HomeMy WebLinkAboutZBA-06/19/2003 HEAR SOUTHOLD TOWN BOARD OF APPEALS
REGULAR MEETING
TRANSCRIPT OF HEARINGS
HELD JUNE 19,2003
(Prepared by Jessica Boger)
Present were:
Chairwoman Lydia A. Tortora
Member Vincent Orlando
Member Gerard P. Goehringer ..
Member George Horning(until 4:15)
Member Ruth D. Oliva
Board Secretary Kowalski
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
9:38 am KENNETH CERRETA#5282 (carryover from 5115). Based on the
Building Department's October 9,2002 Notice of Disapproval, this is a request for
Variances under Section 100-244B for a garage addition at less than 10' for a single
side yard,less than 25' for total side yards, and less than 35' from the front lot line,
at 1655 Bay Shore Road, Greenport; Parcel 53-4-6
CHAIRWOMAN: Is someone here who would like to speak on behalf of the applicant?
KEN CERRETA: I'm in favor of the application.
CHAIRWOMAN: I'm shocked.
MEMBER OLIVA: I wonder why.
MR. CERRETA: They did away with the 2-car garage.
CHAIRWOMAN: Could you speak into the microphone? It may be a little hard to pick
YOU up.
MEMBER OLIVA: Just turn the microphone around. That's right.
MR. CERRETA: Eliminated the 2-car garage, made it a one car. And put it back almost
even with the house. But the garage next door is like 5' past my house, so we tried to
make a little porch there,just for aesthetics, more than anything else. And I hope that's
okay. "
CHAIRWOMAN: I see that you brought it back, you did not bring it back level with the
house as we had discussed. What was the reason for that?
2
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MR. CERRETA: The garage next door sticks out 5' past the front of my house, so we
thought that would be alright, you know. It's even with that.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: What's the setback then, Mr. Cerreta? What's the proposed
setback?
MR. CERRETA: 30'
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: 30' from.Bay Shore Road?
MR. CERRETA: Right, it's now 35.
CHAIRWOMAN: If it's coming out 5', your survey is showing 34.7. So, 34.7 minus 5
would be 29.7. The real problem is, as we said, the house right now is almost 100' long
on the property. And the board was not in favor of extending anything out beyond the...
MR. CERRETA: The house isn't 100' long, Miss.
CHAIRWOMAN: What is it?
MR. CERRETA: It's about 70'. -
CHAIRWOMAN: 70' long. And the addition is still going to bring you 4' from the
property line.
MEMBER ORLANDO: We had said we didn't have a problem with that last time,
though.
CHAIRWOMAN: If he came all the way back.
MEMBER ORLANDO: Right.
CHAIRWOMAN: Let's see what the board's comments are, Mr. Horning?
MEMBER HORNING: I'll hold off for a minute.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: I have absolutely no objection to it. I do concur with the
applicant that breaking that up a little bit is a very good idea, not only aesthetically. And
the difference between 29.7' and 34.7' doesn't bother me.
CHAIRWOMAN: Mr. Orlando.
Page 2 of 125
3
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Bearing
MEMBER ORLANDO: I concur. I know we spoke last time about making it even with
the house because no other garage was forward. I don't recall off the top of my head, but
I believe you if your garage is even with your neighbors garage, that's fine. We had a
problem last time being so close to the only one in the neighborhood. Now if
you are typical in your neighborhood, that's fine by me as well.
MR. CERRETA: Well I was mislead to believe that what I proposed the first time was
okay.
CHAIRWOMAN: Ms. Oliva.
MEMBER OLIVA: I would agree with Mr. Orlando.
CHAIRWOMAN: So this would be 29.7, right?
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Right.
CHAIRWOMAN: 29.7 to Bay Shore. And this is per the revised site plan of June?
MEMBER ORLANDO: And you're accurate with 4' off the northeast property line, is
that correct?
MR. CERRETA: Yes.
CHAIRWOMAN: The survey, was the survey amended here? I'm trying to figure out
how we can identify it on the survey. Because the new plan...
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: The new plan submitted on June 41h, received by us on June
4th
CHAIRWOMAN: Yeah, but it doesn't show anything.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Well, we can write it in.
CHAIRWOMAN: So it's 4' to the adjoining property for the June 41h ZBA stamped
plan. Okay, any other questions? Mr. Horning?
MEMBER HORNING: No questions.
CHAIRWOMAN: Is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak for or
against the applicant? Seeing no hands, I'll make a motion closing the hearing reserving
the decision until later.
PLEASE SEE MINUTES FOR RESOLUTION
Page 3 of 125
4
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
9:41 am E. and R. TRIPPE #5300 & 5308 (carryover from 5115). Based on the
Building Department's January 21, 2003 Notice of Disapproval, applicants request
Variances under Sections 100-33, Section 100-31A, to construct accessory swimming
pool and garage/accessory structure in a front yard area. The accessory building
was disapproved also as a second dwelling construction, by design. Location of
Property: Central Avenue, Fishers Island: 6-3-6.1. (Amended floor plans may be
submitted by attorney 6/19)
CHAIRWOMAN: Is someone here who would like to speak on behalf of the applicant?
Good morning Mr. Ham.
STEVEN HAM, ESQ: Good morning. When I left last month we had a number of open
issues, which I've addressed in a supplemental memorandum, which I trust you received
yesterday, along with revised plans. Those issues concern first was the design. The
Trippe's have gone back to the drawing board. Their architect has eliminated the full
bath. Cut the size of the bath in half, eliminated the interior fire place, and put the
shower outside. That should be sufficient to avoid the violation of code section 100-31A.
I'm told by the Building Department(BD)that, that would, if the location were
acceptable, that would not be a problem. So I think that issue has been eliminated. So
we are left with the issue of the size of this structure, it's location and proximity to lot
lines, and whether it should be a separate structure, or attached to the main dwelling.
Insofar as the size of the structure, I discussed with the Trippe's, after our last hearing,
I'm advised that they keep two vehicles, a number of kayaks, and other equipment on the
island, and really need a 2-car garage. Otherwise the cars would be in full sight. Also
they propose to put a ping-pong table in that exercise room. So it does need to be of
sufficient size for that reason. I also point out, in the memorandum, that the increase in
lot coverage, leaving the footprint as it is, is relatively minor, and still well below the
20%maximum. As far as the location near the side lot line, I've done an analysis in that
memorandum, and I've since spoken to the real property tax service agency who concurs
with my conclusion that the easterly Trippe property line is not the same as the westerly
Howard property line. And they have revised a tax map.
CHAIRWOMAN: Mr. Ham, we just got this yesterday, your memorandum. And that's
why, in the future, the board is not going to be able to review your submissions if you
submit them the day before a public hearing. So that is going to further delay any action
on this because we simply haven't had an opportunity the review the submission.
MR. HAM: I understand.
CHAIRWOMAN: That's only going to delay the hearing because we won't be able to
close it today because we haven't had an opportunity to look at it, nor has opposing legal
council, which is standard operating procedure with us.
Page 4 of 125
5
June 19; 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MR. HAM: I have the architect here, if you had any questions to present to him. Why
the structure is...
MEMBER ORLANDO: What lot number are we looking at on the tax map?
MR. HAM: 6.1 is the Trippe lot. Current tax map shows what's now that little piece 9,
that right triangular piece as part of lot 7. It's, they've changed it now to show, to change
what Howard actually owns which is 7.1. And there's a little piece in there, which my
research indicates is now owned by the utility company. So that although we appear to
be 15' off of the easterly property line, there is additional area in there that would
indicate that we're about 30' from Howard. I'm going to recommend to my client that
they purchase that little piece from the utility company too, so that not only is there a lot
increase, but the distance from the lot line, the Howard property line is much farther than
it otherwise appears in the site plan that we have.
MEMBER ORLANDO: Since the utility company owns that, do they have anything on
that?
MR. HAM: No, they probably don't know they own it. I'm fairly certain they don't
know they own it because the tax map has never shown this until 2 days ago when I
presented this evidence to Dennis Gates at the, at real property tax service agency.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Can I just tell you that you must tell them that they own it.
Because if not the county will end up taking it for non-payment of taxes.
MR. HAM: Well, I think, it may be included. I'm going to see Mr. Scott after this. It
may be included in the Howard assessment.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Yes, so it's a double assessment.
MR. HAM: There is a deed, west end land company owned all this land at one point.
And prior to the 1960's and conveyed it out to Oaks, which is Howard's predecessor, and
to Opalenski. And the, well, you'll see when you get a chance to review my
memorandum,but the point of giving you this today is that the real property also agrees
with my analysis of this. So we are not as close to the Howard property line as it
otherwise may appear. The final issue related to the location of the structure as a
separate, or the construction of it as a separate structure as opposed to trying to attach it
to the main dwelling. And that, I had, Mr. Horning had raised that issue at the last
hearing and I suggested, well the expense of doing that might be great. I also point out,
there are two other reasons why that would be not a feasible solution. One relates to a
utility line easement, which goes through the area where that structure would have to be
attached. The site plan, which the surveyor prepared, indicates that the easement is to be
abandoned. And I was told that initially by Mr. Wahl of the utility company. I did call
him back after- the Trippe's told me"no, that was an active easement". He checked with
Page 5 of 125
6
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
the telephone company that advised him that"yes, it does serve several properties to the
east, so we have an easement in the middle of the area where the structure would have to
be attached, an active easement". So that makes that impractical. Secondly, that is an
area of the Trippe's property where they have done a fair amount of lawn maintenance,
and landscaping. So while that's not as good a reason not to put it there, it's another
reason, in addition to the easement, and the expense of attaching it. Sam Mitchell, who's
the architect, is here. There are several questions, which I could not answer at the last
meeting. Probably primarily the topography and why this is designed the way it is to fit
into the side of a hill. If you have any questions of me, I'm happy to take them now, or if
I can introduce Mr. Mitchell if you have questions of him. Again I apologize for the late
delivery of those documents.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Can I ask a question of Mr. Ham?
CHAIRWOMAN: Yes, Mr. Goehringer.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Mr. Ham I have to tell you that, of course, we were
discussing the size and the magnificence of the structure. And we were not necessarily
looking at the placement of it other than the fact of where it was. I know that sounds a
little redundant, at the last hearing. But now that you raise this issue and Mr. Horning
just pointed out to me that the Trippe house really does crowd the rear property line. And
because of the issue of that easement that you were discussing, I can see the reason for
placing it in this proper position, in the proposed position I should say.
CHAIRWOMAN: I can't hear you Jerry.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: I said that the last time we were actually discussing the size
of the structure, not really the issue of true location. I mean, we knew that the location
was where it was,but...
CHAIRWOMAN: The central thing was that it looked like a second dwelling, that it's
designed as a second dwelling, that it's clearly not, as the BD said, is not an accessory,
customary and incidental accessory structure as defined in our code.
MR. HAM: And as you will see from the plans, and I'm again, I'm sorry for the late
delivery of those. But the plans have been changed now. So we don't need relief from
your board in terms of the design of it. It contains a half bath now. It contains no interior
fireplace. And the shower has been placed outside as it would be with a traditional
poolhouse. So, we would ask for variances for the location of the swimming pool and the
detached accessory structure in the front yard. And that's all the relief that we need at
this point.
CHAIRWOMAN: Have you been back to the BD? That they have reviewed these
plans, and they've made that determination? Or is that your opinion?
Page 6 of 125
7
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MR. HAM: It was discussed with the BD at the time of the initial submission as to what
it would take to not have them not issue a NOD as to design. No, I have not taken this
specific plan back to them. However, it is my opinion based on their opinion and
experience in reviewing these designs that, that would pass muster with them in terms of
and as of right structure so long as it's location were proper under zoning.
CHAIRWOMAN: Without having the benefit of the BD's review, we could not make
that determination. I think there are a number of things that they base that determination
on. And I, I simply could not take that without...
MR. HAM: Right, I would, I can provide you with a determination from them if you
need it,but the relief I would ask for would be merely if you could focus on the location,
size and so forth of the structure in the front yard. I could even, I'd feel comfortable even
withdrawing that aspect of the application. However, I will leave it on hold until I get a
determination from them if that's what you would like.
CHAIRWOMAN: Yes we would like you to take these plans back to the BD and get a
determination if their original detennination still holds. Okay? You have someone you
would like to testify?
MR. HAM: Yes, I would like to introduce Sam Mitchell, who's the architect involved
with the Trippe's. He's come here from Connecticut.
SAM MITCHELL: I'm, excuse me, I'm Sam Mitchell, I was, I just want to discuss a
couple of things about the design. One is the position relating to the topography of the
site. As you can see from the side elevations, the structure is recessed into an existing
grade so that on the garage level, the doors are exposed,but only visible is one story on
the backside of the structure to decrease the apparent bulk. The other issue that I wanted
to address was the possibility of attaching it. In addition to the interference of the
easement, attaching this structure to the primary residence, would, in my opinion,
increase the bulk and visual impact of this structure on all of the neighboring properties.
By detaching it, we avoid a cumbersome connection to the structure, and that would
increase the bulk, or the, or from the street, and impact the neighbors adversely for that
reason. If there are any other questions about the architecture of the building that I can
answer?
CHAIRWOMAN: No, not at this time. Is there anyone in the audience who would like
to speak for or against the applicant?
HELEN ROSENBLUM: Good morning, Helen Rosenblum 1287 E. Main St., Riverhead
on behalf of the Opalenski's. If you're going to adjourn this, maybe I'll just reseive my
comments until the next date.
Page 7 of 125
8
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
CHAIRWOMAN: You have no comments at this time?
MS. ROSENBLUM: Well, you know, last time I was here, I said a lot of what you
know, my clients felt. A lot of it hasn't really changed. The fact that the bathroom and
stuff has been modified and the fireplace has been removed does not allay their fears
concerning the size of the structure and that the structure, in their mind, is inevitably and
definitely going to be converted for living space. They just don't see, you know, that
issue as having gone away due to the size. I do, you know, I think the issue of the
easement is a significant one. And Mr. Ham is going to furnish me with information
concerning that. But as far as the need for a structure like this on a lot that is apparently
substandard by a great deal on which there is no similar structure on any parcel in the
immediate neighborhood concerns my clients very much. So really my comments have
not really changed. I am going to get a copy of the memorandum and I'd like to review
that too. And then the next time we are here if there's something additional that I think I
can add I will.
CHAIRWOMAN: Thank you very much. Yes, Mr. Horning.
MEMBER HORNING: Mr. Ham, what's the actual distance on a rear yard setback to the
existing building?
MR. HAM: 4.8' based on what was in the memorandum that I submitted last month
using an old survey. They had done some renovation on the house but kept the rear line.
MEMBER HORNING: I notice on the revised plans, there's still identification of an
office in this proposed accessory building. What is the purpose of the office?
MR. MITCHELL: Mr. Trippe owns his own business. When he's there on weekends or
vacations, he brings significant work with him and wants a place outside of the main
house where he can focus his attention.
MEMBER HORNING: Will he be having clients and such at the office?
MR. MITCHELL: No, his business is offshore.
MEMBER HORNING: I have a concern for an office space in an accessory building in a
residential...
MR. MITCHELL: I think you can call it study more than office. It's not, as you asked,
it's not a place where clients would come to meet him. It's a place where he would have
a desk and a fax machine so he could...
MEMBER HORNING: Office means a certain thing in the code. Study means
something else.
Page 8 of 125
9
June 19', 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MR. MITCHELL: It should be labeled study rather than office.
CHAIRWOMAN: I think Mr. Horning is right. A home office is permitted in the
principle dwelling. It's not pennitted in an accessory structure.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: We are doing a flip flop in Nassau Point on a similar
situation right now. And I don't think we discussed this issue. We can flip flop the
accessory building for the swimming pool and put the swimming pool, and put the
swimming pool forward of that and put a link, some sort of link between this house and I
know the architect just discussed the difficulty of doing this. But if you flip flop it and
put the swimming pool again in the front or between the house, I'm sorry between
accessory structure and the, which would then be linked to the house with some sort of
enclosed, heated, porch.
MR. HAM: Again I'd have to defer to Mr. Mitchell on that.
MR. MITCHELL: I can't say that, that would not be possible, however the grade, the
grade change from the street to the house is fairly significant. And we were using that, as
I described before, to decrease the apparent bulk of the structure, keeping the garage
parking below. If we moved it back and attached it to the house, we would have to
excavate significantly more.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: I just don't know where this is going, Mr. Ham. And as
you know I'm a bit of a facilitator and I try to allay some of the fears of the board in the
past, and some of them have been successful. Nor am I trying to prolong this project.
What I'm trying to do and I appreciate what you've done up to this point. But at the
same time, as you know, we are not scheduled to go over there until early August, and so
therefore not going to physically see the site. We are basically taking your testimony
and, of course, our Fishers Island member. But I think there's a possibility that
something like that could be worked out. I'm asking you if that's a possibility rather
than...
MR. HAM: That's something that I think the architect has to discuss with the Trippes.
And he'd have to look at the feasibility of that, the expense, and so forth. The additional
expense of earth moving. If you're telling us that you're opposed to...
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: I'm not opposed to anything other than the fact that it's
certainly a use, I mean, that we are not used to on an accessory structure. But, I mean,
have we done it before, I don't think so. Have people done it before, yes. Is it primarily
legal, no.
MR. HAM: What use are you referring to? The office now, or? To have a study?
Page 9 of 125
10
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Accessory use.
CHAIRWOMAN: It does not appear to, it is not an accessory building as we know
them.
MR. HAM: I'm going to the BD and I will report on what they say. But as Mr. Mitchell
said, this is not a home office in the traditional sense of home office where he's running a
business out of there. It's a phone, and a fax machine, and a desk, and a computer, I
guess, is the extent of it. And if you have concerns about that, we can, you know,
certainly have whatever limitations you'd like to put on that. I don't think that's...
CHAIRWOMAN: If we approve something like this, subject to an annual inspections,
would your client be willing to have his permit revoked if we came back in a year and
there were other uses in here?
MR. HAM: Oh I think he intends to obey the law so that, that's I mean I will discuss it
with him. But I don't see that as a, for anyone, as a problem.
CHAIRWOMAN: Because if it's a home office, then it's...
MR. HAM: I understand, having participated with the Patterson application.
MEMBER HORNING: And they withdrew theirs and came up with...
MR. HAM: After one hearing, so...
CHAIRWOMAN: We want to get this going. Are there any other question?
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Opposing council has not presented anything in reference
to, and I know I'm not putting words in her mouth, I know her very well, regarding any
screening or anything else regarding this property. I don't know if she's reserving that.
MS. ROSENBLUM: I'm going to ask if I could just, I have something I'd like to address
the board again briefly, not on that issue, but on the issue that when you are looking at the
grandness of this structure, I think 1020' of which more than half, 630' is devoted to
living space. I don't think it includes the office. I think that's just the exercise room on
the 2"d floor. And there's an office. And there's a covered porch. I mean, I just think the
thing is clearly not intended to be used as an exercise room. That's the concern of my
clients. The screening issue, they are not on the same side. The structure is on the other
side from them. I think there is an issue about the location being a self-created hardship.
But I think on other issues other than the size of this I would ask you to just calculate the
actual size of the covered porch, the size of the so-called exercise room. You need 630
sq. ft. I mean, to me, there's no question about what it's going to be. And that's, you
know, bigger than the garage. So I would say the garage is almost accessory to this
Page 10 of 125
11
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
dwelling, I mean, structure, rather than the other way around. And I would reserve other
comments until the next time. Thank you, Jerry.
CHAIRWOMAN: Thank you very much.
MEMBER HORNING: One further question for Mr. Ham. Were the Oaks, or the
Howards, were they actually noticed on this based on that sliver of land in between here?
MR. HAM: No, they weren't required to be. They weren't on the assessment roll as
owning that particular sliver. That's come to light only in the last couple of weeks. And,
in fact...
MEMBER HORNING: That's an unresolved issue.
MR. HAM: Well, it's not entirely unresolved. I think it's fairly clear that the utility
company, I'm going to get a title company to look at it as well, but based on my research
and what the surveyor was able to tell me, and real property at the SC clerk's office
agrees with me, obviously. They've already assigned a number to that little sliver. So, if
anyone, the utility company would have had to have been notified.
MEMBER HORNING: Were they?
MR. HAM: Well, no,because they are not record owners. Well, they are not on the
assessment roll. The notice provisions of the code indicate that we look at the assessment
rolls to determine who's required to receive notice.
MEMBER HORNING: So you have the effected side without the neighbor being noticed
effectively through this...
MR. HAM: We have complied with the code. You have jurisdiction to act on this
matter.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Excuse me, Mr. Ham would you be able to give
notice to the utility company to let theirs know the next hearing date?
