it won't.
MR. ROGER McCarvill: No, oh, OK. But, if one was going to be
converted and it was my choice to do either, or, I would assume that
the barn, that's marked on your survey would be the house, because
it has a full blast proof foundation in it, where the barn has a
foundation. But the way the building is situated, you would always
be looking at the barn.
MEMBER VILLA: When you say barn or barn?
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: Well, they call it a shed, but it really is a
barn.
MR. JOHN MCCARVILL: You see it as a barn. They have it ---.
MEMBER VILLA: I'm looking at it. Both of them are barn's, but
they are identified here as barn and shed. So, could we identify it
so we know what we're talking about.
MR.. ROGER MCCARVILL: The barn would be the one literally, blast
proof foundation. The shed would remain a shed.
MEMBER VILLA: I don't have any problems what you do with either
one. I just want to see it limited to just one.
MR. ROGER MCCARVILL: It would be only one, naturally.
MEMBER VILLA: And I'd like to see a commitment to that now, so
that down the line, we're not faced with suddenly having this thing
as two, and it's before us again for a variance.
MR. ROGER MCCARVILL: No, that would never happen.
MEMBER DINIZIO: Well, I don't know. I think I would object to
that. If they would purposely ---. They are entitled to join this
shed with the barn and make it that size house, as long as they
don't exceed the 20 or 30% lot coverage.
MEMBER VILLA: If they do it in that manner.
Page 55 - June 26, 1996
Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: As one family.
MEMBER VILLA: If they do it as two things. I don't want --.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: He's talking about separately.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ. If you had two separate residence on that
property, you wouldn't be allowed --. The Building Department
wouldn't authorize two residences.
MEMBER VILLA: If you were here for our first hearing this time,
you would have heard that there is someone looking for two houses
on the one lot, because it was built completely illegal, but it's not
only a second dwelling, but a two family dwelling. So, I don't want
to be sitting here --.
MR. ROGER MCCARVILL: I think you would only, if you had kids in
it, the shed.
MEMBER VILLA: With barbed wire around it.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: You can't keep your kids in the
shed either, though. That's it. You can't have living area in the
shed either, I mean.
MEMBER. DINIZIO: Build a breezeway, and you can keep --.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: We don't have a problem with that because
really. It's what the code requires, and if they were to do anything
like that, you would get them ultimately.
MEMBER VILLA: Well, I don't want to be sitting on that again.
That's the problem.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ. Hopefully, it will be beyond our ---.
MEMBER TORTORA: Jim, just put any changes in the proposed use,
will have to meet Town Hall Town requirements.
CHAIRMAN: Let me propose on thing here.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Just don't say anything. They
know they have to be --.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: I have trouble here only because of the
) . I apologize. I just feel like I hade one of those --.
MEMBER VILLA: Bob, I'm --
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: You don't have to say anything.
Page 56 - June 26, 1996
Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
MEMBER TORTORA: I'm not sure we have to do anything because
essentially, he's going to get a CO, if he wants to convert the barn,
into a residence. He will have a CO for residence he'll use on the
barn. He can't get anything on the shed, without coming to the
Building Department.
MEMBER VILLA: I realize that. I would just like to have that
commitment in writing, that's all.
MEMBER TORTORA: OK
MEMBER DINIZIO: No, I object to that, for punishing him, because
you had an application from someone else, that was totally different
from this. Let the man live by the Laws of Southold Town, and we
don't have to tell him that he has to, because he knows he has too.
That's why he's here.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: I think Pat's saying, that he is
complying, and they all agree to one- one family house. That's all
we're asking for, right?
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: Don't dictate to us which one, or how it
should be designed.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: That's right
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: Because then I would object obviously.
But, to have a single family house on a one parcel.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Well, ok. The only thing is with
the shed. The back building, if you convert that into a house.
CHAIRMAN: No, you can't convert the barn into --.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: No, but I'm just saying. Pat just
said they could convert either building. If you convert the back
building, that's going to put an accessory structure in your front
yard. He would probably disapprove you, and have you come back
for an accessory in a front yard.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: Yes, but then we would have to come back
for ( )
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: That's right, so. As long as you
know that.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: Thank you
CHAIRMAN: OK
MR. ROGER MCCARVILL: ( inaudible)
Page 57 - June 26, 1996
_ Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN: Do you have anything else, Ms. Moore?
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: No
CIIAIRMAN: Ok, good. Is there anybody else that would like to
speak in favor of this application? Yes. Speak against the
application?
KATHLEEN TOLE: I have a few concerns. I own property on Main
Ba.yview, directly across the street, and it shares, to my
understanding a common right-of-way, with property that is now
subdivided. Being a recent property owner --.
CIIAIRMAN: Wait a minute
KATHLEEN TOLE: You're shaking your head. Does it or doesn't
it. If it does, Ill try to get some answers.
CHAIRMAN: No, there are no rights-of-way to our knowledge over
this property, that have been presented to us, ok
MEMBER TORTOR.A: None to our knowledge.
KATHLEEN TOLE: No right-of-way of
MEMBER DINIZIO: No
KATIILEEN TOLE: No right-of-way.
MR.. ROGER MCCARVILL: Is it listed someplace, when we should
have.
KATIILEEN TOLE: No, because we're trying to get an understanding
of part of our concerns.
CHAIRMAN: Don't mean to take the wind out of your sails.
KATIILEEN TOLE: Oh no, no. This is all good news. I came a
long way, believe me. You say also that you can barely see the barn
from the road.
CHAIRMAN: You have to give me --.
KATHLEEN TOLE: You're talking about the development of this
property, and what's visible and what's not visible. I would just
like to understand. Are you saying that what would be future
development, is barely visible from the roadway? You just said the
shed. I think what's referred to as the shed, is barely visible.
CHAIRMAN: You have to refer the questions up here, ok.
Page 58 - June 26, 1996
Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
KATHLEEN TOLE: There was a statement that concerns me, that
they want this separate variance for this property, which is
apparently less square footage than is normally required.
CHAIRMAN: Right
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Right
KATHLEEN TOLE: One of the statements that was made was that it
was - . On one hand, we had this magnificent crumbling edifice, out
there. And that it's barely visible from the roadway, and I don't
know that I necessarily agree with that.
CHAIRMAN: Everything is visible now. They have taken all the
foliage down.
KATHLEEN TOLE: More than visible.