MR. HAM: Oh sure, in fact I intend to call them to tell they own this land. Because I
doubt they know it. And the Trippes may be interested in buying it at some point.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Could you send them a certified letter so we have
something for the record, please? Now that we know.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: I need to address one question to the architect and then
that's it. Could you just give us the approximate mean height to the ridge of the proposed
Page 11 of 125
12
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
dwelling? And I know that this is a discussion we had before, and I don't know where it
went at the last hearing to be honest with you.
MR. MITCHELL: Off the cuff, I wouldn't be able to do that.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: No, I don't need it now. If you wouldn't mind.
CHAIRWOMAN: Okay, we need a date we can adjourn this to.
MR. HAM: Can I just...
CHAIRWOMAN: Mr. Hain, we are, right now we are a half hour behind, so we do have
to move along.
MEMBER ORLANDO: Why don't we do August 141h so then we can actually go to the
site and look at it.
MEMBER HORNING: I don't know if I can snake a special meeting on that date.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: So the regular meeting would be July 241h or
August 21 st
MEMBER HORNING: I would go for August 21 st. They are not going to be building on
that, I don't see how they can.
MR. HAM: Yes, that's acceptable.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: So I guess we will see it in the summer.
MEMBER ORLANDO: Especially since the topography seems to be an issue, we can
actually go and walk it.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Sometime before that, if they could just stake it?
CHAIRWOMAN: Mr. Ham, 9:30, August 21"?
MR. HAM: Sure you don't want to put me last? I'll be sure to get my supplemental,
supplemental memorandum earlier.
CHAIRWOMAN: Earlier, earlier, everything must be into the board by the Friday prior
to...
MR. HAM: Mrs. Kowalski has me as well.
Page 12 of 125
i
13
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
CHAIRWOMAN: So, if your late, you won't get heard. I'm_ going to make a resolution
to adjourn the meeting to 9:30 August 21". All in favor.
10:11 a.m. LEONARD AND HELEN COSTA #5337 - Request for a Variance
under Section 100-244, based on the Building Department's March 6, 2003 Notice of
Disapproval. Applicants propose additions and alterations to an existing dwelling
with a front yard setback of less than 35 feet, at 900 Gin Lane, Southold; CTM
#1000-88-3-11.
CHAIRWOMAN: Is someone here who would like to speak on behalf of the applicant?
LEONARD COSTA: I was just requesting to extend the garage forward.
CHAIRWOMAN: Can you speak up a little so we can hear you?
MR. COSTA: I'm just requesting to enlarge the garage and it exceeds the setback of the
35'.
CHAIRWOMAN: One moment, Mr. Costa.
MEMBER OLIVA: So it just would move it forward another 10'?
CHAIRWOMAN: The only question I had on here, and I do understand what you want
to do. Is that the existing house is 397, but you have that little curve, that 1.9' niche
where you are going to extend the garage coming out. So, and on the last revised survey
that you showed us, you are showing a setback of 29.7. I actually think that's 31.7
because of the little niche.
MR. COSTA: I believe you are right. I didn't realize it was written 29 on there.
CHAIRWOMAN: I don't think, it couldn't possibly be 29 if it's 10' because at the point
where you are showing that, it's 41' and 39.7 on the other side. So I just want you to
confine that the setback at the closest point would be 31.7. And I think we just need that
confirmation.
MR. COSTA: I believe you are right. I didn't realize it was written that way on the plan
I submitted.
CHAIRWOMAN: On the last one, it says 29.
MR. COSTA: I know it's wrong because I have it on another copy and it's 31.
Page 13 of 125
14
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
CHAIRWOMAN: No, I really don't have any further questions. It's fairly
straightforward. Let's see if the board members have any questions.
MEMBER OLIVA: No questions.
MEMBER ORLANDO: No, I met with Mr. Costa at his house. I spoke in detail with
him, and it's a 3 and a half foot variance, and there's no problem with that.
MR. COSTA: Thank you very much.
CHAIRWOMAN: Mr. Goehringer.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: No.
CHAIRWOMAN: Mr. Horning.
MEMBER HORNING: No questions.
CHAIRWOMAN: Excellent. So we do have a confirmation of new setback would be
31.7.
MR. COSTA: Thank you very much.
CHAIRWOMAN: Let's wait and see if there's anyone in the audience.
MEMBER ORLANDO: I just wanted to give him, he requested another copy of the plan.
CHAIRWOMAN: And I also put another copy in the office. Is there anyone in the
audience who would like to speak for or against the applicant? Seeing no hands, I'll
make a motion closing the hearing reserving the decision until later.
PLEASE SEE MINUTES FOR RESOLUTION
10:15 a.m. ROBERT REILLY #5316 - A Variance is requested under Section 100-
244, based on the Building Department's January 24, 2003 Notice of Disapproval.
Applicant proposes additions and alterations in a location-at less than 35 feet from
the front lot line. Location of Property: 470 (new #510) Locust Lane, Southold;
CTM#1000-62-3-30.1 (29 and 30 combined as one).
0.
CHAIRWOMAN: Is someone here who would like to speak on behalf of the applicant?
ROBERT REILLY: I'm Robery Reilly. Good morning. I'm asking for the same, almost
Page 14 of 125
15
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
the same, setback. I'm asking for a setback of 32' from Corn Road and 28' from Locust
Lane.
CHAIRWOMAN: The, the, on Locust Lane, what do you have? Do you have 28?
MR. REILLY: I have a 24' setback now at the existing house.
CHAIRWOMAN: And so you're proposing on Locust, you are proposing 28 is the
closest?
MR. REILLY: Yes. I have a little niche in there stepping back, not stepping forward.
MEMBER ORLANDO: Self created noche?
MR.REILLY: Yes. Well, architecturally.
CHAIRWOMAN: Let's see if the board members have any questions.
MEMBER OLIVA: It's a fairly large addition.
MR. REILLY: It's a very small house right now. And my truck is 21' long. It's a big
truck. It's a Chevy Silervado 8' bed extended cab. I'd like to be able to walk around the
truck in the garage. So I'm just asking for 3 more feet out towards Corn Lane.
CHAIRWOMAN: Right now you're 58' from Corn Road. And you want to be 32?
MR. REILLY: Correct.
CHAIRWOMAN: Mr. Orlando.
MEMBER ORLANDO: I have no questions. It's a small house. I saw it, took a look at
it. And you do have two front yards, which makes it unique and difficult for an addition.
MR. REILLY: Yeah. I'm trying to attach it and put a little master bedroom in there too.
I'm not too good with stairs. My knees are bad. So I'd like to keep a nice bedroom
downstairs.
CHAIRWOMAN: Mr. Goehringer.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: I was there. I understand the problem. I guess it's pretty
much centrally located to the best of the applicant's ability. I'll make no comment at this
point.
CHAIRWOMAN: Mr. Horning.
Page 15 of 125
16
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MEMBER HORNING: I don't have any questions.
CHAIRWOMAN: Is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak for or
against the applicant? Yes ma'am, could you come up and state your name please?
EILEEN WINGATE: Hi, I'm Eileen Wingate with Penny Lumber. And I helped Bob
design his house. Because it's an existing nonconforming, and it's so tiny, it presented a
lot of problems. By stepping the house back.that little notch, I tried to not impact Locust
Lane as much as we could have. And I tried to arrange it so that he could have access to
the existing basement by further keeping everything kind of where it is. Not only is his
truck really, really big, the existing house has tiny, little bedrooms. In order to get a nice
sized master bedroom, and a bathroom, we were fairly modest in using these proportions
to get this. Going up was kind of out of the question because of his knees so we tried to
keep everything on one floor and keep it all pretty reasonable without impacting a
neighborhood. The other thing that Bob failed to mention was that the neighbors all have
houses very close to the road. The neighbor on the same side of the street has a 17'
setback. And across the street, there's only about a 10' setback. So it's really not out of
character with what's going on around the neighborhood.
CHAIRWOMAN: Okay, thank you very much. Board members have any other
questions? I'll make a motion to close the hearing and reserve decision until later.
PLEASE SEE MINUTES FOR RESOLUTION
10:20 a.m. JOHN AND MARTHA TUTHILL #5328 - Request a Variance under
Section 100- 244B, based on the Building Department's February 5, 2003 Notice of
Disapproval. Applicants are proposing to construct a deck addition at less than 35
feet from the front property line at 1060 Navy Street, Orient; Parcel 1000-25-4-3.
CHAIRWOMAN: Is someone here who would like to speak on behalf of the applicant?
MARTHA TUTHILL: Hi, I'm Mai tha,Tuthill. And we're just requesting an open front
porch that would exceed the setback of 35'. We are, right now, at 39' and we're asking
for 12' under further consideration, we'd actually be happy with 10. I don't think we'll
go further than 10.
CHAIRWOMAN: You're talking about the width...
MS. TUTHILL: The width of the porch, exactly.
CHAIRWOMAN: I read through your submissions. The only thing I would, I note, is
that you, the average setbacks in the neighborhood are, you know, even according to your
Page 1.6 of 125
17
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
figures, are 31'. And you want to be forward of that at 21'. It is a very...
MS. TUTHILL: No, not quite 21.
CHAIRWOMAN: 27, excuse me. You want to be 27.
MS. TUTHILL: Actually, as we said, we'd probably, we would only go the 29.
CHAIRWOMAN: Because the setbacks according to the surveys of your neighbors are
39.6, 40, 40, there's one at 25,way down, that's a corner lot, but most of the other
setbacks are considerably, none of them are as close as you want to be.
MS. TUTHILL: That's the only one, right.
CHAIRWOMAN: So that's my observations that we had made. The board, generally,
does not like to grant any variances forward of the average setback in the neighborhood.
We don't like to set a new line. Mrs. Oliva.
MEMBER OLIVA: You would accept the 10' instead of the 12'?
MS. TUTHILL: Yeah.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Is it 29.4, or is it 29?
MEMBER ORLANDO: Yes, I cruised the neighborhood looking and that's quite large
compared to the neighborhood. And it would be the very closest to the front yard. And I
was looking for similar front porches. I only saw one neighbor with a partial, small, little
porch and a notch. But, in my opinion, I'm not telling the board what to do, I would
agree to an 8' deep deck, not 10.
CHAIRWOMAN: Mr. Horning.
MEMBER HORNING: Well, I'd, I would think that 8' is too shallow for a porch. I'm
agreeable to the 10' as the applicant proposes, not the 12'.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: I'm agreeable to exactly a 30' setback. We're doing even
figures here today.
MS. TUTHILL: So that would be 9.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: It's 9', actually, it's 39.4, so it's a little more than 9'. And
you can suck that right up in the overhang anyway when you use the rafters.
CHAIRWOMAN: This is kind of like a bargaining thing here today. We have 8 or 9.
Page 17 of 125
18
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
The board will make a decision. Let's see if anyone in the audience has any comments
on the application. Thank you very much. Seeing no hands, I'll make a motion closing
the hearing reserving the decision until later.
PLEASE SEE MINUTES FOR RESOLUTION
10:36 a.m. DEBRA VICTOROFF #5334. Request for a Variance under Section
100-244, based on the Building Department February 11, 2003 Notice of
Disapproval. Applicant proposes a dwelling at less than 35 feet from the front
property line and less than 35 feet from the rear lot line, at 445 and 505 Dogwood
Lane, Southold; CTM#1000-54-5-55 & 29.1 (as one lot).
CHAIRWOMAN: Is someone here who would like to speak on behalf of the applicant?
JIM FITZGERALD: Yes ma'am, Jim Fitzgerald for Ms. Victoroff. I think the important
thing for the board to consider is what we are proposing is not at all out of keeping with
the other houses in the area. The lots, particularly on the same side of the street, are all
relatively shallow. Depths of about 80'. And, of course, 35 and 35' front and rear yard
setbacks.
CHAIRWOMAN: Can you speak up a little bit? Or take the mike up a bit so we can
hear you?
MR. FITZGERALD: Is this thing on?
MEMBER OLIVA: Yes it is.
MR. FITZGERALD: Do you want me to go through that again? The lot's being as
shallow as they are, present a problem when two 35' setbacks are enclosed. In this
particular case, if the two 35' setbacks were imposed, the house could only be 12' deep.
And as I said, I think the our main interest is in indicating that the house will not at all be
out of character with the other houses in the neighborhood, with regard to both the size
and the setback,both in the front and the rear yard.
CHAIRWOMAN: A couple of questions here. You presented your application for a
building permit in November. And I noticed that the survey, which is showing, also
shows a proposed pool in a side yard. And I wondered had the Building Department
(BD) reviewed pool as part of this proposal?
MR. FITZGERALD: Yes.
CHAIRWOMAN: And, okay, let's make a note of that.
MR. FITZGERALD: I mean that survey was submitted. I mean that same plan was
Page 18 of 125
19
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
submitted to the BD.
CHAIRWOMAN: Okay, a couple of things. The neighbor, adjoining neighbor has sent
a letter saying they would like time to retain legal council on this so they can review the
plans. That they didn't feel they had enough time to review them. And we will definitely
take that into consideration. The setback you're proposing to Dogwood Lane is to the
porch. What would the setbacks be without the porch?
MR. FITZGERALD: That porch could very well be a stoop so it would be exempt from
the consideration of the setback requirements. It's 5' deep.
CHAIRWOMAN: The porch is 5' deep? So that could be increased to 25'?
MR. FITZGERALD: Yes.
CHAIRWOMAN: The Notice of Disapproval (NOD) says 18'. 18' is to which point?
On the survey.
MR. FITZGERALD: I don't know.
CHAIRWOMAN: Pardon me?
MR. FITZGERALD: There is no 18' setback.
MEMBER ORLANDO: It looks like the pool fence is the only 18' 1 can see.
CHAIRWOMAN: And they wouldn't do it to the fence anyway. So it's not clear to me
where the 18' setback is to.
MR. FITZGERALD: No, it's not clear to me either. I think what we are proposing is
what you see on the map that you have.
CHAIRWOMAN: The deck that goes around the pool, is that where the 18' is?
MR. FITZGERALD: That's correct. That would be the northeast comer of the deck is
18' from the rear property line.
CHAIRWOMAN: Okay, Mr. Horning, any questions?
MEMBER HORNING: Not at this time.
CHAIRWOMAN: Mr. Goehringer.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: What complication? We are waiting for opposing council,
Page 19 of 125
20
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
so this will be adjourned?
MR. FITZGERALD: Do we have any indication from the neighbor what his problem
was?
MEMBER HORNING: No, they don't say they have a problem.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: I just want to say that I was down and looked at the
property and I do understand what the agent or applicant is telling us in reference to the
shallowness of the lot, okay, and the ability to place something on the property. So all
that, of course, will be taken into consideration.
CHAIRWOMAN: I understand your width of the property. What is really exacerbating
the problem is the fact that you put a deck on the back of it, which is creating a width of
34' as opposed to 25', which is one of the reasons that's requiring more of a setback. And
the deck extends the full length of the house. And that whole area adjacent to the pool.
So a lot of that could be minimized. Mr. Orlando.
MEMBER ORLANDO: Is this a one-story or two-story house?
MR. FITZGERALD: Debra?
MS. VICTOROFF: Two-story.
MEMBER ORLANDO: So it's approximately 1,600 sq. ft. of living space?
Approximately?
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Can we see the pictures?
MEMBER ORLANDO: Is the deck continuous? The rear deck continuous to the deck
around the pool?
MR. FITZGERALD: Yes.
MEMBER ORLANDO: Same level?
MR. FITZGERALD: Yes.
MEMBER ORLANDO: So it's continuous.
DEBRA VICTOROFF: I'm Debra Victoroff. And those pictures are pictures of a house
built by the builder that drew my plans. And I'm not going to have a garage in mine.
MEMBER ORLANDO: So it's a cape like that?
Page 20 of 125
21
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MS. VICTOROFF: Yes, that's what I'd like.
CHAIRWOMAN: Okay, well we will continue, it's a very small lot. The lot is only,
what 8900', and this is a lot of building for a little lot.
MR. FITZGERALD: This is 2, 2 lots.
CHAIRWOMAN: It's still only 8900 sq. ft.
MR. FITZGERALD: I know. But the point is, it was not a matter of, she bought what
was available in the area.
CHAIRWOMAN: Okay. We are going to see if there's anyone in the audience who
would like to speak in favor or against the application.
TOM ROSAKIS: My name is Tom Roasakis. I'm the adjoining owner. I sent the letter,
that,probably, is in front of you, asking for an adjournment. But I decided to come just
to hear the applicant. But I would like an adjournment. Thank you. I have not had more
than 5 days to get a, retain council. I'm presently interviewing.
CHAIRWOMAN: Thank you very much. Is there anyone in the audience who would
like to speak for or against the applicant? When do we have a time to adjourn this to?
MEMBER ORLANDO: Can I ask another question in the meantime? Would your client
be opposed to a patio around the pool as opposed to a continuous deck, which would
reduce the rear yard setback? And it would reduce the...
MR. FITZGERALD: You mean a brick patio?
MEMBER ORLANDO: Yes. A brick patio as opposed to a raised deck around it.
MEMBER OLIVA: Yeah. At grade.
MEMBER ORLANDO: You know,brick around it instead of a raised deck around it.
It's continuous. So that increases your lot coverage.
MR. FITZGERALD: Yeah, it could be brick or flagstone. I think it would be okay.
CHAIRWOMAN: Vinny, before we do that I think we need to go back to the BD and
say that the ZBA had noticed that the pool was in the side yard. What's going to happen
is, they'll catch it later, and then you're going to be back here again.
MEMBER ORLANDO: It needs to be in the rear yard.
Page 21 of 125
22
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MR. FITZGERALD: And you can't act on it unless they've disapproved it.
CHAIRWOMAN: We can't act on it unless it's been advertised and unless they've
disapproved it. So I would strongly urge you to go back to the BD, get an amended
NOD, and to really think about minimizing what you are trying to put on an 8900 sq. ft.
lot. It's a lot of building. And that's why the degree of the variances that you are
requesting are very substantial. And you're going to be into a front yard variance, a rear
yard variance, and a variance for the location of the pool as well. So I think we need to
give you sufficient time to get an amended NOD, and then we're going to have to re-
advertise that, and give legal notice that, that will also be included in the hearing
procedure. So I'm not...
MS. VICTOROFF: Can I ask a question? I have a couple of questions. One is that I
think that Jim submitted the plans with, to the BD with the pool on there. So I'm not sure
why we're resubmitting it.
MEMBER ORLANDO: They may have, obviously, overlooked it. They'll just catch it
next time when you go for your building permit.
CHAIRWOMAN: When you go for your building permit, they will catch it.
MS. VICTOROFF: But I mean,meaning that you can tell somehow by looking at that,
that they did not see that?
MEMBER ORLANDO: The code requires that the pool be located in the rear yard.
MEMBER OLIVA: And it's not in the NOD that we have here in front of us. So it
means you'll have to go back. We're just trying to save you a couple of steps.
MS. VICTOROFF: No, I understand, I just didn't know why they were saying they
overlooked it.
CHAIRWOMAN: It's probably an oversight on their part. But if it's not caught now,
it's going to mean that this application could be delayed another 6 months.
MS. VICTOROFF: Then I have another question. If you're not allowed to put a pool in
the side yard, if I move it the back of the house, then the variance that we'll request is
going to be greater.
CHAIRWOMAN: That's why we need to go back and, to the BD, so that we can even
consider this pool where it is. Right now we can't consider it.
MS. VICTOROFF: Does that require a new survey or a new...
Page 22 of 125
23
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
CHAIRWOMAN: No, it requires Mr. Fitzgerald, he knows what to do. He will take
very good care of you. I'm just concerned about the timing, when we want to adjourn
this to.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: We have to wait for the amended NOD. And we
have to advertise it. So it's a decision. Do we want to advertise for the amended relief,
July 24th regular meeting or August 215t?
CHAIRWOMAN: It's got to be the 21". Is that the regular meeting?
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Yes.
CHAIRWOMAN: We don't want to carry this over to the special meeting?
MEMBER ORLANDO: You can eliminate the pool for this application,redraw it,
resubmit, and...
MS. VICTOROFF: Along those lines, can I ask Mr. Rosakis, at this point, what his
objections are so that I know them before I redraw plans. Is that fair of me to ask?
MEMBER ORLANDO: I think that's a fair request, if he's willing.
MS. VICTOROFF: If he's still in attendance.
MR. ROSAKIS: I'm still in attendance. You can ask, but without council, I will not
answer.
CHAIRWOMAN: We're looking for a date to give you sufficient time so that you can
get the amended NOD and then we can readvertise. It will be either August, I think it
would have to be August 21 or September 1 Ith. Do you have a preference?
MR FITZGERALD: The earlier date.
CHAIRWOMAN: Why am I surprised? Okay it would be 9:40am on August 21". So
we will adjourn it, the hearing. I'll make a motion.
10:52 a.m. LAUREN ZAMBRELLI #5322. Request for a Variance under Sections
100-242A and 100-244, based on the Building Department's February 21, 2003
Notice of Disapproval. Applicant proposes additions to the existing dwelling in a
nonconforming footprint, resulting in setbacks at less than 10 feet on a single side
and less than 25 feet total sides. Location of Property: 4910 Pequash Avenue,
Page 23 of 125
24
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
Cutchogue; CTM 1000-110-3-27.
CHAIRWOMAN: Is someone here who would like to speak on behalf of the applicant?
LAUREN ZAMBRELLI: Good morning. I'm Lauren Zambrelli. The reason I'm
requesting the second story on my home is because I had a baby.
MEMBER ORLANDO: Congratulations.
MS. ZAMBRELLI: Thank you. A girl. We have 3 children, one who's in college, and
one who's in elementary, and then on a sailing trip in Newport, we brought back a
souvenir.
CHAIRWOMAN: That wasn't the baby was it?
MS. ZAMBRELLI: Yes, that was Cassidy. Our house currently has 2 bedrooms. And
it's about 900 sq. ft. We love our neighborhood, and don't want to move. So we are
proposing a 2nd story addition on our existing home. The house, in it's original form was
built beyond the setback limits. Therefore, we are proposing simply to go up. And
approximately 4' back off one side of the house.
CHAIRWOMAN: I understand your situation completely. It's kind of an existing
nonconforming setback, and you're not going to change the existing footprint
whatsoever. So I really don't have any questions. Let's see, Mrs. Oliva.
MEMBER OLIVA: No, I was down there and looked at it. And I think you really have
to go up.
CHAIRWOMAN: Mr. Orlando.
MEMBER ORLANDO: I was there. It's a very modest house. My only concern and
reservation is on the north side of the house, you have like a 1 ''/Z' setback. If you look at
the plans with the overhang, 1, there's no measurement on it, but you're close to inches of
setback if you include the overhang.
MS. ZAMBRELLI: There's no overhang on the north side.
MEMBER ORLANDO: According to your plans, you know the soffets.
MS. ZAMBRELLI: Oh, the soffets.
MEMBER ORLANDO: If you include the soffets, I mean it's not just, there's no
measurement on it, but it would bring you close to almost inches or zero lot line on that
side.
Page 24 of 125
25
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MS. ZAMBRELLI: We've had, our neighbors...
MEMBER ORLANDO: You have very large, substantial trees around there. I guess
you'll have to remove some of those as well.
MS. ZAMBRELLI: Actually we can cut them back. We love the trees. We don't want
to take them out. But I did have coffee with Eileen and, when she got the notice, she
wanted just to understand what was happening, the owner Eillen McCarroll, who is a
neighbor and friend of ours. She has, her house, that she owns, is very far from her
property line. So it's really, it's not like they are on top of each other at all. It's probably
like 30' to her house. So it's not like they'll be boxed up. So there is plenty of space
there.
MEMBER ORLANDO: No other questions.
CHAIRWOMAN: Mr. Goehringer.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: I'm still trying to find out how that portion, that Mr.
Orlando is referring to, is integrated into the plan. Is there a possibility of leaving that as
1-story? In that portion, no?
MS. ZAMBRELLI: We would have, that wouldn't...
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Can you figure out how it's integrated into the plan? I can't
figure it out. Unless I'm, you know, I've seen the house, and I'm familiar with it.
MEMBER ORLANDO: This is the overhang, that's the part.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: If you look at the original footprint, Vince, so, in other
words, what you are saying is the overhang is going to be on zero lot line.
MEMBER ORLANDO: Well, close, no, think it's a foot?
MEMBER OLIVA: It's so close now.
MEMBER ORLANDO: It's her neighbor, she had coffee with.
MS. ZAMBRELLI: She's wonderful. I also have my other neighbor on the other side
here.
MEMBER HORNING: Can you give us a distance on the north side to the neighbor's
house, the closest?
Page 25 of 125
26
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MS. ZAMBRELLI: It's about 30'.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Well, the one major problem, number one is you're going to
have to put definitely some sort of drywells in for any water runoff. That's number one.
Okay, number two, you're going to have to give us an idea of what that overhang is going
to address in reference to footage. And that has to be cutback as close, as close to the
house as possible. Okay? Instead of a 16" overhang, it's going to have to be at least 8",
or something a little less than that.
It's drawn at a foot right now.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: It's drawn at a foot right now, so, which would leave us 6"
because it's a foot and a half. Can you bring it back to 8"?
I could do that, yes.
CHAIRWOMAN: Jerry, we want an 8" overhang maximum...
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: North side.
CHAIRWOMAN: On the north side.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: And water directed in dry wells from roof runoff into
drywells. You have to do that anyway. Because you don't want to, you really don't want
to impose any water on your neighbors property.
MS. ZAMBRELLI: She's got beautiful, large azaleas, and geraniums, and they are about
16', 17' high, so they'd love the water. But, yes, that's not a problem.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Not the amount of water that we took already this year.
MS. ZAMBRELLI: Actually, they were beautiful this year. They are all up and down
the property line, and we enjoy them.
CHAIRWOMAN: Mr. Horning..
MEMBER HORNING: No question.
CHAIRWOMAN: Is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak for or
against the applicant?
ETHEL JESSUP: My name is Ethel Jessup. And I'm on the south side. And I have no
objection at all. None.
Page 26 of 125
27
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
CHAIRWOMAN: Thank you very much. If there are no further questions by the board,
as we've discussed, we've discussed that you would be required to put in drywells for the
roof runoff. And that the roof overhang would be limited to a maximum of 8" on the
north side. So, if there's no further questions, I'll make a motion to close the hearing and
reserve decision.
PLEASE SEE MINUTES FOR RESOLUTION
11:00 a.m. FREDERICK and JOAN FROHNE #5317. Request for a Variance
under Section 100-239.4B, based on the Building Department's February 3, 2003
Notice of Disapproval. Applicant proposes additions and alterations to dwelling in a
location at less than 75 feet from the bulkhead. Location of Property: 4700
Paradise Point Road, Southold; CTM#1000-81-3-4.
CHAIRWOMAN: Is someone here who would like to speak on behalf of the applicant?
GARRETT STRANG, ARCH: Yes. Good morning, Garrett Strang, architect,
representing the Frohnes.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: May I ask a question? I understand.
MR. STRANG: My clients bought the house about a year or so ago, and obviously our
intention was to modify it so it suited their needs for their use, and improve upon it so it's
more in keeping with the neighborhood as opposed to, they don't feel the present look is
one that's compatible with the neighborhood. It's an existing one-story 3 bedroom home,
single family dwelling, obviously. The proposed use is exactly the same. One story, 3
bedroom home. The appeal here is for, part of the program is to add a 16x28' addition
off the water side of the house, which is going to be in front of the living/dining area. It's
going to be roofed over, but unenclosed. The intention is primarily to provide protection
from the sun when seated outdoors. This is a bayfront piece and exposure is quite open.
It will also allow them to have some outdoor seating for both dining and relaxation. In
the event of inclement weather, they can be seated under a covered area out of the
weather. The positioning of this particular addition is really the only one that is practical
inasmuch as it's in front of the living/dining part of the house. And that's the intended
use. It's an extension of the living/dining part of the house. Albeit open and unenclosed,
it still is roofed over. It's my belief that what we are proposing has a minimal impact
since there's already an existing stone terrace there that exists. So I'd be going partially
over that. It's a low profile addition since it's a one-story addition with a hipped roof,
which minimizes the massing. It's a gable end. It's a hipped roof that slopes back.
CHAIRWOMAN: Would it be screened in?
MR. STRANG: No.
Page 27 of 125
28
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
CHAIRWOMAN: So it's just...
MEMBER OLIVA: Open.
MR. STRANG: It's an open colonnade.
MEMBER OLIVA: Just with a roof?
MR. STRANG: Just with a roof. There's not an intention to screen it in, or enclose it at
this time, or anytime in the future.
CHAIRWOMAN: Question, Mr. Strang. You're proposing a 48' setback from the
bulkhead, right?
MR. STRANG: That's correct.
CHAIRWOMAN: The addition you're proposing could be put flush with that L-shaped
part in the house. Because if that's the living area, living/dining area, it would have
access opening to it right there, which would increase your setback to 64' from the
bulkhead.
MR. STRANG: We appreciate that. And that was a consideration although it then puts it
in front of the .bedrooms. And they are going to have their children and their
grandchildren, obviously, visiting them and it would be in front of the grandchildren's
bedroom. And we believe that use, if you will, congregation of adults, conversation, the
like, in front of the children's bedroom is not the best location.
CHAIRWOMAN: You're proposing a terrace there anyway.
MR. STRANG: Yes, the terrace is open, and most likely, people will be congregating in
the area for the roofed-over addition. I'd like to also call to the boards attention that the
setback you make reference to is actually less than the setback of the neighbor to our
east's deck, which is about 44' back from the bulkhead. So we feel like it's not out of
character with an established setback.
CHAIRWOMAN: And what's the setback on the neighbor to the west?
MR. STRANG: Setback on the neighbor to the west is a new home. And his home was
built under the present zoning criteria. So his setback is approximately 75'.
CHAIRWOMAN: That's what I found when I was down there.
MEMBER HORNING: To the deck?
Page 28 of 125
29
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
CHAIRWOMAN: Yes. It is 75' to the deck. And that's why I'm personally not in favor
of this because I think, you have a lot of options here. And the living area is where you
described it, and if it's, it can be, you know, fit in that niche. If it requires creativity and
architecture.and design, so be it. I don't, I really think you have alternatives that could
substantially reduce this variance. And we're not in favor of going any further forward
toward the bulkhead on this.
MR. STRANG: It's not the fact that the neighboring house is close to the bulkhead enter
the picture?
CHAIRWOMAN: That's a very, very, old house.
MR. STRANG: Yes it is, it's about the sanne age as my clients house.
CHAIRWOMAN: You do have options here.
MR. STRANG: Not practically. Maybe in theory, yes, but, to put a living area in front
of a child's bedroom is really not the best solution. Keeping the uses from a practical
point of view, from a design point of you, from my professional opinion,keeping the uses
as presented, where you've got a living/dining area that's part of the house and an
outdoor living/dining area in front of that is the best use. To put it in front of a bedroom,
really, is, it makes the bedroom unusable for the point of time that area will be used.
Given the fact that it's a summer home, it's meant to be used in the summer. Take
advantage of the bay front that they have, and to have that use moved around in front of a
bedroom where it's going to cause a disturbance to young children trying to sleep in the
evening. I don't think is the best solution either. I do have,just for the record, I do have
an approval from the, well, I shouldn't say approval, I have a letter of non jurisdiction
from the DEC as well as a permit from the Trustees for this work. And I'd like to submit
that at this time. I'd also like to submit for the board's information, and for the file, a
copy of the, actually, I've made several, numerous copies of the exterior views of the
house so that you can see exactly what we're proposing here, since that hasn't been done.
Again, I call to the board's attention, the fact that it does already exist, a terrace, a stone
terrace, a grade, in this area. And that this roofed over enclosure is over the terrace.
MEMBER OLIVA: Garrett, where are the children's bedrooms?
MR STRANG: What I may do, if the board pleases...
MEMBER OLIVA: Because I'm confused.
MR. STRANG: I have a copy of the floor plan, actually. Let me submit that to you as
well. I only have one copy with me in the file. I believe I have it in the file. It will show
you the layout of the house. The bedroom wing of the house is not substantially
Page 29 of 125
30
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing ;
changing. It's being left as it is. This is the living/dining/kitchen area of the house as it
presently exists. This is the outdoor, roofed over terrace.
PATRICIA MOORE, ESQ: May I see also, I represent the neighbor, Cooper, and rather
than, in the back.
CHAIRWOMAN: It's too far away for all of us to see at this point.
MR. STRANG: We have the living/dining/kitchen here as presently exists although we
are doing some upgrading to it internally. The footprint of the house with the exception
of this element, and the garage which doesn't is being added. But the focus of
our application is,basically is, this roofed over area here.
CHAIRWOMAN: This is not showing up on our site plan. This little part, this little part
that's jutting out. If you, this is,this terrace?
MEMBER ORLANDO: Yes, that's the terrace.
MR. STRANG: This is the terrace here, this is where the living area is. This is primarily
where the congregation, this area would probably be used during daytime hours. It is
kind of sheltered, it's outdoors, the roof is...
CHAIRWOMAN: This is where the proposed addition is?
MEMBER OLIVA: You're complaining about the kid's bedrooms, but you're in front of
the 2 bedrooms anyway.
MR. STRANG: His bedroom is here. If we move this, as you're suggesting, to here, it's
in front of the bedrooms.
MEMBER ORLANDO: Because you want to get out of the sun, you'd be there during
the daytime hours, not the nighttime hours.
MR. STRANG: We'd be here in the daytime if it's inclement weather or evening, you
want to sit outdoors, but you don't necessarily...
MEMBER ORLANDO: Right. So you wouldn't be disturbing the children because it's
during the day. At night, you can go over there.
MR. STRANG: If it's drizzly, the gray weather we've had recently, you may want to sit
out here and have dinner. The kids may have already had their dinner and gone to bed.
CHAIRWOMAN: Mr. Strang, this is going to be renovated, this bedroom?
Page 30 of 125
31
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MR. STRANG: No, it's there.
CHAIRWOMAN: It says"altered bedroom"?
MR. STRANG: Yes, because we are moving closets around.
MEMBER ORLANDO: Now it's the master bedroom.
MR. STRANG: The master bedroom is down at the end of the house. The existing floor
plan is bedroom, baths, bedroom, master bedroom. They are staying, doing minor
alterations by reconfiguring closets, redoing bathrooms, but the configuration of the
house is exactly as it is with the exception of adding a master bath here, or adding a two-
car garage here...
CHAIRWOMAN: And you're shifting the closets and baths...
MR. STRANG: We're moving the closet. The closet now is on this wall. This bedroom
doesn't even have a closet presently. So...
MEMBER HORNING: I'm sorry, I mean, we are talking about a family here, so I'm
having a hard time buying into the argument of something outside the kid's bedroom
because, you know, we're family. And if they can't have their appropriate conversations
anywhere in the house, then the family is dysfunctional or something.
MR. STRANG: Adult conversation over dinner and the like in front of a child's
bedroom.
MEMBER HORNING: We don't consider those types of issues, though.
CHAIRWOMAN: Let's, Mr. Goehringer, do you have any questions?
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: I can see architecturally, Garrett, apart from the use
situation why you would want to put something like that on because particularly the way
the pillars are drawn, you know. I can see it. I would not object to anything that would
still allow you to do that architecturally, but would be somewhat meaningless in reference
to depth. I think this could be treated in a different vein. I think you could use a roll up
awning, an automatic roll up awning, which I don't think' needs a variance. It's a
temporary thing. It's not supported in any other way. But I would, I would entertain an
architectural cut of a certain amount of feet, you know, to give you that effect. Okay,
then the use of an awning for sun prevention.
MR. STRANG: I'm sure my client is receptive. In fact, we've had some discussions with
a neighbor, who has voiced his objection. And we have offered to cut it, scale it back
somewhat, but he was adamant that he didn't want it all. And we felt that was kind of
Page 31 of 125
32
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
unfair since he has his. It's like well I have mine, you're not getting yours.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: But I'm just saying that I think I can see it from an
architectural point of view. And how it would lend itself to the house. Again, we haven't
discussed the footage, the depth of the footage. Again, I still think it could be done from
an awning point of view, and then retracted at night.
MR. STRANG: It could be done from an awning point of view. It's not as aesthetically
pleasing on a house, you know we're talking about houses in that area in the multimillion
dollar range along the bay. So to hang an awning off the house really is not that
attractive a solution.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: I'm referring to an automatic one that goes out and comes
right back and withdraws, and you know, is water sensitive, withdraws automatically, and
so on and so forth.
MR. STRANG: Yes. I'm familiar with those. It's just a little lean to that rolls out.
MEMBER ORLANDO: I would think is a major construction, though.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: The reconstruction of the house is a major...
MEMBER ORLANDO: Because the roofline looks nothing like this.
MR. STRANG: We're doing a major alteration to the house. But within the footprint of
the house with the exception of the two elements that I mentioned that come toward the
road, and, of course, the porch. So, again, as I mentioned, they are trying to enhance the
appearance of the house so it's in keeping with the neighborhood and the value of the
neighborhood. And not have what my clients refer to in their joking way as the Jetson's
motel.
MEMBER ORLANDO: It does look like that, yes, it does.
MR. STRANG: And they don't want that. They feel it's a detriment to the community,
and they want to improve upon that.
CHAIRWOMAN: Okay, Mrs. Oliva.
MEMBER OLIVA: I was just thinking if you could cut back that terrace, you know,
right in here, instead of sweeping it all the way around here, you could just fit it right into
here.
CHAIRWOMAN: That's what we had said originally.
Page 32 of 125
33
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MR. STRANG: You're suggesting that the roofed over area go in front of the bedrooms.
And that's, from a practical point of view, is what I believe, what my clients believe, is
not the best solution.
CHAIRWOMAN: We've gone down that road, and, so, if you're not willing to go there,
then, the board will have to take action in that direction. Is there anyone in the audience
who would like to speak for or against the applicant?
MS. MOORE: Yes, thank you. I'm here on behalf of Mr. Cooper, who is the neighbor
directly to the east. What I have is, Mr. Cooper couldn't be here, and he had originally
gotten Bruce Anderson to prepare a report, a written report, which is very comprehensive,
on the character of the area. And I'll submit that to the board. It's his report. As I said,
it's very well done, and I would ask you to read it and refer to it as you'd like. I'd like to
address certain specific points as we go. So I will, if it's alright, I'll submit this. Do we
have enough copies? Bruce goes through the whole description of the premises and all
the criteria, which you are very familiar with and would address. But more specifically,
I'd like to deal with certain issues that are kind of,bring it out to the forefront of the, why
Mr. Cooper has an objection to really just the backend, which you've identified. He has
no objection to the renovations that are being proposed, the garage in the front. His
whole focus and they, or, he tried to convince Mr. Frohne to come up with a different
alternative, which is in line with what you've been recommending. Putting in, or putting
the addition, or the sunscreen that goes along, it can go along the entire length of the back
of the house, provide adequate protection. One, certainly, design feature, which I noticed
is that he has his master bedroom on the other side. Since there is so much renovation
being done to this house, you could make the master bedroom be the one that is in front
of what he wants as the dining area. Extend the dining, outdoor dining area. And
because there's a bathroom that goes right out of that bedroom, the children's bedroom,
as they describe it, they could change the interior layout and make the master bedroom
away from what is the activity of the evening or daylight activity with adults be on the
opposite end of where the overhang would be. Or the roofed over open patio would be.
So there are design alternatives. I know Garrett's a very talented architect. And he can
come up with a, it's really up to the client to accept his alternatives. I have the elevation
of the house. And when you see the east elevation, it pretty much focus's why the
objection by Mr. Cooper. The existing building right now is 63.5' in length. What he's
proposing to extend to is 107' in length, when you include both the garage on the front of
the house, and the overhang on the back of the house. And it's not just a little, you know,
little covered over porch. It's an extension of the roofline. And it is a significant
structure in the back. And that's, if you look the east elevation I submitted, you can see
that, that is the side that Mr. Cooper is going to be facing. And it is going to take, for the
most part, the entire length of the common property line. And that's intrusive to a
neighbor. What we also have is, from Douglas Barnard, who was the let's see, he was
active in the affairs of the Paradise Point Association (PPA) and he was the past chairman
of the building committee. I don't know if this project has been approved by the building
committee of the PPA. But he can recall, in all the time that he's been involved in the
Page 33 of 125
34
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
building committee, that the PPA, they've controlled the extension of houses towards the
water because of the goal to keep everyone at a common rear yard setback. So I have a
letter, an original letter from Douglas Bernard' and then if you would also look at a
photograph. I have a very nice aerial photograph from Mr. Amiaga. And what I did is I
took a line,just a paper, and put a straight line of what is the common rear property line
property line between Scalia, is the newest home, he's to the south. Frohne is the center
property, the subject of this.application, then to the north is Cooper. And you can see that
all the homes here have, are consistently in line in the rear of the property. With respect
to you have yours and I can't have mine, that is not the case. In fact both houses, or all
three houses, have extensions. And it's just a question of how far you want to go. They
all have patios and unenclosed patios have never been an objection. They are pre-
existing. The objections are always the roof.