CHAIRMAN: That is correct.
KATHLEEN TOLE: It is exceptional, visable.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: I'd be happy to answer.
KATHLEEN TOLE: It's that front, that front smaller barn, that
you're talking about.
CHAIRMAN: The both barns are on one piece of property. Go
ahead, Ms. Moore.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: I think that what I was talking about was,
Mr. Villa's comment about the height of the barn, and what was
visible from the road, and my comment was. At 160 feet, the
visibility of the top of the barn was deceptive , and it was not as
visible. Now, whether I didn't state that clearly enough, I
apologize.
KATHLEEN TOLE: OK
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: We were discussing the view of the barn
from the roadway. No, that property is clearly visible. The houses
and --. I pass it every day. So, you see it.
KATHLEEN TOLE: All right. Again, I just have a general feeling
that development in the area, and what's going on down the road,
and suddenly being ( ) with this development, directly in
my site here. I share with Mr. Villa's
CHAIRMAN: Villa
Page 59 - June 26, 1996
Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
KATHLEEN TOLE: Point of view that. What we're doing is setting
up for a future additional variance, and it concerns me very much.
We're entering into --. Of all the considerations that you confront
constantly, that you've had. I've read various articles in local
newspapers, and all concerning the water, concerning the traffic,
concerning the bike route, that's coming down there. I'm wondering
if that is part of the consideration of this board.
CHAIRMAN: Could I have that last one?
KATHLEEN TOLE: The bike route.
CHAIRMAN: The what?
KATHLEEN TOLE: The bike route. Did you see the article? This
particular area, where they are proposing a bike route, I'm seeing
tremendous development along this area. This being part of it, and
I'm wondering if that's all part of the consideration as well.
MEMBER TORTORA: If you'd like I'll read you what's in our code,
and also, what's a New York State Code for us to consider. There
are five factors under two, New York State Town Law for us to
consider in reviewing this application. It involves a balancing
test, to these five factors.
1. One - Where an undesirable change will be produced,
in the character of the neighborhood, or determent to nearly
properties, if granted.
2. Whether the benefits sort by the applicant, can be
achieved by some method feasible, for the applicant to pursue, other
than a area variance.
3. Whether the area variances is substantial.
4. Whether the variance will have an adverse effect, or
impact, on the physical or environmental conditions in the
neighborhood or district.
5. Whether alleged difficulty was self created, which
consideration shall be relative to our decision, but shall not
preclude the granting of an area variance.
Those are essentially the five factors which by Law, we are
mandated to consider.
KATHLEEN TOLE: I'm curious as to the application at this time also,
for a variance, when it was stated that there is no expectation that
anywhere in the immediate future, nothing happening. It's what, was
said. If nothing is happening. If the property is not being
developed, why would a variance at this point, be necessary.
MEMBER TORTORA: They're asking for a variance because, under
our Zoning Code. Our Zoning Code requires 40,000 square feet in
this particular district, which is one acre. There, the particular
Page 60 - June 26, 1996
Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
lot in question, is 38,795 feet, including the right-of-way. Which,
as you can see, is a very minimal variance. So, under the balancing
test ( ) one on one, the variance requested in this respect is
certainly not substantial. The other variance they're requesting is,
for a front yard setback for the barn. The code requires 40 feet.
There asking for 30 feet.
MR. ROGER MCCARVILL: No. It's already 30 feet, correct?
PATR.ICIA MOORE ESQ. Everything is there.
MR. ROGER MCCARVILL You know, the barn. That's really not
MEMBER TORTORA: Those are the two issues before us, and they
are the only two issues, in relation to the five factors which I ---
CHAIRMAN: To answer your question on why, now. If they decided
to changed the area to 80,000 square feet, they would be precluded
from doing it. So, why not now. I don't know the people, but why
not now. I know Roger. I've known him for years, but I --. Not
socially, or anything like that, but why not now. If that's what
they propose to do, then that's what they're proposed to do.
KATHLEEN TOLE: Ok, thank you.
CHAIRMAN: OK, yes.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: I failed to include something that I have in
my file. Mrs. Stigliani, who lives right next door to the house, who
will be the most effected property owner, writes a letter to the
board.
Dear Zoning Board,
I strongly support the McCarvill subdivision and variances
application. She was very much in favor. Liked what the
McCarvill's had been doing to the property, as far as improving it,
and would be happy to have more neighbors around her. So, you
can ask her. It's strictly from her mouth, and she will ---.
MEMBER VILLA: For the record, you said to the North of the
property. She's actually to the South.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: To the Southeast, pardon me. I don't know
my directions.
MEMBER VILLA: You floored me with that one.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: I'm sorry.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: She's across Bayview, right.
Page 61 - June 26, 1996
Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: I'm looking at Bayview Road and going to
the North of Bayview Road.
CHAIRMAN: OK. For the record, I do work for Suffolk County. I
did have this file in front of me in 1995. I did traipse all over
this property, in the overgrown sense. And this nice Lady, that
you just read this letter, saved me. Because, if you had seen what
I looked like, when I came to that property. I look bad enough now,
but I looked like the wrath of God, and I am completely, completely,
amazed at the amount of work that the McCarvill's have done, on this
piece of property. Phenomenon job, really and that's all I can tell
you at this point. Is there anybody that would like to offer a
Resolution?
MEMBER VILLA: Mr. ( ) . They own the entire three acre's,
right?
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: I'm sorry. I couldn't hear you.
MEMBER VILLA: I'm saying, they own the entire three acres, one,
two and three.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: Yes
CHAIRMAN: By the way, that's when Mr. Zebroski owned that piece
of property, and just prior to his death. He was still alive at the
time the County had taken the property.
PATRICIA MOORE ESQ: The County took the property?
CHAIRMAN: Yes, we took it on 5/10/95. And I assume it was
redeemed on 12/22/95 because that's when it was deeded to Mr.
McCarvill.
MEMBER DINIZIO: Well, I'll make a motion that we grant it as
applied.
(unidentified) : Why?
MEMBER DINIZIO: A, 30 foot setback and the 38, what is it, 38 --
MR. CHAIRMAN: 30.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: 38.
MR. CHAIRMAN: 38 and 950.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: 38795.
MR. CHAIRMAN: He had 7950.
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Southold Town Board of Appeals
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: 795.