CHAIRWOMAN: Mrs. Moore, on our exhibit, there is no mark.
MS. MOORE: No, I have it on mine.
CHAIRWOMAN: Which means, in other words, it doesn't mean anything to us.
MS. MOORE: Right. I'm going to give you this one. Before I hand it over, I want to
describe it. You can see, I just took this, that's a photocopy of this aerial photograph.
And you see it take off just a straight piece of paper, and you can identify who the owners
are. And you can see that they are all extended, they both, here's the letter from
You can see that they are all in line. It doesn't take a great deal of sophistication, just
that straight lined paper to see that, how the character of the community has been
expanded. With respect to the approvals, the Town Trustees (TT), Mr. Cooper did not
appear before the TT. It was his opinion that he TT, generally, when there is a patio,
once there's been disturbance, the TT do not, for the most part, give a hard time about
expanding on top of already and existing disturbed area. So he felt it was, those issues
might be environmental issues. And this is more in keeping with this board's
consideration, which is the character of the area. So I think if I had known him at the
time, I would have told him, advised him, he should have made an objection because
sometimes the TT do try to retain the existing setbacks as a policy even though it's not
one of their designated criteria for the standards of a TT permit. Those are the points that
I want to bring up to the board, I'm sorry, I have one more letter. Mr. Scalia, Mr. Cooper
gave me a letter with respect to speaking with Mr. Scalia. Mr. Scalia doesn't take a
position one way or another because he sold the house to Mr. Frohne. I think it would be
awkward as the broker to oppose any renovations that Frohne would have. But I have
that letter here so you know, as far as Scalia goes, he's not taking any position.
CHAIRWOMAN: Is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak for or
against the applicant?
MR. STRANG: Yes, if I may, I'd like to address some of the points that were brought up
Page 34 of 125
35
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
by Ms. Moore, and again, she's representing her client, Mr. Cooper, who is immediately
a neighbor to the east. And I've had some conversations with Mr. Cooper as my client.
Just quickly to review some of the points that were brought up on behalf of Mr. Cooper
by Ms. Moore. I haven't seen the information that was presented to you by Mr.
Anderson. So I have no idea what he may be, so if I could get a copy of that, that would
be, I think, helpful. Secondly, with respect to the association, the association has been
given the plans that you see in front of you for their review and comment, which is part
of the covenants and restrictions (C&R's). They have not convened yet, their final
meeting to vote. However, according to the association president, he indicates that the
board has been polled, and some of the neighbors have been polled. And even Mr.
Cooper has agreed that everything that we're proposing is not in any violation of any of
the C&R's of the association. And that he association, in general,
CHAIRWOMAN: Mr. Strang...
MR. STRANG: May I finish?
CHAIRWOMAN: I'm just going to save you some time. I should have said the same
thing when Pat Moore was giving her presentation. The ZBA does not enforce (C&R's).
MR. STRANG: I understand that. But since it was raised, I just wanted let you know
what the. PPA's position is. There is no objections at this point and time to what's been
presented. And they've seen everything that you've seen. So we're expecting a blanket
approval from them once they meet. But, again, that's not in your area to enforce or not
enforce. But it's a point of information. To redesign the house the way Mr. Cooper has
suggested, I guess would be nice if Mr. Cooper was going to live there, and it was his
house, and he'd lay it out as he so chooses. But my client is going to live in the house.
And he'd like it designed to meet his needs, and his families needs without doing major
changes with respect to yes, I'll concur that they were making major changes with
changing the roof design. But the basic layout of the house, the placement of the
bedrooms, the placement of the living areas, is exactly the way it is now with some
enhanced tweaks internally. So, with respect to the length of the east elevation, yes it's
correct, the existing house is 60 some feet in length and it will be 107 in length if
everything were added as we've made our application. But just for the record, Mr.
Cooper's house is 92' in length on his east elevation. And he's closer, again, he's closer
to the bulkhead then we are. So that objection, although it has some merit, I think we're,
our house, I could do a quick rundown if you'd like, but the Frohne house is basically in
keeping in size, in scale, with everything else. Mr. Cooper's house is about 4600 sq. ft.
of building area.
CHAIRWOMAN: It's the setbacks we're concerned about.
MR. STRANG: Okay, well Mr. Cooper is 44. We are 48 at this point. If this board asks
us to cut this porch back somewhat, that's certainly an option that can be considered.
Page 35 of 125
36
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
One of the other submittals I'd like to make is, as much as an aerial is attractive, and is
nice, what I'd like to present to the board is an actual overlay. The three neighboring
that shows the actual location. And yes, keeping a house in line is important.
And we address that. This is Mr. Cooper's property, okay? This is my client's property,
the Frohne's. This is Mr. Scalia. As I mentioned earlier, Mr. Scalia had to be 75' back
because he had a new house. If you take the line of Mr. Cooper's deck and shoot it
across, it's in front of our 16' addition. This whole house is in front of our house as it is.
There's vegetation on each side here, which may or may not enter the picture, but one of
these photographs shows the fact that Mr. Cooper's house, presently, is in front of ours.
MEMBER ORLANDO: But the new house, you say, is 75' back. So your new addition
should be 75' back as well.
MR. STRANG: Well our house isn't 75' back, because here's the 75' setback line. So
our existing house doesn't comply.
MEMBER ORLANDO: But your neighbor...
CHAIRWOMAN: I think we've kind of beat this point to death.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Can I see that one minute, Garrett?
MR. STRANG: I understand the board has it's concerns. And we are willing to address
those and work with them. I think Mr. Cooper's concerns have some validity, but I think
they are more personal in nature then they are having to do with what this board has to
deal with. And I would certainly be willing to discuss with this board and my client as to
what alternatives we have. I don't, again, I don't believe that putting this porch in front
of the bedroom element of the house is the correct placement-of it. It doesn't necessarily
say we are not willing to scale back. We have already made that overture to Mr. Cooper,
but he was not receptive to entertaining that. So...
MEMBER ORLANDO: But the one thing that no one has brought up yet, but we all
know about is the bluff is very steep there.
CHAIRWOMAN: It's very steep, and you're very close.
MEMBER ORLANDO: Every house there that has steps to the beach has a platform
because it's so steep, you cannot do a continuous. So any further building close, even
though it's quite vegetated, it's a severely steep drop-off. So any construction close to it
is not good for it.
MR. STRANG: Again, our construction is limited to the placement of several columns
around the perimeter. We're not excavating and tearing everything up.
Page 36 of 125
37
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MEMBER ORLANDO: Well you'd probably have to put some sort of footing in,there.
MR. STRANG: All we need to do is a hole to set a column in. It's minimal disturbance.
My client doesn't want his house to wash into the bay either. So he wants to be aware of
doing the least amount of disturbance as far as construction goes, in that area, as possible.
This was a concern, which was also voiced by the TT, and they concurred that it really
wasn't going to pose an issue. The bluff is relatively, heavily, vegetated and stabilized.
CHAIRWOMAN: Okay, Mr. Goehringer, Mr. Horning, we really have to get moving.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: What are you going to do? Are you going to close it?
CHAIRWOMAN: Couple of things. Mrs. Moore, please give Mr. Strang, provide Mr.
Strang a copy of all your submissions. Likewise anything you have submitted. Does the
board wish to hold this hearing open?
ZONING BOARD: Yes.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: I want to go back and look at it again.
CHAIRWOMAN: What's the purpose of holding it open?
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: I would like Garrett to go back to his client and find out if
there's any way that an architectural cut can be put in. But at the same time, not request
what he's requesting at this point. And possibly we could work out something on that
basis.
CHAIRWOMAN: In terms of what are we talking?
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Just a small overhang to make it, you know, architecturally
aesthetic to the reconstruction of the house. But at the same time, you know, appease the
neighbor.
CHAIRWOMAN: And also appease the board. I'm not quite sure what you are talking
about because I don't want to misguide Mr. Strang. So that he's going back and creating
a plan that would not fly with the rest of the board.
MEMBER ORLANDO: I think Mr. Goehringer was more in favor of a retractable
awning.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: From an architectural point of view, as I first mentioned,
not to be redundant, and again, I'm being redundant. But to say if he was willing to take
say a 6' overhang at that point to create those pillars that exist in the original plan,just to
create a walkway there, which I, it appears, the board, you know...
Page 37 of 125
38
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
CHAIRWOMAN: What are we talking about, a 6' patio?
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: That's what I was thinking.
MR. STRANG: I can take that to my client. I'm not sure if, practically, that addresses
the need for outdoor seating and outdoor dining, which was the whole intention of this.
MEMBER ORLANDO: It wouldn't be to scale. 6' with the huge pillars.
MR. STRANG: We did, so this board is aware, we made an overture to Mr. Cooper that
we could cut it back to 12', instead of the 16, and still feel that it was practically usable at
that point.
CHAIRWOMAN: I think what you're hearing from all of us is put it in the notch. I
mean we can waste a lot of time. We can continue this till doomsday. But if you're not
willing to do that, if you're not willing to redesign it, then the board, there's no reason to
adjourn this. The board will vote on it.
MR. STRANG: Well I can't say that until I've had an opportunity to speak to my client.
So I would suggest that possibly we do as Mr. Goehringer suggested, hold it open. If you
would consider that so I can confer with my client to see what options he may be
receptive to.
CHAIRWOMAN: Okay, we will do it on the basis that you will go back to your client
and ask him is he's willing to put it in the notch. When do we want to adjourn this to?
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: I wanted to ask if we could have the amended
plans, is that what you're considering?
MR. STRANG: Yes.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: At least the Friday before the meeting.
MR. STRANG: Certainly.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Several sets, please. August 7t1' is our special
meeting.
CHAIRWOMAN: Is that too soon for you?
MR. STRANG: No, that's fine.
CHAIRWOMAN: Sometimes it isn't.
Page 38 of 125
39
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MR. STRANG: No, I understand.
CHAIRWOMAN: What time?
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: In the evening. The first hearing would start at
6:00.
CHAIRWOMAN: I'll make a motion to adjourn the hearing until Aug. 7th at 6:45.
11:35 a.m. JOHN HURTADO, JR. #5319 - Request for Variances under Sections
100-30A.4, 100-33C and 100-239.4A(1), based on the Building Department's
January 27, 2003 Notice of Disapproval. Applicant proposes an accessory
swimming pool and deck addition to the dwelling, both at less than 100 feet from the
top of the bluff along the Long Island Sound. The swimming pool also is proposed
in a side yard location instead of a code required rear yard. Location of Property:
2670 Grandview Drive, Orient; CTM 1000-14-2-3.6.
CHAIRWOMAN: Is someone here who would like to speak on behalf of the applicant?
CATHRINE MESIANO: Good morning, I'm Catherine Mesiano. And I'm appearing on
behalf of Mr. Hurtado. Mr. Hurtado is requesting a variance from a relief of the required
setback from the bluff as well as the required,requirement that a pool not be in a side
yard. The property we are dealing with is located at 2670 Grandview Drive in Orient.
This is approximately 52K sq. ft. lot in a R40 zone. Mr. Hurtado has under construction
a single family dwelling. And he's coming to the board for relief for the proposed deck
and pool. This is a sound front parcel of land. The setbacks that we are proposing for the
proposed deck is 89'. The setback to the pool is at 75', and we are maintaining a 15'
sideyard for the proposed pool. The purpose for the variance for the pool location is
because the pool is offset to the west thereby encroaching on the required sideyard. Does
the board have any questions?
CHAIRWOMAN: Well I just would like to note that the report of the soil and water, as
well as our own inspections, said there was considerable erosion going'on right now as a
result of the current construction. You have a copy of the report, Ms. Mesiano?
MS. MESIANO: Yes, let me just...
CHAIRWOMAN: The lot slopes to Grandview Drive, right to the top of the bluff. And
if the soil is being eroded from the lot during the construction activities, soils are also
Page 39 of 125
40
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
being dragged out onto Grandview Drive by vehicular traffic since there's no
stabilization. As a construction interest at this time, the house is incomplete. And
downspouts and gutters are not on the structure, the plan does not show any plan
drywells. It is recommended that drywells be installed to contain any roof runoff on the
house. The plan also does not show proposed final grade for the yard, which would be
very important for the pool. It appears that the deck will be raised due to stairs shown
coining off the deck, soils below the proposed deck should be protected from erosion. If
the deck will be elevated over the ground surfaces, and if there's water from the pool, it
should be diverted from going over the top of the bluff, and down the bluff area. It
makes a number of suggestions. It says the toe of the bluff is not stable, etc. But I'd
wondered if you'd had a chance to think about that report and to address some of the
points that have been raised in that report.
MS. MESIANO: Yes, 5 drywells have been installed. 5 oversized drywells each
consisting of 2 rings and a dome with capacity in excess of that,which the calculations
show would be necessary to contain the 2" an hour in over 24 hour period. The surface
runoff and the roof runoff will be contained in these drywells since the drywells have
grates on the top and the final grade will ensure that any runoff is pitched towards the
drywells and not towards the neighboring properties, the bluff or the road.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Can I ask that gentleman to close the door? The noise back
there, I apologize. Thank you sir.
MS. MESIANO: I think I've addressed the issue with respect to drywells and runoff. As
far as the area under the deck, we would have no problem putting a containment system
weather it be gravel or some other type of structural containment to ensure that no runoff
were to occur, no erosion were to occur in the area under the deck. And with respect to
the current conditions in light of the rain that we've had, and the volume and the duration
of the rain, it would be impossible to construct a construction activity without some
runoff into the road. And all of that material, all of that situation, of course will be
addressed in the final grading and the finishing of the property.
CHAIRWOMAN: Couple of other questions, where you have the pool, is there no way
that you could incorporate the pool into the deck? The deck that you're adding onto that
house, proposing that onto the house is 16' wide. It's a huge deck. In fact, 16x80' long.
It's humungous. I'm trying to understand why you could not incorporate the pool into
the existing deck that you are proposing.
MS. MESIANO: Within the area of the deck that's seaward of the house?
CHAIRWOMAN: Yes.
MS. MESIANO: Well they are trying to maintain as the prior applicant, trying to
maintain an area for outdoor dining and outdoor entertaining without having the pool
Page 40 of 125
41
June 10, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
directly outside of the door. That's going to be off of the main living and dining area.
The deck is off of the main dining and living area of the house. And the pool is adjunct
to that.
CHAIRWOMAN: I know,but the deck off the house is 80' long. It's...
MEMBER ORLANDO: It's elevated deck, you couldn't put the pool with that deck.
MS. MESIANO: You couldn't put the pool in the deck, no,because of the elevation.
MEMBER ORLANDO: That deck is probably 8-10' high.
MS. MESIANO: The deck, John, is that...
JOHN HURTADO: The deck is going to be about 7' off the ground, off the final grade.
MS. MESIANO: And the pool is proposed at grade. Thank you for pointing that out.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Can I have Mr. Hurtado's name,just for the
record?
MS. MESIANO: John Hurtado, Jr.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: You're not done yet.
CHAIRWOMAN: I was just trying to figure out a way to minimize...
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: I can figure it out for you very easily. Move the pool closer
to the house. Move it just a little bit closer to the center of the house, and extend the
walkway as a balcony over the top of the pool.
MR. HURTADO: Just
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Okay, move the pool a little closer to the center of the
house, giving us a greater side yard. Some of the pool is still going to be in the side yard.
Move the house, the pool, a little closer to the house, going in depth, giving us a greater
setback from the bluff, okay? And taking that stairway and making it a balcony over the
top of a portion of the pool.
MR. HURTADO: So you want part of the pool underneath the deck?
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: No, it's just under the stairwell.
MR. HURTADO: I'm just not sure practically how I'm going to put stairway over a
Page 41 of 125
42
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
pool.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: It's a balcony. It's no big deal.
MS. MESIANO: I'd like to add one point if I may before we get too far into this. This
board granted relief to the neighbor to the east a couple of years ago. And a 70' setback
was granted to the neighbor for a much more substantial structure than what we are
proposing. We are not proposing the copious amounts of fill that were used on the
neighboring property. And much of what's driving the need and the design of this layout
is the imposing nature of the neighboring property. Because it is up so high it would be
very uncomfortable to be farther to the east and have that high slope overhanging this
area. So that, the conditions that exist on the easterly property is a lot of what has driven
us to the point where we are now with this situation. We are not asking for any more. As
a matter of fact we are asking for less than what was granted to the neighbor to the west.
As far as distance is concerned, and in magnitude, I think our's is a much less substantial
request than was granted on the property to the west. That pool is totally within the
sideyard and there is a very high stone wall that goes around the property. There's
retaining walls there. We are not proposing to elevate the pool.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: The purpose of that; Ms. Mesiano, was the fact that in _
dealing with the elevation of that house,upon construction, they found out they had a
major problem. And that was the main reason for the granting of that variance. Although
the most, the majority of that variance, to my understanding,because I did view that
when I went out to look at this property, was the sole purpose of creating an entire area, a
flat area. So as to preserve the existing foundation around the house. The majority of
that pool is in the side yard area. There's no question about it.
MS. MESIANO: Yes. The whole thing is in the side yard.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: That was the purpose of it, to create that, I mean I consider
it a reverse mote basically.
MS. MESIANO: Ground around water. My point is that the board granted a 70' setback.
We're asking for 75.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: The actual setback is different. To the house, is much
greater than that.
MS. MESIANO: No. The setback to our house is 105'. The setback to their house is
substantially less than that.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Do you know what it is?
MS. MESIANO: It was granted at 80'. There were three variances granted on that. You
Page 42 of 125
43
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
initially granted a variance for an 80' setback to the house. And then as an "as-built"
condition you granted a 70' setback to the retaining wall patio and sideyard pool.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Yes, except they are a little close to the point.
MS. MESIANO: We didn't as build it and then come for relief. And another thing I'd
like to point out. This was not handled prior to the commencement of all the
construction. Because, as you are well aware, there was a building code change that went
into effect at the end of the year and the design of this house was such that it was
substantial. It would have been substantial if the developer had to go back and redesign
the house, and implement all of the new code issues. Particularly pertaining to windows
and so on. So it was important to get the building permit for the house. Because they
were ready to start building at that time, and then deal with this. You can see that the
application was submitted the end of January. So this is not something that, you know,
just came up suddenly.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Last question.
CHAIRWOMAN: We have got to move.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: I understand that. Last question, gunite, or liner pool?
MS. MESIANO: We don't have a specific plan for the pool because it's Mr. Hurtado's
intention to market the house to one having the ability to construct a pool if one wishes.
And it did not make sense to come in for a deck or a pool. We came in for everything so
the board would not have to revisit this issue again in the future.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: The pool really could be a lap pool too.
MS. MESIANO: It could be a lap pool. It could be 6'x40'.
MEMBER ORLANDO: Since this is a spec house, I personally don't have a problem
doing a deck,but why don't we just hold off on the pool. We don't know, the buyer may
want a pool, may be allergic to chlorine, you know, it's a sensitive area. You know, we
can not even address it...
MS. MESIANO: Except that it's more marketable because most buyers, in this market,
as you well know, are going to come in and want to know that they can have a pool in
their backyard. And then you get into a contract subject to, and then coming back before
the board in an extended delay because it takes, you know, 4-6 months to...
MEMBER ORLANDO: But this house won't be done by the summer anyway, so it's a
mute point for this summer anyway. So if they sold it by September, they could apply for
a variance for a pool later on. And they have the biggest pool in the yard, in the sound
Page 43 of 125
44
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting]Public Hearing
right behind them. If it was custom built, and the person loved pools or something, we
don't know who's buying the house. I mean there's allergies out there. They could be
allergic to salt and chlorine. I'd be in favor of the deck, maybe holding off on the pool
until there was a buyer.
MEMBER HORNING: That's what the case is all about though.
MEMBER OLIVA: I can't go with the pool. The house itself is 12K sq. ft. It's very
heavy. Those bluffs out there, because I live in Orient, are very unstable. And I just
can't put some, another weight on another piece of property. This house is so heavy and
so enormous. And knowing the way the bluffs are, even speaking to somebody out there
when they were doing the stairs, they have this very silty, clayish substance in the bluffs,
and you have the right wave action, and the right wind, you are losing half of your bluff.
I just can't go for it with another weight on it. I simply can't. It's against everything.
MR. HURTADO: The house is just under 7K sq. ft., it's not 12K sq. ft.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Can we have your name please?
JOHN HURTADO: John Hurtado.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: What was the other gentleman's name?
TATHAIS MOE: I'm Tathais Moe, and I'm here to speak for this application. I just
happen to be helping out, volunteering.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: You spoke earlier, we need your name, it's
important. Thank you very much, Mr. Hurtado.
MR. HURTADO: Also the bluff that's behind this house,while we did get a permit to
put stairs down, they are about halfway completed right now. It's an extremely heavily
vegetated bluff, and we just cleared a total of 4' for the stairs, and 2' on either side,just to
accommodate the construction of the stairs. But the balance of my bluff in back of my lot
is extremely heavily vegetated. Matter of fact, you really can't even see silt or dirt or
anything. It's all covered with vines and dead leaves, or whatever. From a laymans point
of view, which is what I consider myself, as far as this particular thing would go,
detennining the condition of a bluff, it's in very strong'shape. There's no erosion that's
visible, there's no ravines that have been created by anything I've done or nature. So I
think it's, from the bluffs I've seen around this area, I think it's extremely stable.
MEMBER HORNING: Wait a minute. I was there this morning. Not only was it
exceptionally muddy,but the swath you had cut down on the bluff was extremely eroded.
MR. HURTADO: We cleared right to the ground.
Page 44 of 125
45
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MEMBER HORNING: You made a statement, nothing you did caused erosion. I take
exception to that, clearing that swath for that stairway down even though it was 4 or 6'
swath, very noticeable erosion with these last rains. Maybe unforeseen, but...
MR. HURTADO: Well certainly, but, again, we do have hay bails there, and we will,
once we are done with the stairs, we've been concentrating on putting the siding on the
house. I have the same crew doing the siding that are building the stairs down to the
beach. I've been concentrating on the siding so I can get a framing inspection so I can
start moving on the inside of the house a little bit quicker,but they are going on that stairs
in the next few days and fix it up. But certainly whatever needs to be remedied there as
far as,before they had mentioned some grass being planted.
MEMBER HORNING: Well it is a reminder of what happens when you defoliate a steep
bluff like that. And if it does rain, there will be erosion as there is.
MR. HURTADO: Understandable, and again, I know a couple of residents had some
concerns with the mud and things running down into the cul-de-sac from the lot. And as
Cathy had stated, I've had a lophead in there a few times scraping the mud off the cul-de-
sac. You know, and what we plan to do over the next week and half, two weeks, is get
the gravel down in the driveway, and get this a little bit more presentable so when the
trucks go in and out, they are driving on gravel and the water doesn't have a chance to
take the dirt that's on top of the surface and bring it into the cul-de-sac. But Vincent was
mentioning before about not giving a permit for the pool. And I just feel that, for the
price range this house is in, for what the land costs out there, it's something that's
extremely desirable having sold a bunch of homes out there in this area over the past
couple of years.
CHAIRWOMAN: It's desirable, then as you said, it's a very, very, expensive home.
You're spending a lot of money on the home, there are a lot of very fine architects out
there that can design a pool, and a deck in that space area. If you're not willing to do it...
MR. HURTADO: I'm certainly willing to do whatever the board's requiring.
CHAIRWOMAN: Then the board will certainly act on that.
MR. HURTADO: The only thing I want to get across is the deck is elevated off the
ground. And, again, I'm not sure, practically, how you design a deck that's elevated 7 or
8' off the ground.
CHAIRWOMAN: You either re-design the deck, redesign the pool, or redesign both.
But for the type of money that you're putting into this house, please don't try to say to us
that you can't design something that's going to work. Because there are creative
architects all over the country that could do this. So the elevation question is really
Page 45 of 125
46
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals -
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
irrelevant at this point. Is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak for or
against the applicant?
THESAIS MONE: Yes. My name is Thesais Mone, and I live in the property
immediately to the west. I built my house in 1984. And I had, for almost 20 years,
nobody out there in the wonderful cul-de-sac. Bob Hungerford was there. We never saw
him. We've got progress, we have houses.
MEMBER OLIVA: It's a swimming hole. A swimming and fishing hole.
MR MONE: Yes,we do. And I'm happy to share the fishing with everyone as I did for
years with everyone using that spot. My concern is if Mr. Hurtado were the homeowner,
and were here, I'd be here supporting him. He has been tremendously accommodating
and very professional with dealing with the mud. It's a problem, we can live with that.
There's rain, there's mud, his men are very accommodating, they are not noisy, my
problem is this pool is going to be built sometime in the future. And I may have a
disagreeable neighbor. Then I don't have any protection in terms of privacy and noise.
Noise and privacy are things that I moved out of Nassau County to get away from. And,
it's for that reason that I do object,but I would withdraw my objection if the pool were
conditioned, if the grant for the variance for the pool were conditioned on requiring that
the, whoever puts the pool in, when they put it in, not install any outdoor sound systems,
or noise systems. You can't stop someone from bringing a radio out,but this may be new
to people out here. It's just what I had in Nassau. Someone put a pool in the backyard, 2
big giant speakers. Every night I'd have to call up,please turn the speakers down.
Nassau county, where I lived, had a noise ordinance. We don't have a noise ordinance in
Southold. I don't know whether you've ever had a request like this before, but it seems
to me, I know you've had requests for noise ordinances, but Mr. Hurtado is here asking
for permission for his eventual buyer to put a pool in. My hope and prayer is his eventual
buyer is as accommodating as Mr. Hurtado is. I won't have a problem. If I get some
disagreeable person, I would at least like to have the board have said"if you are going to
grant him permission to put a pool in,he's got to not to put any noise in there.
My other request is that we maintain the tree line as it currently exists on the east side,
the west side of the property, north of the house. If you look on the map, you'll see that
we're, it's called a property fence, which runs right along the edge of the house. If the
tree line north of that continues, I will have some privacy. John has already said he's
going to have to remove some of the trees on the south side in order to pen-nit cars to
swing into the driveway. We've agreed to share the cost of putting up some kind of
protective barrier, some new plantings, we've agreed with that. When the new owner
comes in, I don't have any negotiating power with him, or anything else. If the board
were in a position to grant permission to put a pool in to someone I don't know and
haven't met, I would ask that the board condition the pool on maintenance of the tree line
as it exists, and maintaining adequate screening between the properties. I have no
objection to the deck. I understand the need, the size and whatever it is, is none of my
concern. It is your concern. I understand the need to have the deck in order to maintain
Page 46 of 125
47
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
the view. I understand the need to have the swimming pool. Even though Mr. Orlando,
what you said, I was a competitive swimmer for 4 years. I have a pool. The reason I
have a pool is because very often that water out there is full of jellyfish. You can't swim.
I'm sympathetic to that. But, you know, my privacy and tranquility is something that I
would like to try and preserve. And ask the board to help preserve for me. Thank you.
CHAIRWOMAN: Is there anyone else in the audience who would like to speak for or
against the applicant?
MR. MONE: I spoke to Mr. Hurtado about my request. And it is fair to say that he had
no objection if the pool permit were granted to have those restrictions on it.
CHAIRWOMAN: The screening, and noise.
MR. MONE: It's outdoor sound systems, or speaker systems.
MEMBER HORNING: How about enclosing the mechanical aspects of the filtering
system, pumps, stuff like that?
MR. MONE: I would hope that someone who moves into a$3M house would do that.
MEMBER HORNING: Soundproof that, I mean...
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: It should go under the deck area, and should be soundproof.
MR. MONE: I don't have a feel for that, Mr. Goehringer, it's just...
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: To answer your question before, sir, we've had sound
engineers in reference to distance of sound and how they travel. And I'm not speaking
for the board.
MR. MONE: I've never been to one of these hearings, and I have a concern about the
ground runoff because of the way the property slopes. It slopes not only down to
Grandview Drive, it slopes down to my property. I've gone through a lot of effort to
maintain a barrier on the northeast. My house is down in hollow. So northeasterly winds
go over the top of my house. Wood, I'm afraid will come down. John assures me that he
won't get a CO unless that's all graded. So I don't have that problem.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: You have to rely on the building inspector before the CO is
granted to make sure that is the situation.
CHAIRWOMAN: We're going to wrap this up now. Is there anything further?
MS. MESIANO: Yes. I would just like to say that our request is not anything, we're not
Page 47 of 125
48
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
requesting anything that the neighboring properties don't already enjoy. We're not
requesting a variance as substantial as was granted on the neighboring property. These
setbacks, we're in line with the setbacks of the neighboring properties. This, and I just
have to stress that this in conformity with the neighborhood. The houses on each side
have swimming pools. I don't think this is an excessive request, or an unreasonable
request. And I'd also like to add that if it would give the board and Mr. Mone any sense
of confidence with respect to the drainage situation, I'm sure Mr. Hurtado wouldn't have
a problem in providing a grating and drainage plan with the proper calculations to
demonstrate that, that will not be a problem. But,but I would really like to stress that the
granting of a variance for the pool is not inappropriate at this time because we can
address the major concern of Mr. Mone's concerns and problems. And we can try to
divert any future problem with respect to that. Because we can handle those issues now
before anything is constructed and designed, rather than later after it's a problem. You
can be proactive rather than reactive.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Cathy, would you know the status of the green
cards?
MS. MESIANO: Yes, yes.
MR. MONE: I own the property immediately to the west, and the property across the
street. And I have concerns.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Thank you.
MS. MESIANO: Although Mr. Lavine did not pick up his notice; he had called me and
asked if I would fax him the notice, which I did do. Because he told me he wasn't going
to the Post Office to pick that certified mail up. So I know he's been served, informally,
even though he choose not to pick up the certified mail.
CHAIRWOMAN: I'm going to make a motion to close the hearing and reserve decision
until later.
PLEASE SEE MINUTES FOR RESOLUTION
12:05 a.m. BLUEPOINTS CO., INC. #5335. Request for: (a) an Interpretation
under Section 100-242A regarding the nonconforming location of an accessory
garage building with like-kind rehabilitation; and (b) if necessary, 100-71C.1 a
Variance under Section 100-71C.1, based on the Building Department's January 21,
2003 Notice of Disapproval, amended March 10, 2003. Applicant proposes a
demolition and reconstruction of an accessory garage "as built" at less than five feet
from the rear lot line, at 1240 Love Lane, Mattituck; CTM 1000-140-1-23.1.
Page 48 of 125
49
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
CHAIRWOMAN: Is someone here who would like to speak on behalf of the applicant?
LEE SNEAD, ESQ: Good afternoon. My name is Lee Snead. I'm an attorney from
Bellport,NY. I represent the Bluepoints Co. in this application. At this time, I'd like to
.present an affidavit of posting, the green cards on the mailing, and a couple of copies of
pictures taken of the posting taken yesterday by myself.
CHAIRWOMAN: Okay. Thank you very much.
MR. SNEAD: As a housekeeping matter, I would note that, somewhat embarrassingly,
there were two minor mistypings in my presentation. On page 4 of the addendum
narrative to the application,paragraph 14, the third line from the bottom, it is typed as the
garage did constitute, and there should be a not.
CHAIRWOMAN: Yes. I figured that one out.
MR. SNEAD: And even more embarrassingly, in the following page, paragraph 18, I
quoted the village law, which obviously doesn't apply here. And it's rather the town law
section.
CHAIRWOMAN: Village law and town law are the same. They are identical.
MR. SNEAD: I'm here in regard to a garage, which is pre-existing non-conforming. It
has a CO, which has been provided to you. The garage, as it originally existed, was made
of a concrete foundation slab with 3' concrete block knee wall and then wooden framing.
The applicant, in late 2000, and completing it in 2003, replaced the existing wood
structure with cinderblock, put a new roof on it and rehung garage doors. The garage in
question has not been changed in either length or width dimension, nor in height. So we
are here as a request to this board for an interpretation that 242A of your zoning code
applies, and that the reconstruction of this garage was authorized. In addition, in the
event that interpretation should be in the negative, we also ask here for a use variance,
excuse me, an area variance under the standards.
CHAIRWOMAN: Let's go to the interpretation issue. The interpretation issue, you're
requesting a, as you just said, that section 100-242A applies, which is an increase in the
degree of non-confonnity. However, you will note the Notice of Disapproval (NOD)
does not site that provision in the code. That you have not been cited with the provision
under 100-31C 1-7, which is, goes directly to the issue of an accessory use and the
specific setback for the use for both schedules. Yes we can go down the route of the
interpretation, which would be a very lengthy route, but I'm kind of giving you a straight
out, time saving...
MR. SNEAD: I would prefer to take the variance if I could get it.
Page 49 of 125
i
50
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
CHAIRWOMAN: I would say, without pre judging anything, it might be more
beneficial to you, and you client, to take the shorter route. Because the 242, in my
opinion, and this is solely my opinion, after reviewing the code, is not applicable in
reviewing this particular case. So let's go to the variance issue, which is...
MR. SNEAD: Fine, your honor, Madam Chairwoman. I have here with me a copy of
some pictures of the site, and some surrounding properties to show that basically this
structure, and I'm going to step up to the mike. Here is the structure as it's presently
existing. It's a 2-car garage basically, but what's stored in there are tractors and some
personal items
CHAIRWOMAN: I'm going to just pass it down and let everybody take a look.
MR. SNEAD: Just a general description of what you are looking at with also a direction
on there so you can kind of get an idea of the site plan that you are looking at. Here the
white building is in fact the garage in question. You can see that there is a, it's a concrete
structure, it's decent looking.
CHAIRWOMAN: We thought...
MR. STEAD: I will show you. There are a couple of neighborhood shots, this one is the
shot of the person behind showing that frame sheds, or sheds, common that they are...
MEMBER ORLANDO: Is that the old one? Oh, that's the new one.
CHAIRWOMAN: This is just a concrete...
MR. STEAD: The white one is ours...
CHAIRWOMAN: It's right down at the base of, next to the park it's a property.
MEMBER ORLANDO: But there was an old one, there was a wooden one.
MR. SNEAD: It was wooden from 3' up. It was concrete and concrete block foundation
with So what has been produced here is exactly was there before. It's just a
much more sturdy structure. Also when it's been painted, it will probably look more
decent than the other one.
MEMBER HORNING: How did it get to be"as-built"?
MR. SNEAD: It is my understanding that, in the past, reconstructions of this type...
CHAIRWOMAN: Do you want to leave these?
Page 50 of 125
51
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MR. SNEAD: I have a copy, I'm leaving those with the board. What those are designed
to show is other sheds and garages in the immediate neighborhood are hard up in the lines
and within the setbacks. So this particular garage is consistent with other structures in the
neighborhood. As I said before, it was pre-existing, so there is no change in the
neighborhood, there's no detriment to the neighborhood, and in fact, having redone it, it
is a better looking garage than existed there before, and would be maintained in an easier
fashion, so we think that's a benefit to the community.
MEMBER ORLANDO: What initiated the NOD? You went for the CO, you were...
MR. SNEAD: He found out that he needed to have a building permit after the fact. I was
getting to that when I was standing up there. It turns out that a few years back, there was
a change in the code, which said you now have to have a building permit to do a
rehabilitation of a structure. He then went back to the building department after the fact.
And then there was a denial. The initial denial cited an incorrect zoning classification. I
brought that to the attention of the BD, they modified the denial, and that's why the
denial is dated in March.
CHAIRWOMAN: The other thing is the old CO on this, which is the '85 CO, for the
entire property was when it was AR zoned. And in 1989, the property was re-zoned MII.
So even if you wanted to update your CO...
MR. SNEAD: You'd probably have to come back here, at any rate.
CHAIRWOMAN: So you can probably clean up everything in one shot. I have no
problems with this application for a variance. Is there anyone in the audience who would
like to speak for or against the applicant?
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: One of the letters came back. Do you know
which parcel it's for?
MR. SNEAD: It's the Herbert-Swanson Trust. And I believe it's for the parcel, I'm not
certain.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: There may be a tax bill address that's available as
an alternative. We can help you with that if you want to give us a call tomorrow. Call
the tax office, and see if they have an address. Because they do have to pay taxes. And
it's usually a different address on the assessment. If you could just send notice to them to
see if they have any objection, or anything. Just send theirs a letter, you know?
MR. SNEAD: Am I hearing that this matter is going to be held open?
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: No,just pending. It's going to be awhile before a
decision is made. So in that 2-week period, you should have an answer, or something,
Page 51 of 125
52
June 19,2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
anything. This way we could say you attempted it a second time.
MR. SNEAD: Just so you know, that address was taken out of the county roll, so, it's the
only address they had. But I will check with the assessor here, and see if I can obtain
that.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: If we knew earlier, we would have asked you to
do that anyway.
CHAIRWOMAN: I'll make a motion closing the hearing reserving decision until later.
MR. SNEAD: It's been a pleasure to appear before you. I just wanted to say I practice
out in Islip and Brookhaven, and if anybody's ever practiced out there, or talked with
anybody who's practiced out there, you guys have a phenomenal system here. Your BD
and ZBA folks have been very, very, helpful. It's been really appreciated.
CHAIRWOMAN: Would you like to come to lunch with us? By the way, the
Supervisor's office is...
MR. SNEAD: I realize in saying that to you it might look one way, but it is so nice to
have somebody who wants to help people get through.
MEMBER ORLANDO: We accept letters.
MR. SNEAD: You'll get one.
CHAIRWOMAN: Thank you, Mr. Snead.
PLEASE SEE MINUTES FOR RESOLUTION
12:15 a.m. JOHN AND PATRICIA CLARK#5336. Request for a Variance under
Section 100-244B, based on the Building Department's January 9, 2003 Notice of
Disapproval, amended January 21, 2003. Applicants propose additions and
alterations to the dwelling which results in a lot coverage exceeding the code
limitation of 20% for all building area, at 800 Albo Drive, Mattituck; CTM #1000-
126-3-9.
CHAIRWOMAN: Is someone here who would like to speak on behalf of the applicant?
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Mr. Clark, before you speak, can I just make a general
statement to the board? As you know, in the past, I have recused myself. Again, we have
a situation where Mr. Clark's wife is a very distant relative of my wife. And, at this
particular point, I think it's gotten a little ridiculous in reference to my recusal. So I'm
Page 52 of 125
53
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
going to sit on this unless anybody has any objection. Thank you.
JOHN CLARK: Good afternoon. Actually I think I'm going to make your day. I have a
very simple, what I think is a very simple request. I'm proposing to extend all of
onto a side deck to my single family home.
CHAIRWOMAN: It's hard to hear you.
MR. CLARK: I'm asking to extend a side deck by 6'.
CHAIRWOMAN: The side deck meaning the front?
MR. CLARK: No. This is the side of the house. There's 2, I'm requesting 2 different
building structures. One is a side deck, off the side of the house. There's an existing
deck there already. I'm only asking to extend that by 6' in length. It's not going any
further. The width is not going out. It's just going to the end of the house if you see the
survey, it will just bring it to the end of the house. I probably should have done it
originally, but at the time it just didn't seem that way. Part of the reason to extend that is
because family has increased in size. The deck is small to accommodate people now.
There's a pool off the deck. And for entertaining purposes, it actually creates a problem
where people are almost forced to straddle the stairway. So by increasing the deck I
think I'll also gain some safety feature, and aesthetic value to the side of the house. And
minimum intrusion to any neighbors, no one has complained. No one has an objection to
it. The front is a, I'm putting on a porch on the front, basically a deck also. The front of
the house has an overhang. I think there are pictures. I don't have them, but I believe
they were filed with the folder. And if you notice, the pictures show there's an extensive
overhang on the front of my house.
MEMBER ORLANDO: Which will not change, that stays?
MR. CLARK: That stays exactly as it is. All I'm doing is putting this porch underneath
that overhang. The majority of the porch will not even exceed past the overhang.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: There's always the possibility you could furnish us with a
copy of, you could take a Polaroid picture.
MR. CLARK: I was at the appeals office, and they had the folder with the pictures in it.
CHAIRWOMAN: You gave the pictures to who?
MR. CLARK: Yesterday at the office.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Yesterday?
Page 53 of 125
54
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MR. CLARK: No. The pictures were submitted when I submitted all this, all of this.
And yesterday when I saw the file at the building, the zoning office, the pictures were in
the file.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Did they put them in the back of the file? Oh
there, right on top.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Could we see that picture?
CHAIRWOMAN: None of us were copied on it. The photos.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: They were with the original submission. And we
probably didn't have 7 sets. Do you remember if you gave us 7 sets?
MR. CLARK: I probably didn't do 7 sets.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: That happens sometimes,but they are always in
the official file.
MR. CLARK: When you see that photo, you'll see that the proposed porch is going to be
under. Probably 60-70% of the house is not even changing. It falls underneath the
existing overhang.
MEMBER ORLANDO: Just extending the roofline to cover the full porch. Some of
your front porch will be open to the sky.