MEMBER VILLA: I still would like to have a statement in there if
we, if it's agreeable to the applicants to have one house on that lot.
MEMBER DINIZIO: My motion doesn't include that.
MEMBER VILLA: I would like it added.
MR. CHAIRMAN: If Jim is lucky enough to get a second, I mean I
shouldn't say that. If Jim gets a second, OK, then, we'll go around
that motion first if he's adamant about it.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: I have to say that Jim's motion
does not mean they can have more than one house on that lot.
MR. CHAIRMAN: That is correct.
MEMBER VILLA: I realize that. I just wanted it for clarification
purposes.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: OK. I know, I'm not mentioning it to
him, I'm mentioning it for the record only. We don't want to leave
any, any of those areas open like that.
MR. CHAIRMAN: OK, Is that the motion Jim?
MEMBER. DINIZIO: Yes.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Who wants to second it?
MR. CHAIRMAN: I'll second it. All in favor.
BOARD MEMBERS: Aye.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Let's go.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Bob, you going along with this?
MEMBER VILLA: I'm in favor of it, but, I still would, I'd like to
make sure that I would like to have that clarification.
PATRICIA MOORE: Would it be better if we could submit a letter?
An affidavit saying that we have no intention of converting or
putting two houses on the one lot? Would that make it easier for
everybody, rather than put ----.
MEMBER VILLA: I'm not looking for ( ) on the deed, I'm just
looking for something in the record.
-Page 63 - June 26, 1996
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Southold Town Board of Appeals
PATRICIA MOORE: No, it won't be. It would be something in the
record which we say, so that you can say it's self imposed hardship
if we come back to you.
MEMBER VILLA: Right, thank you.
PATR.ICIA MOORE: OK.
MR. CHAIRMAN: OK, so the motion is carried.
(audience person) : What's the vote?
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: It's five to zero. It was approved.
MEMBER DINIZIO: They're sending a letter to us.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: No, it's just a letter added to the
file.
PATRICIA MOORE: We'll put in the record. I'll have it for you by
the end of this week.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Thank you.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Thank you Pat.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Thank you for coming.
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Southold Town Board of Appeals
9:45 P.M. Appl. No. 4392 - ALEX KOZLOWSKY TRUSTEE
MR. CHAIRMAN: This is an application for a Variance from Article
III, based upon the Building Inspector's May 21, 1996 Notice of
Disapproval for permission to locate accessory tennis court with a
setback at less than 20 ft. from all property lines (Section
100-33134) , and with fencing over 4 ft. high in a front yard area
(Section 100-231) . Location of Property; 6300 Indian Neck Lane,
Peconic, N.Y. : Parcel No. 1000-86-7-2.1. Zone: R-80 Residential.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: There's only one thing I want to
mention. I got a call today from Carol and she confirmed that the
size of the tennis court is 54 x 114.
JOSEPH FISCHETTI: Say it again, Linda.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: 54 feet wide by 114 deep.
JOSEPH FISCHETTI: That's the amended?
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: That's the amended tennis court
size.
JOSEPH FISCHETTI: 54 wide by 114 deep. That's the amended
tennis court?
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Yes.
JOSEPH FISCHETTI: Thank you.
MR. CHAIRMAN: OK, before you speak Joe, excuse me just one
second. Again I have a letter from Virginia Ellen Cooper.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Cropper.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Cropper, pardon me. It could be anything by this
time, I apologize. Its not that I have an aversion to your name, I
apologize.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: There's also a letter from Jen
Gould in there, Jerry, under that letter.
MR. CHAIRMAN: OK, I understand, but I'm merely referring to this
letter, OK, of which there are specific concerns mentioned within the
letter. Then I have a letter from Jennifer Gould indicating, I think
this is, what before the change was made? OK, reinstating the
decision that was made in 1977. OK, you're welcome to proceed, I
apologize Sir.
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Southold Town Board of Appeals
JOSEPH FISCHETTI: Good evening Mr. Chairman and Members of the
Board, I'm Joseph Fischetti, Hobart Road, Southold. I'm
representing the Kozlowskys, I'm a professional engineer. Our
original application was amended as received and the amendment was
actually done during a we were in discussions with the neighbors at
that time and also with a, tennis court operators tried to reduce the
size of the of the court and to alleviate some of the concerns of
some of the neighbors and that's why the new location. The new
location right now is a ( ) a 23 feet back and we included a side
yard in the original application of right now is 10 feet and the
original is 6 feet.
In 1977 --. In reviewing the files in the office from the
77 hearing, and Rudy Bruer's files. The zoning at that time was R40
and the original Resolution at that time again as you, the board
probably knows. One of the Resolutions was that there would be no
diminishing of the side yard requirements of the structure built on
the lots created by the actions ( ) . At that time the zoning
was R40 and the side yards minimums requirements were 10 feet.
That's the reason we located the ( ) to be 10 feet, and you think
the location right now in discussion it with both adjacent neighbors,
seems to be satisfactory with them. We have read Ms. Cropper's
letter, and we go along with some of the recommendations that she
has for buffer plantings on the side, and the black fencing.
I have a question for the board, and maybe you could
answer it for me. When an application, an accessory structure such
as this is, is a structure as such, when the walls are made of
fencing. Is it a fence or is it a wall? It seems to me that it's
really a wall. If it's a structure than --.
CHAIRMAN: Then it's a wall.
MR. JOSEPH FISCHETTI: Then it's a wall. I just wanted to bring
that up because I didn't agree with the Planning, the Building
Department's disallowing that, but we still put it in anyway. So, I
don't think that it's fencing. I think it is a wall.
CHAIRMAN: We determine that way back in 186.
MR. JOSEPH FISCHETTI: OK
CHAIRMAN: Down Arrow Head Lane, the issue of structure, ok.
Now, let me just explain. Ms. Cropper, she lives to the West side.
MR. JOSEPH FISCHETTI: That's correct.
CHAIRMAN: Is that correct. Am I pronouncing your name correctly?
MS. CROPPER: CROPPER.
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Southold Town Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN: I apologize, I sincerely do. Now, this was originally
-- This letter came to us when the tennis court was going to be
built basically, in front of the electrical service, as it goes
across the property, right. Now since, you have taken this and
placed it on the opposite side, 10 feet from the other neighbor, some
524 feet back from Indian Neck Lane.