MR. CLARK: Just on the south side.
CHAIRWOMAN: So this will not be a porch?
MR. CLARK: See where the bushes are?
CHAIRWOMAN: Yes.
MR. CLARK: The bushes are coming out. There will be a porch.
CHAIRWOMAN: There will beeno roof, open to the sky? This is going to stay the
same?
MR. CLARK: Nothing on the roof changes at all.
MEMBER HORNING: So the only porch area will be underneath the existing overhang.
The rest is deck?
Page 54 of 125
55
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MEMBER ORLANDO: Which is a patio now?
CHAIRWOMAN: You are replacing this? This part is being replaced? Here's Albo
Drive. Here's the front of the house.
MR. CLARK: I'm just going to come right across here, going to do a little zigzag right
here, and come back. So all of this is under the overhang right here.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: So the roofline stays, but no additional roofline.
MR. CLARK: Then on the other side, here, we're just coming, this will be one or two
feet will be exposed.
MEMBER ORLANDO: You're building a deck, no roof?
MR. CLARK: Correct.
CHAIRWOMAN: Because, in your original application, you said you were going to be
replacing the front porch.
MEMBER ORLANDO: He meant, which is existing now, which is...
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: He's really filling it in.
MEMBER ORLANDO: It's brick now. And the brick column will stay there as well?
CHAIRWOMAN: I guess the concern I have is right now, you're at 22% lot coverage?
MR. CLARK: 23.
CHAIRWOMAN: And you want to be 23.8. And when it comes to the lot coverage,
20% is usually a lot. When you have 20% on a lot, it's a lot of lot coverage. Yes, I know
you want to do this for aesthetic reasons,but...
MR. CLARK: Also what you can't see here is the stoop that goes to the front door. It's a
narrow stoop, when you open the door, young children And I eliminated that
problem.
CHAIRWOMAN: I guess what I'm saying is the board really does not like to grant lot
coverage in excess of 20%. Because it really is a lot of building on a lot. And the town
is very lenient on maximum lot coverage as it is. But in this case, you are already over
the maximum lot coverage of 22%, and you're coming back for more. So it's...
MR. CLARK: I don't have an attorney with me. And it didn't want to go out and hire an
Page 55 of 125
56
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
attorney because I've already incurred expenses that are necessary to do this anyhow. It
is my understanding that there are plenty of houses with more than 20% lot coverage,
which is the purpose of the committee. And I know...
CHAIRWOMAN: I don't think so. I don't know where, who told you that. But...
MR. CLARK: Told me what?
CHAIRWOMAN: That there were a lot of houses that had more than 20% lot coverage.
MR. CLARK: I don't know statistics,but I know people come before the board because
they like to.increase. Obviously, they are here because they have to increase over 20%.
If I'm at 22, and I'm asking for an additional 1%, the reason I'm asking for is, as I started
to say, was the entrance to my house, which is the stoop, is very restricted. So when I
open the door, people are forced to walk backwards. I mean, I know what's going to
happen, people have stumbled. I don't want to have a problem. By putting this porch on,
I eliminate that problem.
MEMBER ORLANDO: Mr. Clark, would you settle just for the variance for the front
porch, the 8.4x21'? At least that will settle your liability concerns for the front door?
MR. CLARK: What I'm asking for on the side porch is 6'. And that, again, creates a
problem because my house, my family has expanded. I have now, actually, my son got
married...
MEMBER ORLANDO: I understand. But the Chairwoman is not looking in favor of
that. So I'm trying to help you here, and see if you'll settle for that. Otherwise...
MR. CLARK: It sounds like, again, I'd have to address the side porch. The fact that I'm
still going to have a problem with safety there, expanding family and not enough room to
entertain people. I'm still going to be forcing people to straddle a step, and stand half on
a flat deck, or patio, a foot up on the deck to accommodate people. Things change, you
know, my needs have changed. And I just didn't realize that this could create as much,
maybe I'm just not presenting it correctly, maybe I'm confusing people. But 1% increase
from 22% to 23%, I just didn't think I was looking for a lot of problems. I don't mean to
cause problems.
MEMBER ORLANDO: But you also have a large patio around the deck. You can
entertain on there instead of...
MR. CLARK: Except I don't have a barbeque, the barbeque grill is obviously on the
deck. And when I'm feeding people, I'm feeding them on the deck. They are not
walking from the deck all the way down to the patio. It also, the way the deck is now, it
stops before, if you notice the section of the house, it stops before there. So aesthetic
Page 56 of 125
57
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
value is going to increase. Not only my own personal aesthetic value,but the aesthetic
value of the neighborhood. And the neighbors on the one side of me especially who look
at this. It's almost like, why did you stop where you stopped? Why didn't you just finish
the continuity of it?
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Can I say something?
MR. CLARK: Yes.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Possibly, Mr. Clark, what you might consider doing is
including that deck underneath that porch area that you are referring to. And then taking
that portion, which you're asking for deck on the front of the house, and maybe reducing
that to a brick patio. Which would be on the ground, which would exclude this. Thereby
keeping in the variance application, would be the porch, or filling in underneath the
porch. And that 6.6', which you are referring to on the side. The point I think I'm trying
to raise here is that we need 3 votes. So you need 3 people to agree. And that's basically
how the situation is.
MEMBER ORLANDO: And how that works, Mr. Goehringer, is you make that a patio.
It reduces his lot coverage, correct?
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Yes. That's what I'm saying.
MR. CLARK: But, now you're saying make the patio under the large living room
window?
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Right, make that a brick patio. Or some sort of flagstone or
something that's relatively even with the ground. Ground level.
MEMBER ORLANDO: Continuous to the rest of the patio.
CHAIRWOMAN: This is for the front porch?
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Yes. The front porch that's not filled in underneath the, it's
for the front deck.
MR. CLARK: The problem is, and I mean, I appreciate your suggestion...
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: You could do it in wood too, you could do it in CCA.
MR. CLARK: I don't think that's going to, I'm the one that has to live there. And I
appreciate anybody's help, but we spent a lot of time. We actually started this thing 2
years ago. And come to find out the different things I had to keep doing. It kind of got
sidelined. We finally got things together and started the movement. And I really have to
Page 57 of 125
58
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
tell you, I'm not looking to turn the town upside down. It's a 1%increase. It's
aesthetically going to enhance the neighborhood and the house. It's going to develop a
better entrance and exit on the front of the house. It's going to be a safety feature that is
going to be beneficial, not only to me,but to guests and to family members.
Grandchildren, grandparents, I just, I kind of like feel that I would like to play the hand
that I've given here. I'm not looking for confrontation. But I don't see by reducing the
6' on the side of the house is going to help anything. It's going to take away from the
house. And changing the front, this is something that's going to make the house look
nicer. It's not going to encroach on anyone at all, neighbor wise. It's going to increase
values. It's got a safety feature as the bottom line to,it. I just would ask the board to...
MEMBER ORLANDO: The last variance you got, I had a copy, but I can't find it. It
was for the sunroom in the back. And that was obviously for lot coverage as well.
MR. CLARK: I really don't remember. I never came to a hearing. I can tell you that. I
think that it might have been that it was too close to the back property line. If that sounds
right.
CHAIRWOMAN: Okay. Why don't we take all of your thoughts and concerns into
consideration here. Is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak for or
against the applicant?
MR. CLARK: I can only tell you it's hearsay,borrowing an old phrase, but my neighbor
across the street was impressed with the idea that we were having the porch as opposed to
what it is now. That was her comments.
CHAIRWOMAN: Thank you very much, Mr. Clark.
MR. CLARK: Thank you for your time.
CHAIRWOMAN: I'll make a motion to close the hearing and reserve the decision until
later.
PLEASE SEE MINUTES FOR RESOLUTION
12:30 a.m. DONNA AND LEONARD SCHLEGEL #5327. Request for a Variance
under Section 100-231, based on the Building Department's January 27, 2003 Notice
of Disapproval. Applicant proposes to construct a fence exceeding the code
limitation of four feet when located in the front yard. Location of Property: 1480
Westphalia Road, Mattituck; CTM#1000-114-7-13.1.
CHAIRWOMAN: Is someone here who would like to speak on behalf of the applicant?
DONNA SCHLEGEL: Hi. I'm Donna Schlegel. And I'm applying for a variance for an
Page 58 of 125
59
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
estate gate. And it's highest length, height, is 6' with 2 sets of pillars. The pillars will be
6 '1/z' of natural stone, and 2 that are 4 %2'. It will be setback off the road 30'. And 21' off
the property line.
MEMBER.ORLANDO: So the fence is the size is
MS. SCHLEGEL: The fence right, I'm going to put a fence across the whole front, a
picket fence 4'. That's conforming.
MEMBER ORLANDO: And 4' going to the internal pillar? The will be 6'?
MS. SCHLEGEL: You got it.
MEMBER ORLANDO: And the pillars will be 6.5?
MS. SCHLEGEL: Yes.
MEMBER ORLANDO: My big million-dollar question is, the nice shrubbery in the
front, flowers, that's outside the fence?
MS. SCHLEGEL: Yes. It's going to go back on an angle.
CHAIRWOMAN: My big question was on the 2 pillars that are on the road. That
maximum height on that is 4.5'? This is so easy. I think we've all got it.
MS. SCHLEGEL: It should look very nice.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Can I just ask a question? What is the gate going to be
made of? Is it wrought iron?
MS. SCHLEGEL: I'm having a custom wrought iron fence made, 14' wide.
MEMBER ORLANDO: Matching fence, more wrought iron?
MS. SCHLEGEL: Yes. I'm putting the little Ixl pickets across the front. And then the
4 1/z' pillar, it will go 4 '/z', and then it will step up to the 6 '/z', where the other, larger
pillars.
MEMBER ORLANDO: Made of what?
MS. SCHLEGEL: The larger, plastic fencing. And it will be a wrought iron gate.
CHAIRWOMAN: I saw the design. It looks very nice.
Page 59 of 125
60
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MEMBER ORLANDO: Electric, manual?
MS. SCHLEGEL: I'm going to make it electric. I'm restoring this big old house. It's
coming along.
CHAIRWOMAN: I don't have any questions or problems with this at all. Any
questions, board members? Is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak for
or against the applicant? Seeing no hands, I'll make a motion closing the hearing
reserving the decision until later.
PLEASE SEE MINUTES FOR RESOLUTION
1:06 p.m. VIRGINIA and CHRISTOPHER COYNE #5323. Request for Variances
under Sections 100-31A and 100-33, based on the Building Department's February
11, 2003 Notice of Disapproval, for approval of: (a) living space in a non-habitable
accessory building, with a proposed addition; (b) proposed additions/alterations to a
non-habitable accessory building, and (c) "as built" accessory shed located in an
area other than the code required rear yard. Location of Property: 8310
Soundview Avenue, Southold; CTM#1000-59-7-29.6.
CHAIRWOMAN: Is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak for or
against the applicant?
PATRICIA MOORE, ESQ: Patricia Moore, on behalf of Mr. & Mrs. Coyne. Mrs.
Coyne is actually here. She made it despite caving in sanitary systems, floodings from
the road, and everything else that goes along with ownership out here. The way this
began is, I represented Mrs. Coyne when she brought the property. And Shore, Schur,
Mr. Schur was the seller. We actually started the process for a pre-CO on the cottage.
And Mr. Schur didn't want any hassles with the Building Department (BD), didn't want
to help us, didn't want to cooperate, so it kind of left it up to us to do all the background
search on how this, when this cottage was in place, and when it was created, and the
history of it here. We tried to submit all that to Gary Fish. And Gary said, "no, go to the
zoning board and prove it there". And so that's why we carve to this board. What I
submitted to you already in your packet is that this subdivision was created back in the
70's as oversized subdivision. Let me get you the date.
CHAIRWOMAN: 1976.
MS. MOORE: 1976. Thank you, it's all cut off on my print. In '76, this cottage was
there. And what, when they did the property line, they included this piece, and then they
later on, built the house that's there presently. But the lots are, could be, they could
sustain 2 houses with virtue of zoning. The problem is that the Planning Board (PB)
imposed a no further covenant, a no further subdivision covenant. So we can't solve the
problem by splitting this cottage away from the house. So we are obligated to be here to
Page 60 of 125
61
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
give it a pre-existing, non-conforming status. What we also did is went back to figure out
when this cottage was placed on this property. And this property was originally owned
by the Charnews family. It was part of the big farm Chamews owned, as you know, from
the sound all the way to Soundview and parts of, to Main Road. This piece was one of
the last remaining pieces. And it ultimately got purchased by Bales and subdivided by
Bales. And that's the 70's subdivision that you have. You see from both the, did you get
inside the building when you went to inspect?
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: No.
CHAIRWOMAN: We just peered in the windows.
MS. MOORE: Okay. I took pictures. The house, pretty much, looks the same way it has
for many years. It still has a tiny kitchen in it, a small bathroom and you can see from the
exterior, it's really typical pre-existing, 1950's cottage construction that over time, may
have been spruced up a little bit with a little, you know replace a board here and there.
But not much has been done to it, even when Mr. Schur owned it. Mr. Schur had his son
living in the house. In fact, I think, was it his son we had to wait until he got out? Or
was it somebody else? Like a nephew, or?
Yes.
MS. MOORE: It was a family member that was in the house occupying it. Before we
closed we had to wait until he found alternative living arrangements. So this little
dwelling has been occupied consistently. And it looks to be in pretty good shape. What
we, the situation we have now is that Mrs. Coyne would like to have the pre-CO for the
house to legalize it. And would like to pursuer a small expansion of it because, at the
time, when we first applied, this was a long time ago, we've been at this now for about 6
months, 7 months before we are here today. First she was, her mother was living in the
house. Her mom is now living in Founders. She's got a unit at Founders Village. And
their family situation has changed. The house is on the market for sale because her
husband, his job got transferred, so she's got the 3 kids, 4 kids, all under 6, 8. There are a
lot of little bodies around. And she's somewhat isolated out here with her husband still
working in the city and working partly in the city. So their lifestyle has changed.
CHAIRWOMAN: The house is, because in the original application, the mother was
living in the cottage.
MS. MOORE: Right.
CHAIRWOMAN: The mother is no longer living in the cottage.
MS. MOORE: The mother isn't living in the cottage now. The mother is now living in
Founders Village. She's bought one of the units in Founders Village. One of the condos
Page 61 of 125
62
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
there. It's really more comfortable. She was really cramped in this house, and couldn't
wait much longer.
MEMBER ORLANDO: Now the current owners are selling this property.
MS. MOORE: The current owners have it under contract, don't have it under contract,
have it on the market. They have somebody who's interested in buying it.
CHAIRWOMAN: This is Mrs. Coyne here?
MS. MOORE: Yes.
CHAIRWOMAN: So Mrs. Coyne now is selling the house?
MS. MOORE: Well we want a pre-CO because regardless, we need to have the pre-CO
of the cottage. It deserves to have a pre-CO and the BD should have granted it, but they
want you to do that. So we want to make sure it has a pre-CO or a recognition that it's a
pre-existing structure.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: When was the cottage built?
CHAIRWOMAN: They don't know.
MS. MOORE: In the 50's, early 50's. Because what we had from Charnews family, or
from a neighbor there that this use, it started out as a little social club. They used to drink
their potato liquor out of this place and this was a hangout. So it's been there. Pardon
me?
MEMBER ORLANDO: Its' hearsay.
MS. MOORE: It's hearsay. We know it's there. We know from it's construction that
it's been there for a very long time. And from surveys that appear on record from the PB
when the subdivision application was made. The same little dwelling the cottage shows,
and the fence is showing there as well. And the fence is still there. So the structure has
remained, when it left being a drinking hangout, it then got occupied as a dwelling. But it
was all consistent with the zoning because you're permitted to have a residence on
residential property. Then when the 2"d house was built on this property, the BD in the
70's used to look at the acreage of the property. And they didn't have a problem with
cottages if you had an oversized piece. If you had a parcel that was more than 2 acres in
size or an acre, depending on the zoning, one dwelling per acreage that was required. At
the time I think it was one acre zoning here, in the 70's. It is now, subsequently, 2-acre
zoning. But this piece of property is over 4. It's just shy of 4, it's 3.9 acres. So it's
legally a created use. But now it's non-conforming in that our code says no 2 dwellings
on one property regardless of the acreage that you have.
Page 62 of 125
63
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
CHAIRWOMAN: I had seen a CO that was issued for this.
MS. MOORE: For the cottage?
CHAIRWOMAN: For the property.
MS. MOORE: Yes. There's a CO for the house. Remember, there's a main house. Did
you get over to see the property? Mrs. Tortora?
CHAIRWOMAN: Yes.
MS. MOORE: The big house that's towards the back of the property was built in the
`80's, 70's, 76, okay. Shortly after the subdivision was created, Mr. Schur purchased the
property and built the house. The cottage was already there at the time.
CHAIRWOMAN: Do you happen to have a copy of the CO of the house with you?
MS. MOORE: I'm sure I do, I'll look for it. I'll see if I have it in my paperwork here.
I'll look. I know I have it in my file. So I'll give it to you at the end of the meeting. I
thought I had given it to you guys,but. It's in there somewhere.
CHAIRWOMAN: No. Actually I have it in my packet at home. It does not appear to
be in the master file for some reason.
MS. MOORE: I don't know, I'll look. I know that we closed with a CO for the house.
Anyway, the situation presently is we need the pre-CO to legalize this so that it doesn't
create problems for the next person who buys this property. And the person who's
interested, who's shown some interest in this house has a similar situation to what Mrs.
Coyne had, which is a family member who's going to live in the cottage. And the house
is going to be by someone else. You know, by another family member. What we're
prepared to do is covenant that this cottage be accessory to the house so it will be family
occupancy. It's not to be a rented dwelling. That's been what she's wanted all along.
We want to continue that restriction on the use. We think it preserves the value of the
property as well as the integrity of the neighborhood. So we are certainly willing to
accept that as a condition on an expansion of the cottage.
CHAIRWOMAN: The cottage is what, 432 sq. ft.?
MS. MOORE: Yes, something like that.
CHAIRWOMAN: It's very tiny. It's not even...
MS. MOORE: Well it has a full bath, bedroom, and living, dining area, and kitchen.
Page 63 of 125
64
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
You should have gone inside. Or too bad you didn't go inside.
CHAIRWOMAN: I did peek in the window. It's very cute, and it's very old. And I can
see that you, there is also a plan that you wanted to put on a major addition to the cottage.
The major addition would be to make it almost double the size.
MS. MOORE: No, it wasn't that big. There was a, come on up here so you're on the
record.
MRS. COYNE: What we had planned, I think, was expanding the width of the house, the
24', which is the living area.
CHAIRWOMAN: Your mother no longer lives there. And by no definition would it
even come close to being a dwelling unit, if, as you know, 850 sq. ft. minimum.
MS. MOORE: It's pre-existing.
CHAIRWOMAN: That hasn't been established.
MS. MOORE: That's what I believe. That it's established through the history of this
property.
CHAIRWOMAN: Not as a residence though.
MS. MOORE: Sure, it's shown...
CHAIRWOMAN: When the, according to Mr. Doroski, it used to be used as a social
club and a bar.
MS. MOORE: That was in the 50's.
CHAIRWOMAN: Yes. But there is no evidence that it has been used prior to zoning
for a residence.
MS. MOORE: No, no. It was the dwelling on this property until the `70's.
CHAIRWOMAN: Do you have a CO that says that?
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: There's none submitted to the record.
MS. MOORE: Okay, we'll look for a, just think about the history here. You have a
subdivision that creates the property, the lot, in the `70's. It has the building on that
property at that time. If it was a, it would have been a dwelling at that time because it
was residential use on a 3.9 acre property. When the 2nd house, the primary house, the
Page 64 of 125
65
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
main house was built, that cottage still remained. Because the property, again, if zoning
only required 1 acre per dwelling, it was conforming at that time. It only became non-
conforming when it was put on the same property, and arguably, well, it's non-
conforming when the upzoning occurred to 2 acres because technically, you would have
required 4 acres to have 2 dwellings. So only at that time did it become nonconforming.
Until that time, it was conforming. It's a pre-existing, non-conforming structure. The
structure was built prior to zoning.. But the use became, was illegal. Was actually legal
until the `70's when the 2nd house was constructed. And then it became accessory to the
main residence. And it hasn't changed.
CHAIRWOMAN: Either that, or it became the principal residence. And the new house
became accessory.
MS. MOORE: Unlikely from the way it's designed. It's always been accessory to the
main house.
MEMBER ORLANDO: Couldn't the PB do a set-off?