MR. JOSEPH FISCHETTI: This was ( ) discussion with
CHAIRMAN: Still proposed the 10 feet.
MR. JOSEPH FISCHETTI: Correct
CHAIRMAN: OK, all right. What else do you want to say?
MR. JOSEPH FISCHETTI: I think that's it. I have Mrs. Ewald
here. No, they are not here.
( ) : No, Mrs. Ewald sent a letter.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Yes, she called today.
MR.. JOSEPH FISCHETTI: I know, I discussed it with her, when we
did this, and I sent here a certified letter. So, it was supposed to
come in the mail.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: It's in the file. It was here
Monday.
MR. JOSEPH FISCHETTI: Good
SECRETARY LINDA: She brought it in very early Monday. She
called today, and wanted to come but she couldn't be here.
MR. JOSEPH FISCHETTI: I know she said verbally --
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: It's right here.
CHAIRMAN: Oh yes, I've got it here.
MR. JOSEPH FISCHETTI: OK good. We did try to take into
consideration both neighbors, when we did this.
CHAIRMAN: Good, she had another problem. Lighted or unlighted?
MR. JOSEPH FISCHETTI: Unlighted
CHAIRMAN: Unlighted. 10 foot fence.
MR. JOSEPH FISCHETTI: The fence --. The walls, and this is why
I bring it up. Between the time that the application was made, was
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Southold Town Board of Appeals
at 9 foot. Discussing it with the tennis court people, they want the
two North and South walls to be 10 foot, dropping down every 15
feet to eight, six to four. So it's really coming down. At the
fence line, it would be at four. So I never wanted to make a new
application but that's the way it's going to be. It's going to from
10 foot at the rear, at the North and South lines, and down eight to
six to four.
MEMBER VILLA: Four feet at the level ---.
MR. JOSEPH FISCHETTI: Four feet at the level would go 10 foot
high and it would say 10 feet, for 15 feet and then drop down to
8-15 feet, drop down to 6-15 feet, and then the center would be
about 30 feet-at 4 feet.
CHAIRMAN: Good
MEMBER VILLA: So actually, where the net is on the court is only
going to be four feet high.
MR. JOSEPH FISCHETTI: Yes, because they assume that there isn't
a need for back stop there.
CHAIRMAN: That's the new ---
MR. JOSEPH FISCHETTI: That's not me, that's tennis court people.
CHAIRMAN: That's the new --. It's like a teardrop.
MEMBER VILLA: Yes, I understand that configuration, but I played
alot of tennis in my life, and I can't understand that
configuration. I'm sorry.
MR. JOSEPH FISCHETTI: ( )
MEMBER VILLA: You use just as many balls of high bounces in the
middle of the court, as you do at the end. In fact, at the end the
balls are coming down.
MR. JOSEPH FISCHETTI: Again, I bring this up because it's part of
the structure, and we're not asking for fencing. But seeing that
we're here, and I want to bring out exactly what's being done, that
it will be done that way.
CHAIRMAN: OK. So the only issue then is, the 10 feet as opposed
to the 20 feet. So the question that I have, that I will ask you --
MEMBER TORTORA: What about the height of the fence?
CHAIRMAN: I don't care about the height of the fence.
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Southold Town Board of Appeals
MEMBER TORTORA: No, I'm saying. Those are the two issues.
CHAIRMAN: But I mean, I don't care if it's nine feet or ten feet,
ok. But the issue is, why the 10 feet as opposed to the 20 feet.
MR. JOSEPH FISCHETTI: We cannot right now. We've reduced the
size, the width of the court to 54 feet, and we just cannot get by.
It's going to be impossible to get by the tennis court.
CHAIRMAN: You.mean, with the driveway.
MR. JOSEPH FISCHETTI: With the driveway.
CHAIRMAN: Yes, I was down there. It was kind of tough.
MR. JOSEPH FISCHETTI: Yes. It can't be done.
MEMBER VILLA: Is that providing a full double court width?
MR. JOSEPH Fischetti: It's a full double court, and we feel that
still that, we're again consistent ---. I'm not going to take
deference to Ms. Ewald letter but, there is the Resolution that I can
tell you, seven. It doesn't specifically state. You could take that
either way. It just say, no diminution of the side yard
requirement. Again, at that point in time, we're talking about 10
feet. Ms. Cropper's house is 10 foot, seems to be from the property
line, and we're not doing anything minimum from that. So, we think
we're still consistent with what was there at the time, or what
assumed to be.
CHAIRMAN: Is there anything else you can give us Joe? Can you
give us 12? Can you give us 14? I mean, you're the engineer on
the project.
MR.. JOSEPH FISCHETTI: It's pretty tight. Also, it's less trees.
We tried to locate this as you see. We put it out there. It will
just make everything that much more -tighter. We can build a court
as tight to ---. You know, we're not taking any trees down because
you can build that court right next to any vegetation. But it's just
very difficult to do that. You won't be able to play, and the
driveway will be ---. We only have right now, a minimal size
driveway, just to keep it adjacent to ---
CHAIRMAN: I know. I backed out of it.
MR. JOSEPH FISCHETTI: Excuse me.
CHAIRMAN: I backed out of it with my old car of course. You
probably have less brush on both sides now.
( ) : Try it in a van.
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Southold Town Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN: OK. I guess we'll go with Mr. Villa first.
MEMBER VILLA: No, do you have anybody from the audience.
CHAIRMAN: We didn't get to it yet.
MEMBER VILLA: Well ok.
MEMBER TORTORA: Let's ( ) hear first.
MEMBER. VILLA: The only other question they asked if they could
use black fencing.
MR. JOSEPH FISCHETTI: That's fine. That's probably what we
want to use anyway.
MEMBER VILLA: Is it an all purpose court?
MR. JOSEPH FISCHETTI: Pretty much so.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Jim.
MEMBER DINIZIO: No questions.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Lydia.
MEMBER TORTORA: No, I'll research it after the comments from ----
MR. CHAIRMAN: OK, let's see what else develops during the
hearing and we'll get back to you.
JOSEPH FISCHETTI: OK.
. MR. CHAIRMAN: Who else.would like to speak in favor? Against?
JENNIFER GOULD ESQ: Jennifer Gould, 828 Front Street,
Greenport. I'm appearing tonight for Ellen Cropper and Cecelia
Kempler who is not here. As was mentioned their co-owners of the
property which is to the West of the Kozlowsky property. You know,
the first thing I'd like to say is, I'm glad that we came to
compromise on this and maybe go over the points that we're in
agreement on. Right now the proposed court, Mr. Fischetti's 524
feet from the road or from the house? We understood it was from the
house.
JOSEPH FISCHETTI: No, it's from, it's, it's the dimension is from
the house.
JENNIFER GOULD ESQ: From the house.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Oh! From the house.
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Southold Town Board of Appeals
JENNIFER GOULD ESQ: From the house, OK.
MR. CHAIRMAN: OK, I got 523.
JOSEPH FISCHETTI: 523 from the house.
MR. CHAIRMAN: 523 from the house.
JENNIFER GOULD ESQ: I think for everyone's piece of mind, in the
resolution you could address exactly where the court is going to be
placed 524 feet from the house and we have no objections to 10 feet
from the property line because it's away from my clients' property.
I don't know how the .Ewalds feel about it but I'm telling you how
Cropper and Kempler feel .that it's OK with them on that side.
MR. CHAIRMAN: To answer your question, the letter that I have
dated says "I approve of the new location of the variances to side
yard set and front yard fence ordinances. I am the property ----
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: That's from Mrs. Ewald.
JENNIFER GOULD ESQ: That's Ewald. I'm representing her.
MR. CHAIRMAN: No, you said you didn't know how Mrs. Ewald felt.
JENNIFER GOULD ESQ: Oh! I'm sorry.
MR. CHAIRMAN: I'm explaining to you how she feels.
JENNIFER GOULD ESQ: OK, she, she, left, she's OK with that, OK,
good. The black fence is acceptable now. This is the first we've
heard about this tier business. We thought it was going to be a
straight across fence and frankly I think it would be less obtrusive
if it were a straight line and that's what my clients would prefer to
see a straight line fence rather than this jagged thing and I agree
with Mr. Villa. I don't understand how this keeps tennis balls in
and they're going to be going all over the place. They always go
out, like, you know, if you throw it, it will always break down. I
just don't get it. I don't think it's goner, it doesn't sound like
it's going to be very attractive and they really prefer a great deal
of conventional fence rather than ------
MR. CHAIRMAN: 10 feet all away around?
JENNIFER GOULD ESQ: Yeah.
MR. CHAIRMAN: With 30 feet, what is it 30 feet opening Joe, in
between?
JOSEPH FISCHETTI: Excuse me.
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Southold Town Board of Appeals
i
AMR. CHAIRMAN: 30 feet on the opening? The center opening at the
neck?
JOSEPH FISCHETTI: Yeah, the center is about 30 ft.
MEMBER TORTORA: Would it be 10 feet or 9 feet? You originally
applied for 9 feet.
JOSEPH FISCHETTI: They originally applied for 9 feet. That's
why I said, that it's part of the structure if I build the house
there at the 10 foot. It's, what we're talking about something that,
I'm willing to go and my client is willing to put the pine trees. I
mean with the pine trees there you're not going to see anything
anyway, so, I mean I'm willing to do that too, put pine trees around
it.
JENNIFER GOULD ESQ: You're going to start off with 8 foot pine
trees? I mean, .
JOSEPH FISCHETTI: Well.
JENNIFER GOULD ESQ: I mean, if you're willing to .
MEMBER TORTORA: We actually, Mrs. Gould we actually did put that
in as a. condition in an application last month and we said 8 feet at
height.
JENNIFER GOULD ESQ: I looked at some of your old ones and I seen,
some I've seen 8 feet, some I've seen 4, I thought 4 was ------
MR. CHAIRMAN: The issue is continuously maintained. That's the
issue. The issue is not the size of the tree.
(Everyone speaking at one time)
JOSEPH FISCHETTI: I think once the trees are there, you're not
going to see any jagged area, and I can't make that decision tonight
whether they can go across, because I know that my clients wanted it
that way when they discussed it and maybe because it's a savings,
maybe because they want to jump over the fence ( ) . If we put
the pine trees there I think, you know.
MR. CHAIRMAN: This hasn't topped the hearing yet for the tennis
court in Fishers Island. (Laughter) This ' one has not yet topped
that, but, we're getting close, go ahead. (Laughter)
JENNIFER GOULD ESQ: We'll get back to the fence in a minute, but,
the only other condition that we would like to address is the 1977
hearing. In that hearing, parts of that, the neighbors were, were
upset about the subdivision to begin with and I assume that's why
the conditions on the setbacks and no further subdivision were put in
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Southold Town Board of Appeals
and I understand that maybe the side yard requirements were only 10
feet in 1977 but in 1996 the 20 feet and if we can all agree on how
the court should be and it sounds like we're heading in that
direction. My clients would only like that prior decision modified
with respect to this one application because according to Town Law
267(a) it requires the unanimous vote of the Board to even reconsider
that prior decision and that would --------
MR. CHAIRMAN: So you want the 20 feet?
JENNIFER GOULD ESQ : No.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: No, no, -----
JENNIFER GOULD ESQ: No, I don't want the 20 feet, I just want
you not to totally reverse the 1977 ------
MR. CHAIRMAN: Well, that's what we would be doing.
JENNIFER GOULD ESQ: But you don't have -to.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: No, for other structures. She's
saying if, if they build other accessory buildings would they comply
with the 20 foot setback.
JENNIFER GOULD ESQ: Right. Did she again reconsider it in terms
of a unanimous vote rather than a split vote because it's a sensitive
issue. It was 20 years ago and it still is today. I think that's
only fair, I mean, the Town Law says, you know, if you're going to
reconsider you have to do it unanimously and you also have to
consider the best in rights. Not just the best in rights of the
person that got the subdivision, it's the people on the side and
their predecessor in title were the Rusts and on the other side of
the Ewalds were the Katzenburgs and they were the ones who were
opposed.
MEMBER TORTORA: Mrs. Gould, a, we did ask the Town Attorney
about this. We were very concerned about your memo, we took that
very seriously, we wrote a note to her asking her specifically about
this on June 17th and received a reply from her today. Is it alright
if I read that ( )?
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Yeah, sure.