MS. MOORE: No. I would have loved that. That was our initial solution here. But the
PB put a covenant, no further subdivision on this property. So as a covenant against
further subdivision, you can't come in and ask to subdivide the property. Whether that's
a legal subdivision or not, the lower courts have said it's illegal, the upper courts have not
yet made a final ruling on that. We got over, that issue I presented to the...
MEMBER ORLANDO: Weren't you in Brooklyn Supreme Court at one time?
MS. MOORE: Yes, and what happened is that the appellate division turned over the
PB's denial of our being able to come in to further subdivide based on the fact that it
wasn't a recorded covenant. Here I think it was a recorded covenant as I recall. It was
recorded. So when we acquired, we found in our title report, the condition of no further
subdivision, we knew that, okay, that solution is out because the PB has filed a covenant.
The appellate division didn't sustain the lower courts ruling. They kept that silent. They
did not address the issue. They said no PB, you have to consider this application because
it was not a recorded covenant, a condition that would have put Iano is the case, would
have put Iano on notice. So it's still, the lower courts, we have an Easthampton case and
our case in Southold are both lower court case that say that the PB doesn't have authority
to put that kind of restriction on it, but the appellate division hasn't yet ruled over that
issue. So it leaves it in somewhat of a gray area. So, you know, the Coyne's don't want
another, you know, they don't need to bring another case that brings the point back on to
the appellate division. That's just not, not a reasonable process.
CHAIRWOMAN: There was a note in the property tax cards that 2 buildings were
moved onto the property.
Page 65 of 125
66
June 19,2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MS. MOORE: That, we did not find any evidence of that, that one was definitely
hearsay. It could have been the shed because that shed was put on there, I don't know.
That looks like a relatively new shed. That didn't make sense because all evidence that
we had from the subdivision application, and the Schur survey keep showing that the
dwelling that we are asking for a pre-CO on as always being there. So as far as we can
tell, has never been moved. Whether or not it may have been lifted and the foundation
put under it and put back on, that's possible. I don't know the form of construction, how
it was sitting on the, what kind of foundation it had.
CHAIRWOMAN: The building, I, I understand that the building itself was pre-existing,
non-conforming, and to the use, I really don't think that's been established that it's been a
residential use used continually, etc. There's nothing.
MS. MOORE: But the obligation is for us to show from the time that it was a residence,
it became, you constructed the second residence. That's when it became the second
dwelling. You understand the difference because you are not going back to '57. Even
though you could. It was a legal, it was not a non-conforming use until the 2nd house was
constructed.
CHAIRWOMAN: As I say you could also take the argument that if you're going to take
the argument that it was not a non-conforming use until the 2nd house was constructed,
then you could also argue that this was the principal use, and the second house is the
second use.
MS. MOORE: Either way, we have a CO on the 2nd house. And I'll produce that
because I know we have it. We wouldn't have been able to close with the bank if, you
know, we didn't have a CO for the house.
CHAIRWOMAN: What is the, we don't have that in our file.
MS. MOORE: I know I have the whole file with me, so I'll pull it out and give it to you.
CHAIRWOMAN: Let's see what happens. Mr. Horning.
MS. MOORE: We still have the shed issue. It went on the front yard because that's
where most of the property is. The house is all the way pushed to the back end.
CHAIRWOMAN: Mr. Horning.
MEMBER HORNING: What is the applicant proposing to have inside of the accessory
building, or second house?
MS. MOORE: The same thing we have now. It was just the living room was, the
kitchen, it's kind of a great room, it starts, the little kitchen is on the far end, and it's a
Page 66 of 125
67
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
small little seating area and the sofa/TV. The one L side of the house. Do you have in
your packet the interior layout? It looks like this.
CHAIRWOMAN: Mr. Goehringer.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: So you're looking to seek from us a CO?
MS. MOORE: Right. We need,the CO for the cottage, and then pennission to expand it,
a small amount,just to make the living space a little more conforming. We have like an
efficiency kitchen in there rather than a, there we go, thank you.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: How far is the expansion?
MS. MOORE: I'll get the dimensions for you.
MS. COYNE: We've proposed about, the shed itself is about 24' deep. What we wanted
to do is go like 20' 1 think, or 18'. About half, there's a fenced in area right behind it.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: We're talking the...
MS. COYNE: No, I'm not expanding the shed.
MS. MOORE: What was the distance here, this way? 10', I think it was.
MS. COYNE: No, I think I was looking for 18'.
MS. MOORE: Where the fenced in area is now, and you have a photograph of that,
pushing it out about half way in that fenced in area, where the propane tank is presently
on that side,just pushing it out a little bit.
MEMBER HORNING: How much was that?
MS. MOORE: The request was 18'. The length of the building is 24' from one end to
the other. So pop it out 18. And that's negotiable. I mean...
MS. COYNE: That's just to make the living room bigger.
MEMBER HORNING: And who would live there?
MS. MOORE: It would have to be a family member. The person who's interested in the
house now has a, the parents are going to own the big house. And the adult daughter is
going to be in the small cottage.
MS. COYNE: Almost the same situation we had.
Page 67 of 125
68
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MS. MOORE: Reverse than what they had. They had the husband and wife with the
four kids in the main house and moan in the cottage.
CHAIRWOMAN: Mr. Goehringer, any questions?
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: No, they are going to give us a copy of the CO.
MS. MOORE: The CO is dated November 271h, 1978, private one-family dwelling. And
it was constructed by Robert and Shelia Schur, who are our sellers when we, we bought
from the Schur family.
CHAIRWOMAN: You have nothing, you have nothing, there's nothing mentioned in
the CO about the cottage?
MS. MOORE: Nothing prohibiting, nothing removing it or, we have an as-built deck.
CHAIRWOMAN: There's no mention whatsoever of the cottage?
MS. MOORE: In the original surveys there is.
CHAIRWOMAN: I mean in the CO's.
MS. MOORE: No. The first time that...
MEMBER ORLANDO: The deed.
MS. MOORE: No, it's there.
CHAIRWOMAN: When you purchased the property.
MS. MOORE: No when we purchased the property, we applied to the BD for a CO, a
pre-CO for the cottage. At that time, Gary Fish said "well I'm going to call it an
accessory structure, but I won't give you a pre-CO. You'll have to go to the ZBA." And
that's, we gave him as much infonnation as we had, but he said bring it here instead. So
we had to close with an accessory CO, an accessory structure CO rather than an appeal.
Okay, because we appealed right away.
CHAIRWOMAN: So what you do have is you have a CO...
MS. MOORE: For the main house, the big house.
CHAIRWOMAN: And you have a CO for an accessory structure?
Page 68 of 125
69
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MS. MOORE: A pre-existing CO for an accessory structure.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Do you have the numbers of those?
MS. MOORE: Yeah, sure, I'll give you a copy. The number is 29279.
CHAIRWOMAN: Can I have a copy of that?
MS. MOORE: Yes, I'll give you...
CHAIRWOMAN: No...
MS. MOORE: I thought you got a copy. This was all attached to the building permit
application, so it should have,the pre-CO...
CHAIRWOMAN: The pre-CO for the cottage is called?
MS. MOORE: Is an accessory building, an accessory structure. They recognize that the
accessory structure was constructed prior to '57, but he wouldn't give us a pre-CO for
dwelling, for a cottage.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Is there a pre-CO number on that?
MS. MOORE: Yes. That was the number I gave you.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: So it's all in one document?
MS. MOORE: It's a pre-CO Z number 29279. That's called a pre-existing CO.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: That includes the new house?
MS. MOORE: No. That was the cottage. We have a CO for the house, which is dated
1978. And that number is 29315, or no I'm sorry, Z9315, that's a Z.
CHAIRWOMAN: And the pre-CO for the accessory structure is dated?
MS. MOORE: There was none from '78.
CHAIRWOMAN: The one that you have.
MS. MOORE: Oh, the one we have currently is dated February 20, 2003. That's when
we, it was at our request, or application. Fortunately the bank didn't give us a hard time
because there was enough value in the house.
Page 69 of 125
70
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
CHAIRWOMAN: Essentially when you bought the house, when you bought this house,
you did not have a CO on this, or a pre-CO for...
MS. MOORE: No, we had a pre-CO for an accessory structure because that's all the BD
would give us. And we needed to have some form of...
CHAIRWOMAN: Wait. You just said that the date of the pre-CO...
MS. MOORE: Let me repeat.
CHAIRWOMAN: Was 2-20-03.
MS. MOORE: Right.
CHAIRWOMAN: Now, you bought the house before then.
MS.MOORE: No, it was, yes, it was about the same time. The procedure you have to go
through when you go to a closing is you have to produce CO's for all structures.
CHAIRWOMAN: When did Mrs. Coyne buy the house?
MS. MOORE: When did you close?
MS. COYNE: August 2002.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Actually it's September 30, 2002.
MS. COYNE: I went to contract in August, closed in September.
CHAIRWOMAN: When you closed...
MS. MOORE: We closed without any CO's on this accessory structure.
CHAIRWOMAN: Now you want to sell it...
MS. MOORE: We want to have it legal, reflecting that it's a legal structure.
CHAIRWOMAN: You want to have it pennitted for 2 dwelling units on the property.
Is that the bottom line?
MS. MOORE: Bottom line, yes.
CHAIRWOMAN: Okay. I don't have any other questions. Does anyone, let's see if
anyone else in the audience has any questions. Is there anyone in the audience who
Page 70 of 125
71
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
would like to speak for or against the applicant? Seeing no hands, I'll make a motion
closing the hearing reserving the decision until later.
PATRICIA MOORE, ESQ: Before I get into this one (Theoharis, see page 104), Coyne,
since you have to get from me the CO's from the previous application, I'd like to have an
opportunity to submit a written submission so if you would just, it can continue to be
closed subject to my written submission. So we don't carry it over to another meeting.
CHAIRWOMAN: It's already been closed.
MS. MOORE: Then I would ask that you re-open it for my written submission, then
close it.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Then I'd have to re-advertise it.
MS. MOORE: No. There was nobody here except for my client with respect to that
application. If you recall there was nobody else here in favor or opposed. I just want to
put in writing and outline the points.
The board may have some questions about the affidavit.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Just the letter or a new document?
MS. MOORE: The attachment. They are CO documents. But I do want to, there
seemed to be some loss of communication. I want to get, if I can, affidavits from any
neighbors that were around in the `70's when the house was built, the main house was
built to establish when this cottage became a cottage to the house, rather than, I think, the
documents the town gave, that the town had in it's presence, adequately describe all that.
But I don't know that any, the sense I got from the board was that you didn't believe me,
or you just didn't...
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Lydia, why don't you...
CHAIRWOMAN: We did hear you say that it was there in the `70's. I don't think we
questioned that, okay?
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Why don't you re-advertise to just open it to accept those?
And then close it on July 10"'.
MS. MOORE: I don't even think you have to re-advertise.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: There's no information being added to the file.
MS. MOORE: It's up to you, how you want to do it.
Page 71 of 125
72
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: That's what I would do, for the special meeting..
CHAIRWOMAN: We can rescind the motion to close and reserve decision, and recess
it to the next meeting.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Yes. To July 10`'.
MS. MOORE: At which time I have to give you extra paperwork, or you close the
hearing.
CHAIRWOMAN: One way or another, we'd like the paperwork.
MS. MOORE: I'll start on it tomorrow.
CHAIRWOMAN: I'll make a motion to rescind, Coyne, a resolution to close and
reserve Coyne, and to recess the hearing until July 101h at 7:30pm.
MS. MOORE: Okay. Thank you.
Later resolution to adjourn hearing until 7-10-03 at 7:30pm.
1:34 p.m. DAVID PAGE AND SHINN VINEYARD #5339. Request for a Variance
under Section 100-31A(2-c), based on the Building Department's February 28, 2003
Notice of Disapproval, amended March 5, 2003. Applicants propose demolition of
an accessory building and to construct an accessory equipment storage building at
less than 20 feet from the side line. Location of Property: 2000 Oregon Road,
Mattituck; CTM#1000-100-4-3.1.
CHAIRWOMAN: Is someone here who would like to speak on behalf of the applicant?
BILL KELLY: Bill Kelly from Morton Buildings, and I'm representing David Page and
Barbara Shimi, who are here with me today. I have the cards in receipt of certified
mailing. And I also have an additional survey stamped by a professional surveyor,
professional land surveyor.
CHAIRWOMAN: Is this a new survey?
MR. KELLY: Yes.
CHAIRWOMAN: That we haven't seen?
Page 72 of 125
73
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MR. KELLY: It's the same as the one that you do have. But they requested it to be
stamped by a licensed surveyor.
CHAIRWOMAN: Okay. Is there any change?
MR. KELLY: No.
CHAIRWOMAN: Okay.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Can I have a copy of that?
MEMBER ORLANDO: Yes. There's 6. Much cleaner and crisper.
MR. KELLY: Yes. The only thing that doesn't show is the fact that Shinn vineyards,
David Page and Barbara Shinn are the owners of, separated that parcel out because they
sold off the development rights for the larger parcel. When you look at that you don't see
that. Then the one I originally submitted shows that. The situation is they have an
existing structure that's on the property line. It's on the east property line. And what
they would like to do is remove that structure. It's an older structure that's not in good
enough shape to suffice their use. And replace it with a structure of similar size. Their
structure is a little bit larger. And move that structure over to 12' because it's going to be
used as part of the vineyard, or the vineyard production end of their operation. I guess by
code it would be required to be 20' off the property line. And we are requesting that it
only be 12' off the property line. And the reason for that is that they access their
vineyard barns from the south end of that property. And that would put, we have the
door access to that building that we are proposing on the south end of the building. So if
it was to move over any more, then they would not be able to access that door.
CHAIRWOMAN: They are going to access it from the 24?
MR. KELLY: That's correct. Yes, yes.
CHAIRWOMAN: Because last time we were at the property, I think we had looked at
the middle building.
MR. KELLY: That one was pre-existing. It's really, it's, that's being accessed, I think
from what would be the west side. And they really have it set up, you could tell if you
were there, you could tell from the operation that everything is set up for access from the
south side of the property, so that's what we are trying to keep consistent. And if the
building was to move over any farther, then we wouldn't be able to access it from that
end.
CHAIRWOMAN: Okay, let's see what happens. Mr. Horning.
Page 73 of 125
74
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MEMBER HORNING: Is it totally impractical to make an expansion of the other framed
building that's noted on the survey instead of an additional building. Somehow making a
larger...
MR. KELLY: If we were to make an east/west expansion on any of the buildings, we
would be in the same situation, as far as, you know, we'd be here to you again. Because
if we do an east/west expansion on any of the other buildings, then we are in close
proximity, we are within the setback lines. And a north expansion wouldn't be practical
because that's moving away from the vineyard end, and pushing it up towards the
dwelling.
MEMBER HORNING: I'm looking at the framed building that's listed as 24' from the
property line. So that's already all okay.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: He's talking about the existing barn.
MR. KELLY: There's 3 framed barns there, okay? The framed barn on the...
MEMBER HORNING: The one that's called framed building.
MR. KELLY: Framed building, okay.
MEMBER HORNING: Is there some way you can incorporate your expansion into that
building only? Is what I'm asking. Is that practical or not?
MR. KELLY: It wouldn't be practical for their operation. Because what they are trying
to do is put a new expansion on that. You can see if we did a westward expansion, we
would cut into the driveway, the drive around area. If we do an eastward expansion, we
wouldn't be able to access that building from the south side. So we'd have to go around
to either the east end or the north side of that building to access it. And what they are
really trying to do is have all their equipment or anything that would be going in and out
of that building, going out toward the vineyard. The vineyard area is all south of this
property. And this property was cut out because, it was all one parcel, and it was cut out
because they sold the vineyard part off as development rights, sold off development
rights on that vineyard part.
CHAIRWOMAN: Okay, Mr. Goehringer.
MR. KELLY: Just one other issue on that. According to the owners, the frame building
is a historic Southold building. So I don't know what implications that has.
CHAIRWOMAN: That's the building where the big winery ceiling is going? I
remember the building. No. I remember the building.
Page 74 of 125
75
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: The question I have is, how tall is this structure going to be?
Is it a typical Morton building?
MR. KELLY: It's not a tall typical Morton building. It's 10' on the side wall. So it's
more on a residential scale than it is on a large, commercial barn scale.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: What is your opinion in reference to ridge?
MR. KELLY: I can give you exactly what it is. Peak height on it is approximately 16'.
That's peak height.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: And what other kind of utility will it have in it other than
electricity?
MR. KELLY: None.
CHAIRWOMAN: Mr. Orlando.
MEMBER ORLANDO: I'm trying to figure out if I was at the right house for the
inspection. I think I was.
MR. KELLY: There was a sign there.
MEMBER ORLANDO: Are you this little 3.1 lot right there?
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: I don't know why you'd say that. It was only 11,062'.
MEMBER ORLANDO: That one right there.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: From Mill Road.
MEMBER ORLANDO: So it's not the little shed on this side. It's on that side.
CHAIRWOMAN: From Oregon Rd. you mean.
MEMBER ORLANDO: At least it was the right house. Alright I'm at the right house.
MR. KELLY: Yes everything is south of Oregon Road. And all of the vineyard part of
the operation is south of that building lot.
MEMBER ORLANDO: So the lot adjacent on the east side has not sold the development
rights,just on the west side?
MR. KELLY: Right. Correct. And the owner of the lot in question here, and the large
Page 75 of 125
76
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
parcel, the vineyard that you saw there, are one in the same.
MEMBER ORLANDO: So the neighbors won't complain then.
MR. KELLY: The neighbor, I hope not.
MEMBER ORLANDO: No other questions.
CHAIRWOMAN: Ms. Oliva.
MEMBER OLIVA: No questions.
CHAIRWOMAN: Is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak for or
against the applicant? I think you're home free. Seeing no hands, I'll make a motion
closing the hearing reserving the decision until later.
PLEASE SEE MINUTES FOR RESOLUTION
1:43 p.m. GARY AND DEBORA STROUD #5326. Request for a Variance under
Section 100-244B, based on the Building Department's February 28, 2003 Notice of
Disapproval. Applicants propose an addition to the existing dwelling with a single
side yard at less than 15 feet, at 480 Soundview Avenue West, Peconic; CTM#1000-
74-2-7.
CHAIRWOMAN: Is someone here who would like to speak on behalf of the applicant?
GARY STROUD: Good afternoon, I'm Gary Stroud. This is my wife Debora. We just
moved out here on December 61h. The first big snowfall we had out here and we love the
community. We are both teachers in Port Jefferson Station. We have about a 45 minute
to an hour commute. We used to have a 5 minute commute. And we are asking for a
variance to get a 2-car garage put on the house. The house is 3 years old. We love the
area. We love the community. We want to be an active part of the community. We are
asking for a modest extension for the garage because it goes more than 10' of the
variance of our neighbors, Paula Daniels and Tim . I believe you have a letter from
them. You sent us a copy, that they are not in any objection to it. We had a really harsh
winter. We are having a really horrible spring. And having a garage would really
improve the quality of our lives, tracking in dirt and mud and provides some more storage
space. Certainly in the wintertime I won't have to get out there an extra half hour to
shovel the snow off the cars and clean them up, and get the ice off. We are just asking
that you can grant it for us and make our life a leisure here.
CHAIRWOMAN: A couple of things. This is a 2-car garage?
Page 76 of 125
77
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MR. STROUD: Yes.
CHAIRWOMAN: Obviously the door is going to be in the front. I noticed, you know,
in looking at most of setbacks in the neighborhood, the house is what 2 years old?
MR. STROUD: I think it's going to be 4. It's going to be 4 this summer.
CHAIRWOMAN: The house is not an old house. And when it was built, it conformed
to all the setbacks, including the sideyard. Now here we are, 4 years later, and we want
to reduce it to a 5' setback on that side. The neighbor may not have any objection
because the neighbor may or may not want to do the same thing. But the board generally
is not, and I'm telling you this because you indicated that you just moved here. This is
really, in terms of our purposes, it's a brand new lot. This is a brand new house. And we
really don't look too favorably on granting this degree of a variance on this size lot. You
know, what amounts to practically a brand new house. So I'm going to ask you what you
could do. Could you put the garage somewhere else?
MR. STROUD: Well, if you put the garage somewhere else, we want an attached garage.
It would sort of, I mean we'd have to go outside, and get wet, and track mud back into the
house. If we only had a one-car garage, we'd have to fight over who gets to put his or her
car in the garage. And we might end up in family court. And I certainly wouldn't want
that to happen. We bought the house as it was. We hadn't built the house. We would
have built the house with a garage. We were looking for about 11 months to buy a house.