MEMBER TORTORA: In the question, the question was, "Can the
Appeal Application based on the Notice of Disapproval under today's
Code allow a former ZBA condition to be modified if the Resolution is
not unanimous?" Her response and I quote, "Is depends on whether
you consider this a rehearing of the original decisions, same facts
and conditions, considering the lengths of time it seems likely that
this is a new game and not a rehearing. Thus, a unanimous vote is
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Southold Town Board of Appeals
not required." So, I'm just, you know, she is our legal counsel
because I didn't read what you had prepared for us and took it, we
all took it very seriously. However, that's her opinion.
JENNIFER GOULD ESQ: Well, that's her opinion and of course I have
mine and I think it's one. of those issues that could be litigated. I
know she's read the case law and I've read it too. You know, it's,
it's not clear cut as most things are not. It's not black and white
in the law in terms of how, how, if it's considered a new ------
MR. CHAIRMAN: Could I just say something about that, OK.
JENNIFER GOULD: Sure.
MR. CHAIRMAN: I understand your concern, OK. What we would
be doing if we were to allow this applicant to proceed on the 10 feet
we would be modifying that.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Under new circumstances, for
today's Code.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Under new circumstances. We would be modifying
the 1977 decision, OK. Now, which would mean that everything else
would stay status quo which is I think is you concern, the 20 feet,
alright.
JENNIFER GOULD ESQ: Right.
MR. CHAIRMAN: So not withstanding what we just heard OK ---.
JENNIFER GOULD ESQ: Correct.
MR. CHAIRMAN: We could only modify that. Again, not
withstanding with what we just heard. Probably if we had an
unanimous vote.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: With another application too, if
they ever came back for something else.
MR. CHAIRMAN: For something else. You know based upon that
decision of 1977, so let's see how it goes. I mean, it's nice to
mention it but, I, you know, I think, I think that we're goner,
goner try to see if we can live with the 10 feet. I don't know, if
we can or we can't. We haven't gotten to that issue yet you know,
so let's see what happens. Again I don't mean to, you know, I just
JENNIFER GOULD ESQ: I just, I just want it on the record, you
know, what we're addressing now, OK. Ellen, tonight is the first
thing we heard about the fence. You have to tell me how, or tell the
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Southold Town Board of Appeals
Board how you know, how upset you are by the fence. They have
to know because they have to consider it in the decision.
VIRGINIA ELLEN CROPPER: Well my preference is that it be the
standard tennis court ----
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: She should really use the mike
because I'm not going to type this Mrs. Cropper, somebody else is
going to be transcribing it, so their not here tonight.
VIRGINIA ELLEN CROPPER: My preference would be that the, it be
a standard style tennis court with a straight fence simply because
sitting in the woods if you do happen to see the top of this fence
and all the jigs and jags it simply draws you eye to not one of my
favorite structures, so I would simply find it more pleasing if it
were a standard style tennis court.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Mrs. Cropper can you see the
tennis court from where your property is? From your house can you
see?
VIRGINIA ELLEN CROPPER: Well you'll be able to see a house
cleared area. We have it cleared down about 320 feet from the
Kozlowsky's front door, plantings and clearings and where the leaves
off the trees indeed I'll be able to see it.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: From your house?
VIRGINIA ELLEN CROPPER: Yes, not in the summer time. It's only
in the winter, definitely.
MR. CHAIRMAN: OK, we're talking about plantings around the
entire tennis court, is that correct?
MR. CHAIRMAN: Yes. get a clarification on that? I was just going
to ask. Mr. Fischetti, on the west side you're going to have tennis
court fence and you're going to have approximately 23 feet from that
fence to the property line?
JOSEPH FISCHETTI: That's --
MEMBER VILLA: Now, where is the driveway going to be? Is it
going to be right adjacent to the tennis court,
MR.. CHAIRMAN: Same location.
MEMBER VILLA: With the trees on the west side?
JOSEPH FISCHETTI: It's going to have to that's why I need the
extra room also because 10 feet with 8 foot pines, you know you're
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a Southold Town Board of Appeals
just going to fill that and you can keep the tennis court, the pines
pretty tight, but it's still going to take up at least 6 feet.
MEMBER VILLA: Well my question was you're going to have the pines
right next to the tennis court, or you're going to have them on the
property line?
JOSEPH FISCHETTI: On the west side. Let's see. Let me see if I
MEMBER VILLA: Where's the driveway going to be?
JOSEPH FISCHETTI: The driveway is on the west side.
MEMBER VILLA: It's on the west side. It's in that 23 feet?
JOSEPH FISCHETTI: Correct. The pine trees have to be on the west
side next to the driveway and the driveway will be pushed as much
as we can.
MEMBER VILLA: Well, that's what I'm saying. Are the pine trees
going to be on the west side of the driveway or are they going to be
next to the tennis court?
JOSEPH FISCHETTI: Oh! I'm sorry. I'm assuming that they want to
block not the driveway but, the tennis court.
MR. CHAIRMAN: They want to block the tennis court. They got to
be next to the tennis court.
MEMBER VILLA: Well, you would block, you would block the view of
it anyway if it's on the other side. I'm just saying you wouldn't
even see the cars then if there's ---
VIRGINIA ELLEN CROPPER: It would be more attractive. Yes, it
would if it were planting it on the westerly side of the driveway.
JOSEPH FISCHETTI: That's fine, whichever, it doesn't matter to me
MEMBER VILLA: On the property line in other words.
JOSEPH FISCHETTI: Which ever way I've got to plant it is
(interrupted)
MEMBER VILLA: Would you even mind if they infringed over the line
a little bit because pine trees get big and your restricted with 23
feet but you have to get a driveway.
VIR.GINIA ELLEN CROPPER: So long as the tree itself is on their
side, the planting of the tree. Yes I know they obviously grow.
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L Southold Town Board of Appeals
MEMBER VILLA: I mean the bigger they are the better for you and
if they spread they're going to have to spread on to your property
but you want them to, I just wanted to get that clear.
VIRGINIA ELLEN CROPPER: Exactly, that's fine, of course.
JOSEPH FISCHETTI: Yes we have you. She has her trees, she has
buffer trees against her house right now.
VIRGINIA ELLEN CROPPER: They're working very nicely.
JOSEPH FISCHETTI: They're working very nicely but she's got them
also and they're you know, sought of hanging over on Kozlowsky's
side but, we understand that.
MEMBER VILLA: That's what I'm saying, you've only got 23 feet so
you get a big pine tree in there your going to have it close to the
line.
JOSEPH FISCHETTI: Because otherwise the tree is more than one
person speaking at the same time.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Can I just ask. Now, we're putting the trees on
the opposite side of the driveway closer to Mrs. Cropper's line. Ms.
Cropper, it's Ms. Cropper?
VIRGINIA ELLEN CROPPER: Yes.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Ms. Cropper's line, so therefore we're going to have
trees, driveway, tennis court, trees.
VIRGINIA ELLEN CROPPER: What are we going to do about the top
of the court? Will it be the north south side?
JENNIFER GOULD: Yes, the north south side. The south side is
going to be (interrupted)
JOSEPH FISCHETTI: Those are old. They just take it down. We
have trees on both sides (static, inaudible) .
JENNIFER GOULD: I would assume that the north south side would
be planted with trees also.
MEMBER VILLA: Jerry you didn't hear that.
MR. CHAIRMAN: What?
MEMBER. VILLA: She said that she assumes that the north side
which are the ends would now also have trees on them.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Right.
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L Southold Town Board of Appeals
JOSEPH FISCHETTI: Just a question. I mean I don't mind doing it
but on the north side you can't see that side of the fence from the
house That's the north side and the south side.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Let's do this Joe. We'll see what the decision
goes, OK, but we would like, I'd like, to look at this as OK as a
pilot, alright, once the trees are planted without trees on the north
side, OK, just to see how much visibility there is, alright. I mean
we look at rights-of-ways, we look at, you know we look at finish
( ) . I'm going to look at Donald Wexler's house when it's done
because I want to see what this, what this, the landscaping so on
and so forth, how it impacts the entire piece of property, alright.
But conceivably we'll ( ) , OK, but maybe they'll be a waive, maybe
we'll waive it out based upon what we say.
JOSEPH FISCHETTI: OK, I got you.
MR. CHAIRMAN: You know what I'm saying. I mean I've done this
before but I think that's the way to go because it may be overkill.
JOSEPH FISCHETTI: If it's a problem I mean a couple more trees.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Yes, it may be overkill, you know what I'm saying
because you still have room, you've got to have room for a 20 foot
driveway. You know what I'm saying, the driveway may not be 20
feet wide but you know with the overcut and all the rest that is
really tight going in going in there now. Very tight. I mean you
can't get, I've got to be honest with you and some people, you can't
get a fire truck in there now. That house is going to go down,
alright, that you can't not get a fire truck in that driveway.
JOSEPH FISCHETTI: We'll just knock the pine trees down.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: The tennis court might go first,
right.
MR. CHAIRMAN: So, I'm just saying that OK, so you know we'll see
what we can do, but, I'm going to come out and look after this thing
is constructed. I'm not referring to it as a thing, OK. I am referring
to it as a thing but it's an object, alright, for the purposes of
playing tennis, but we're going to see how it impacts the surrounding
property owners on the north south side.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: There's also a new Fire Lane Law.
I don't know if you're aware that it was adopted by the Town Board,
two weeks ago. You did, you asked it already.
MEMBER DINIZIO: No, I was going to ask that question.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: I'm sorry. Go ahead. I'll let Jim
ask it.
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Southold Town Board of Appeals
MEMBER DINIZIO: How are you going to plant those trees, and still
meet that code?
JOSEPI-i FISCHETTI: I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with it
( ) 15 feet from everything.
MEMBER DINIZIO: Right, and then they have to be trimmed to
that. How wide do these trees ( ) .
MEMBER VILLA: That is what I'm saying. She doesn't mind if they
infringe on her property, as long as there planted on --.
CHAIRMAN: Right
MEMBER VILLA: On this piece of property, so --
CHAIRMAN: We're really tight here. This is tight.
MEMBER VILLA: If we plant them at ( ) .
JENNY GOULD ESQ: She's suggesting that you plant them on her
property.
MEMBER VILLA: It could be 25 feet.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Whose suggesting that, Mrs.
Cropper.
CHAIRMAN: But then it's the responsibility to maintain them.
MEMBER TORTORA: Your property or maintenance property.
CHAIRMAN: That's the problem. So, there is no problem. You
could plant them right on the line.
MR. JOSEPH FISCHETTI: You plant them right on the line.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Alternate the trees.
MR. JOSEPH FISCHETTI: You get pines that are not going to
grow. You don't want evergreens that are going to ---.
CHAIRMAN: Right
MR. JOSEPH FISCHETTI: Spruces. The black pines will grow, but
there not growing more than --.
MEMBER VILLA: Black pines are on there way out on Long Island.
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Southold Town Board of Appeals
MR. JOSEPH FISCHETTI: Yes, I know. I used that, but there are
other pines that are not more than 10 feet in diameter, which would
encroach ---.
MEMBER VILLA: You get arboreta's and you won't see through
arboreta's and they get to be 20 feet tall.
( Everyone's talking at once) inaudible.
CHAIRMAN: OK. Is there anybody else that wants to speak in the
audience regarding this hearing ? Ok, seeing no hands. Now, the
issue is. Are we modifying the 1977 decision?
MEMBER DINIZIO: Well we are ---.
CHAIRMAN: Let me just recap this. We've heard Mr. Fischetti's
argument in reference to width, all right and ( ) As far as I'm
concerned, ( ) , if you bring it over another 20 feet, and you
add that one, I don't know how you're going to get pine trees in the
driveway in there.
MEMBER VILLA: Well, you have 23 feet, and it only calls for 15 foot
piling, so you have 8 feet. That means, if you plant them on a line,
you can get a tree that can become 16 feet wide. That's plenty of
ground as far as I know for getting a dense evergreen..
CHAIRMAN: OK
MEMBER VILLA: Right
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: As long as you plant it on the line
and all. That's got to be. That's 115 feet long too, right, the
trees would be planted, Joe.
MR. JOSEPH FISCHETTI: I'm sorry. Is this the length of the
tennis court.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: The lenghth of the tennis court ok,
and it's probably what, about 12 feet apart or 10 feet apart.
MR. JOSEPH FISCHETTI: I would say, you need them to grow so I
would say 10 or 12 feet. So, we're talking about --.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: 11 or 12 feet.
MR. JOSEPH FISCHETTI: 11 or 12 feet.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: OK, thank you. The only thing I
want to mention that, when Jerry was talking about the rehearing or
changing the prior condition. If the board does grant the variance
tonight, and it's 'not an unanimous vote, and it's based on today's
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Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
zoning code, and it doesn't necessarily amend the old variance. Do
you know what I'm saying? If it is unanimous, and they decide that
is going to amend the old variance, then it could effect future
proposals. That's why Jerry is asking the question. Which way
does the board want to address it? Do you want to address it as a
new variance under today's code, without changing the former
variance with the former conditions.
MEMBER TORTORA: Linda, this 267812 that you refer to.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Well, that's for a rehearing when
you modify a prior variance.
MEMBER TORTORA: That's what she's referring too in her
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: But this is not. a rehearing. That's
why you jump down to the next questions, Lydia. I asked her two
questions. The first question was. If the board has a. rehearing, if
the board, read the question again. You have it in front of you.
What does the question say? Do you want me to read it?
MEMBER TORTORA: ( )
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Reference, ZBA condition of a
subdivision from 20 years ago, is an application for rehearing with
unanimous vote of those present required to amend, and she said
yes, ok.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Excuse me. This was a not an
application to amend a former variance from a subdivision 20 years.
So, I asked another question. I said, can an appeal application,
based upon a notice of disapproval, issued today, under today's
code, allow a former ZBA condition to be modified if the Resolution
is not unanimous, and a rehearing is not held. She writes back and
says, depends on whether you consider this a rehearing of the
original decision, same facts, same conditions. Considering the
length of time it seems likely that this is a new issue, because this
is a new code, has new requirements, ok, and is not a rehearing.
Thus a unanimous vote would not be required. So she's saying, if
today's code was still 10 feet, and this application came in, it
would be the same circumstances as 20 years. So, you would have to
treat it like a rehearing. Today's code is 20 feet. There is new
circumstances. Did the Zoning Board 20 years ago, foresee that our
code was going to change. No, they didn't and that's why there is
new circumstances before the board now. If they should give a
variance less than a 10 foot setback, it would require a rehearing,
because then they're going into 20 years ago condition. The code at
that time.
MEMBER VILLA: You know, I look at that different. I'm not a
Lawyer, I'm an Engineer.
r
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Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: That's what the Town Attorney told
me.
MEMBER VILLA: But it seems ( ) . The way I read that, you
had a. hearing and now you're having a rehearing with the same facts
and the same requests, which is not the case.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: That's right. That's what I'm
saying.
MEMBER VILLA: That's what was decided and they just put some
conditions into that hearing, that's all.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Yes
MEMBER VILLA: And now we're looking at something different. I
don't look at that as a rehearing. It's a ( ) . To me a
rehearing would have been, another request for the same basic thing
that they asked for back in '77, which was granted. I mean, they
granted the subdivision at that time. They weren't asking for a
variance on side lots. They were granting a subdivision, and to me
this is not a rehearing.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: No, the Town Attorney says, it's
not a rehearing. Only if the board decides it's a rehearing. Then
they have to reapply.
MEMBER DINIZIO: But certainly if they had asked for a six foot
variance, then ---.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI Then that would be.
MEMBER DINIZIO: But then I think, that particular qualification of
no further encroachment would apply.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: Yes
MEMBER DINIZIO: He's not asking for that. He's merely asking for
what he asked last time, under the new code which happens to be 20
feet.
MEMBER VILLA: But again, our decision. Could we not just limit
the approval to the tennis court. That would kind of offset, for
anything in the future.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: This is only for a tennis court,
nothing else.
JENNY GOULD ESQ : That's what I asked for, that you don't modify
the prior condition. That's exactly what I asked for.
r
Page 82 - June 26, 1996
Public Hearings
Southold Town Board of Appeals
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: They have to make that clear, when
they make their decision.
MEMBER DINIZIO: I would be willing to put the same thing in that
they put in 20 years. Which is no further encroachment on today's
code.
JENNY GOULD ESQ: Right, correct. That would be
MEMBER DINIZIO: Right
JENNY GOULD ESQ: Because what they're saying. They have right
vested under that prior hearing in 1977. They don't want those
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: That's right. That's right.
JENNY GOULD ESQ: And that's a reasonable request.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: The board can put another thing in
and say it doesn't ( ) .
MEMBER VILLA: And if you look at it basically, they only be able to
get an accessory structure, and the unique thing about this, is that
it's only a. tennis court with fixed dimensions, and if they were
looking for something else, or building, there would be no reason
why they couldn't keep an offset. But the tennis court is a little
unique, so.
SECRETARY LINDA KOWALSKI: That's right.
MEMBER VILLA: So basically as I gather, your client Ms. Cropper
doesn't have objections if we put the right restrictions in.
JENNY GOULD ESQ: Right. I think that, one of the concerns about
the ( )solved the problem about the trees on the property
line. In the Winter time, it's a much different picture than what
you saw when you went out to visit the site. You can see through
all of that.
CHAIRMAN: That's what we're going to look at Jen.
MEMBER TORTORA: Do you have Winter photograph's?.
JENNY GOULD ESQ: Yes we have photographs if you want to see
them, I'll give them to you.
MEMBER VILLA: Would you have any objection to possibly having
some Rhododendrons on the Northern side, South, which are smaller
now, but they do grow immense, and they are evergreen. They stay
evergreen a.11 the time. Year round Rhododendrons as far as I know,
Fage 83 - June 26, 1996
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Southold Town Board of Appeals
and it will take a little while but they do get big, because I've
been trying to keep my pruned.
VIRGINIA CROPPER: But you know, my neighbor has no irrigation
and her Rhododendrons are dying. But yet, there is an enormous
pine trees in the woods as you approach our house, it's very
beautiful, and it lives with very little rain. It's a white pine.
The tree has grown 10 feet in 5 years.
MEMBER TORTORA: Bob, just leave it to evergreens, and leave that
VIR.GINIA CROPPER: Pine trees do very well in ( ) setting.
MEMBER VILLA: So do Rhodos.
MEMBER TORTORA: This is getting into overkill.
CHAIRMAN: OK. So hearing no further comment, we will close the
hearing and reserve decision until later. All in favor, Aye.
End of hearings.
.
Prepared by Noreen Frey
RECEIVED .AND FILED BY
THE SOUTHOLD TOWN CLERK
DATE/ Ill �9d DOUR
Town Clerk, Town of Southotd