We saw many houses. We had a number of houses we put money down on and somebody
else paid more and scarfed it away from us. It was a long, and detailed, and arduous
process just to move into this village. And would really be a personal favor or boom for
us if we could have a 2-car garage. It would allow me to get to work early or on time. I
was hoping I would be able to get to this meeting on time. I just came from the NYS
English regents, which I administered this morning. And I was able to have my principal
arrange the starting date a little earlier so I could snake this hearing. And it would really
help us tremendously. We tried to look at other options, as you said. Perhaps putting it
further back, but then it wouldn't be attached. We couldn't put it on any other side. The
front yard or the side, on the other side, because it would still be at a variance, if we put it
on the right side of the house, and certainly there's no place to put it in the back or the
front.
MEMBER HORNING: What kind of driveway do you have right now?
MR. STROUD: Currently, right now, we have a partially gravel, partially dirt driveway.
MEMBER HORNING: And where is it in relation to the survey?
MR. STROUD: It's right in the front of the...
Page 77 of 125
78
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MRS. STROUD: And it goes right up to where the garage would be.
MEMBER HORNING: So it's on the...
MRS. STROUD: It's on the left side of the house.
MEMBER HORNING: What the western boundary line?
MR. STROUD: Yes.
MEMBER HORNING: And you're saying you could not extend the driveway to the
backyard area?
MR. STROUD: Well we could extend the driveway to the backyard, but we couldn't
extend the house to connect, the garage to connect to the house to the back area. We
liked, we moved here, we had a house in Mr. Sinai. It had an attached garage. We really
would like to add an attached garage to the house. It would really, tremendously,
increase our being able to live in this area.
MEMBER HORNING: You could attach it to the back yard area. The rear of the house.
And as the Chairperson points out, it is an extreme reduction in an existing sideyard
setback that is conforming right now. And it would be total and nonconforming when
you are all finished.
MR. STROUD: Well we are asking you to consider it. I don't know how I could put it
in the backyard, and connect it to the house. Unless removing the deck that's there, and
also removing the bilco doors that are there.
MEMBER HORNING: Where are they? Okay, they are listed here?
MRS. STROUD: There's a deck on the backside of that side of the house. Is that on
there?
MEMBER HORNING: Yes it is.
MR. STROUD: And just to the right of the deck there's bilco doors, which go down to
the basement.
MEMBER HORNING: And is that just east of the deck, then? Is that how you would
describe it?
CHAIRWOMAN: Maybe an architect could help you design something. Let's see. Mr.
Goehringer.
Page 78 of 125
79
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Well the only thing you could do is you could decrease the
size of the garage in width, which I know is really tight now at 22.6'.
MR. STROUD: Well we have 2 very small cars, and we tried to put the smallest thing
there. You notice that there's not a second floor on it. There's not any...
MRS. STROUD: You do have the architectural plans, right?
MR. STROUD: And it's a very modest roofline. It only goes 4'. The architect and the
builder wanted to put a second addition on it. We said we don't need the extra space. All
we are looking for is a dry place for our cars. I own a convertible, and be that as it
may...
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: I think there were architectural plans amended...
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Are they in the file?
MEMBER HORNING: We don't have them.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: I looked at them.
MR. STROUD: We did send in 5 copies of architectural plans.
MRS. STROUD: I don't have them with me.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Maybe you gave them to the Building Dept.
(BD).
MR. STROUD: No, no. We gave them to the ZBA.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: With a cover letter?
MR. STROUD: With a cover letter. With 5 sets of pictures of the house.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: There they are right in the back.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Let me see that.
MR. STROUD: We are really trying to put the smallest thing there to try to be the least
intrusive to the neighborhood. It is a dead end street. There's only three houses on the
street. There's LIPA property on the other side. We are going to, keep it as low as is
physically possible. And we tried, we tried to sit down with an architect to figure out
every single way we could do it to keep it within the variance. And so far the only thing
we could have would be to put the garage out in the middle of the back yard and then
Page 79 of 125
80
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
walk to it. Which would be, you know, the only thing we'd be protecting would-be the
cars,but not us going back and forth to it.
CHAIRWOMAN: Mr. Horning.
MEMBER HORNING: The only other question...
CHAIRWOMAN: I'm sorry George.
MEMBER HORNING: You just called my name anyway.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: He wants another shot.
MEMBER HORNING: Alternative locations here. I confess I have not seen the site.
Framed deck in front. You do have room in frontyard.
MR. STROUD: We also have extensive gardens in the front that would, the person who
owned the house is a landscaper. He beautifully landscaped the house. He didn't have
the need for a garage because he had a bunch of trucks that he didn't care very much
about. Certainly we could take all the beautiful landscaping out and just put a garage
there. I don't know how that would make the neighborhood more attractive, but certainly
would conform to the zoning board. What we are trying to do is something practical and
aesthetic at the same time to fit into the community and make it a beautiful structure as
well as just a post for a garage.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: I would probably go for, and I know it's not my turn, but
I'm going to say it anyway. I would go for a 20' wide structure with a single door. A 16'
door. Thereby leaving you 7' or whatever on that sideyard. Single overhead garage door
without the center post in it. I know I tend to be a little more traditional. I understand.
But I just built exactly the same thing. And what you do is you end up with 2 small walls
on both sides and a 16' door. That's my proposal to the board.
MR. STROUD: And you're able to fit 2 cars in there?
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: No problem.
MEMBER OLIVA: Come again?
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: A 20' wide garage with a 16' door with no, they are
proposing 2 doors with a center post inbetween them.
MR. STROUD: Instead of 22', 20'...
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: 20' wide.
Page 80 of 125
81
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
CHAIRWOMAN: Let's see what Mr. Orlando has.
MEMBER ORLANDO: I heard your opening remarks in regards to keeping the car
snow free, wet free, etc. I mean you comeback for not having it attached was just muddy
feet. But I guess if you paved the driveway you wouldn't have muddy feet at all. So
your detached garage, I believe can stay 3' off the property line? Is that correct?
CHAIRWOMAN: On this sized lot it would have to be 5.
MEMBER ORLANDO: 5' off the property line. So you could keep it close to the edge,
just move it back, you know, maybe a foot off. Corner to corner, maybe a foot off the
property. So you'd have a 3-step to get into the garage.
MRS. STROUD: And that would be closer, further away from the property line?
MEMBER ORLANDO: According to the code, it's detached, because it's not actually
attached to the house. But you can have them relatively close together and you could
keep it 5' off the property line.
MRS. STROUD: It is 5' off the property line.
MEMBER ORLANDO: It's attached.
CHAIRWOMAN: A different part of the code. The purpose is here that it would be, it
would have to be behind the framed deck if you did that, and it was attached. But the
purpose here, the real issue is here, it's a brand new lot. Brand new house. Here we are a
couple of years later, and we are asking for a variance on a 27K sq. ft. lot put a garage up
5' from the property line.
MR. STROUD: By brand new owners who had no...
CHAIRWOMAN: It doesn't matter, the ownership doesn't matter. The issue is the board
does not look favorably on these, this degree of a variance. You require 35' total
sideyards. What is going to happen is, from a visual prospective, you are going to come
down Sound road and see wall to wall houses on that side. It places you too close to the
property line.
MR. STROUD: Actually on the property line, our neighbors house is set very far back
on his property. There are huge, beautiful, magnolia and spruce trees adjacent on the
other side of the property.
CHAIRWOMAN: That's what we noticed. We did our inspections. We noticed that
there are, that most of the houses have conforming sideyard setbacks. And that's what
Page 81 of 125
82
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
we're trying to say to you. One of the reasons we're not in favor of this, we're not in
favor of granting you a variance on this because the neighbors do not have what you're
asking for. It is a brand new house,brand new...
MR. STROUD: We do not have wall to wall houses next to each other. We do not have
that. And we won't have that with this garage.
CHAIRWOMAN: Sir, I'm just giving you...
MR. STROUD: I understand.
CHAIRWOMAN: The way the board has treated these in the past, we've given you
some suggestions. If you want to take the suggestions, fine. If you don't, that's okay too.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Madam Chairman, after you ask everybody, I'd like to
move a motion on this and see if I can get a vote of 3 votes for a 20' garage.
CHAIRWOMAN: Try it.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: What were the alternative setbacks?
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: The alternative setbacks were 7.6'. I'll offer a resolution
granting a 20' wide garage, 7.6' from the property line on the west side of the house that
these people are proposing. Exactly the same except reducing it by 2.6'.
CHAIRWOMAN: All in favor?
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN: All opposed.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: I tried.
CHAIRWOMAN: Motion failed.
MR. STROUD: Thank you.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: You're welcome.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: So we don't have any alternative, except...
MR. STROUD: Maybe we should move. Find a house that already has a, maybe we
should buy a piece of property, brand new, put up a brand new house, rather than buy a
pre-existing house, and increase the housing. What we tried to do when we moved here
Page 82 of 125
83
June 10, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
was not to buy property and put a new house in. We tried to buy a pre-existing house.
So we wouldn't be adding to the fluent houses in the town. But if this is what you're
telling us this is what we need to do to get an attached garage, and perhaps we might
want to look into that.
MEMBER OLIVA: Mr. Stroud, I don't mean to be rude, but I was down there. You
have a huge backyard. And you know, we all can't have exactly what we want
sometimes.
MR. STROUD: We noticed that in year and a half to get us to this point now.
MEMBER OLIVA: I understand that. But, to me, you could put that garage, maybe
your driveway a little bit longer and angle it, and you could have a garage back there.
And also have a very nice backyard. We really do not look favorably on these wall to
wall houses.
MR. STROUD: If you were at the property...
MEMBER OLIVA: I was there.
MR. STROUD: You would have noticed that my neighbor's house is nowhere near.
MEMBER OLIVA: I was not, I'm only talking about your property. Your neighbor is
something else, I'm talking about your property. And then sometime when you go to sell
it, and how the looks of it, if your neighbor starts building, you don't know what's going
to happen in the next 20 years.
MR. STROUD: No you don't.
MEMBER OLIVA: But you do have, and may I ask, why is your backyard so wet?
MR. STROUD: We are trying to figure that out ourselves. One of the other problems we
have. It's been raining incessantly.
MEMBER OLIVA: I have a feeling that whole area down there, but be that as it may, I
still say, I'm sorry.
MR. STROUD: Probably the other reason we don't want to put the garage back there is
because there is so much water back there.
MEMBER OLIVA: But you can't tell, it's so rainy right now anyway, but...
MR. STROUD: Thanks for your help.
Page 83 of 125
84
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MEMBER HORNING: Sir, one other question, or idea to think about. I don't know if
the framed deck in the back could be moved eastward. And your proposed garage put
where the frame deck is so you could have the garage and then the framed deck. I don't
know what's in the house there...
MR. STROUD: That would be the kitchen area.
MEMBER HORNING: The deck right now is right off the kitchen. Where, what would
be effected if it was east of there.
MR. STROUD: We would lose our entire view of the backyard.
MEMBER HORNING: You would? By moving the deck?
MR. STROUD: Yes. That's the reason, we have a sliding glass door window. That's
the only big window, and it looks out on the only view that we have of the inlet there.
One of the reasons we bought the house was because we had a little tiny view of
Goldsmiths inlet. And that's only through that window.
MEMBER HORNING: Through that one window.
MR. STROUD: Were we to put the garage there, we'd lose that view. Certainly, maybe,
that's not important in terms of quality of life, to have a beautiful view. Of course, you
can't have everything in life.
MEMBER HORNING: We're not here to protect people's views.
MR. STROUD: I know, that's why you don't want wall to wall houses.
CHAIRWOMAN: Let's see if anyone else has any questions in the audience. Is there
anyone in the audience who would like to speak for or against the applicant? We'll
consider everything.
MR. STROUD: Thanks very much.
CHAIRWOMAN: I'll make a motion closing the hearing reserving decision until later.
PLEASE SEE MINUTES FOR RESOLUTION
2:00 p.m. MILLENIUM HOMES AND JOSEPH JOHNS. Location of Property:
970 and 1020 Seventh Street, Greenport.
#5333 - Request for a Waiver of Merger under Section 100-26, based on the
Page 84 of 125
85
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
Building Department's January 12, 2002 Notice of Disapproval, amended
February 27, 2003, for the reasons that (a) #1000-48-2-19 and #1000-48-2-40
are merged as one lot, and (b) that each lot is developed with a single-family
dwelling having a floor area of less than 850 sq. ft. . Applicant proposes to
unmerge 1000-48-2-19 (part of Greenport Driving Park #57), from 1000-48-
2-40 (Greenport Driving Park #56), and to enlarge the existing dwelling
containing less than 850 sq. ft.
#5332 - Request for a Variance under Sections 100-242A and 100-244B,
based on the Building Department's February 27, 2003 Notice of
Disapproval. Applicant proposes an addition to the existing nonconforming
dwelling with a single side yard of less than 10 feet and total side yards of less
than 25 feet, and rear yard of less than 35 feet. Ref. CTM #1000-48-2-19
(and 40).
CHAIRWOMAN: The next hearing, the applicants sent us a letter requesting the
application be withdrawn. So I'm going to offer a resolution to accept their letter of
withdrawal.
2:02 p.m. TOWBEE, LLC #5355 - Request for a Variance under Section 100-142,
based on the Building Department's February 19, 2002 Notice of Disapproval,
amended April 10, 2003. Applicant proposes two new buildings in this LI Industrial
Zone District with: (a) single side yard setback at less than 20 feet, (b) rear yard
setback at less than 70 feet, and (c) building linear frontage greater than 60 feet for
Building #1, having a front setback at a average of 90 feet. Location of Property:
700 Hummel Avenue, Southold; CTM#1000-63-2-30.1.
CHAIRWOMAN: Is someone here who would like to speak on behalf of the applicant?
ABIGAIL WICKHAM, ESQ: They pronounce is Towbee. And that's their logo if you
notice on their trucks. It's a little bee that tows things.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: If I could ask Gail something. The ladies in the
office said someone had dropped off snaps. And you were going to pick them up and
submit them at the hearing today. Do you have it?
MS. WICKHAM: I have everything.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: You have it, okay. I just wanted to be sure.
MS. WICKHAM: Are you ready? Okay. Good afternoon.
Page 85 of 125
86
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
CHAIRWOMAN: Just a second. Is there an amended Notice of Disapproval (NOD) on
this?
MS. WICKHAM: The application to you was made based on an amended NOD. It was
amended twice last in April. Yesterday we spoke to Damon at the Building Department
(BD). And I understand he was go in to be issuing you another NOD, which I haven't
received yet on the question of the 3` floor. Have you received that yet?
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Actually we always require that the applicant or
the agent submit that to the board.
MS. WICKHAM: Okay. I don't have it yet.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: It was issued. I believe they did it late yesterday
afternoon.
MS. WICKHAM: I don't have it yet. I take it you don't have it. I just wanted the board
to be aware that it was coming in. And we're going to have to address that. But it wasn't
part of what was advertised or discussed today. I assume, given the nature of this that
you may need additional information in any event.
CHAIRWOMAN: Because it will keenly relate to all of the other variances that are
being requested on the property.
MS. WICKHAM: Although the extent of it, I believe, is not as great as you might think.
It's only partially 3rd story. And trying to clarify that with the BD now. And it would be
storage facility.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Would you like to check, Gail, with the BD.
Or...
CHAIRWOMAN: Why don't we just ask if Linda could go quickly.
MS. WICKHAM: Captain Joe is going to check.
CHAIRWOMAN: I'm sorry to interrupt you, it just was brought to my attention late last
night.
MS. WICKHAM: I wrote you that letter so it wouldn't be in without you knowing what
it was all about. I just wanted the board to be aware.
CHAIRWOMAN: I just wanted to see if we have it here and what the specific wording
of their denial was.
Page 86 of 125
87
June 10, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MS. WICKHAM: Would you like me to start with just the rest,because I have a lot of
general information to cover. I think you've all seen the property, you're all familiar
with the property. It was probably located in the LI zone years ago when zoning came in.
Because it's historical use as a lumberyard and a lumber treatment facility. It's obviously
located in a mixed use neighborhood. The predominant zoning on the block is hamlet
business. The use proposed is actually more like what one would expect in a business
zone and office building. Rather than the traditional LI uses. The proposal is for an
attractive, modern, self-contained, single user facility by a local business employing local
people. The primary use is office with accessory warehouse areas for equipment.and
materials. Attempts have been made to harmonize the appearance with a residential area
opposite Hummel Ave., which until now, has had to endure some rather unattractive
property. I would like to briefly run through the types of uses,which might be
constructive on this property as a contrast to the proposal for an attractive corporate
headquarters for the Seatow operations. LI zones permit, and I'm going to run through
them very quickly,building materials, storage,public warehouses, contractor yards, cold
storage plants, food processing and packaging plants, auto repair shops, machine and
equipment workshops, publishing/printing plants,boat building storage and service,
laundry and dry cleaning plants, conference facilities, public utilities, truck and bus
terminals to naive most of them. We have asked East End Drafting to give you a
rendition of what the front east elevation of the building would be like. This is the
elevation facing Hummel Avenue. This is a more elongated version of the Hummel Ave.
side of the property, which shows building No. 1. The renovated, existing building No.
2, the warehouse, and the proposed building No. 3, which is a storage facility. I don't
know if you can see them all from there. And obviously we've got a lot of work to do
with the Architectural Review Committee and the Planning Board (PB) on the actual site.
It will be screened. It will be fenced. It will be a self-contained single user facility. I
just want to tell you, very briefly, a little bit about Seatow. Because I was under a
misconception myself. They do sea rescue and salvage operations, clean up of oil spills
and such as that. They do not dispatch their equipment from this site. This is an office
facility. It is a facility where they will have some boats but, that need to be outfitted,
that's the reason for building No. 3, so that can be done indoors. Building No. 2 will
contain equipment and material as well. But they have a large communications facility
that's very important in coordination with the Coast Guard. They have a franchise
agreement with many operators. And the actual dispatch of the rescue and the salvage
and cleanup facilities are from shore front locations. Not only on the north fork and Long
Island, but actually throughout the country most of whom are by independent operators.
So without any disrespect, I think we could possibly liken them somewhat to AAA, more
than you local fire department where they are running out from the facility with a rescue.
So the actual usage on-site will be office usage and a quiet usage. It will be a facility
because of the communications that will be manned 24 hours a day. But we will have a
staggered shift operation. Most of the employees are there during the day. We've given
the PB that information. The maximum employees projected on-site during the daytime
are 41 people. And they will arrive at different times during the day so that there will not
be a traffic impact. During the evening and night shifts, there will only be 2-3 and
Page 87 of 125
88
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
occasionally maybe 1-2 people on the site. And it will be a locked facility so there will
not be a lot of traffic running in and out that is not invited. There are no retail sales on
the property. It's service and office use. I'm sure you have other questions, Cathy and
Joe Frohnhoefer is here today, and Jim Foley with Seatow. I'd just like to go on now if I
could and address the specific variance items. I'm going to address them in order of
magnitude of the variance requested. That would mean of course, that I must start with
the rear and sideyard setbacks. On building No. 2, which is the existing warehouse and
they have the newest map. That's the existing warehouse that's up against the track
which will be refurbished. That remains at a setback of 9.10'. The building on Hummel,
which is at 0 setback, will be removed. Building No. 3, which is a new warehouse, and
building No. 1, the office building, will be proposed at a 5' setback from the railroad,
which is fenced. I realize that 70' is the required setback on a corner lot. A non corner
lot would require 20'. We ask that you review this project more in terms of a sideyard
than a frontyard, a rearyard, given the fact that it is a corner lot and the total lot width at
that point in the property, the eastern section of the property actually being the wider, if
only 140'. And a reduced yard would be appropriate. The alternatives would be to first
reduce the size of the building. And we would like to avoid that because that would
provide inadequate work space for the business that they do plan to conduct here. And it
would also involve moving those buildings further towards Hummel Ave. to create a
bigger setback against the railroad tracks. That would result in loss of parking,because
you'd be moving into that parking area. And also the landscaping area. And it would
only serve to give the railroad ROW more of a setback. And there's really not a whole
lot out there that we feel is going to be adversely impacted by that proposed setback.
Until recently that railroad, well recently since they acquired the property, that railroad
setback I understand was kind of a mess. And Cathy and Joe did work closely with the
railroad to get them to clean it up and get rid of a lot of junk and overgrowth in there.
And it is much more accessible now. But we submit that the proximity to the railroad
tracks does distinguish this property. And suggest that we do a reduced yard variance on
that side, which would not create an offense to that neighbor. I'd like to give you a map
which shows, as I understand it what the allowable building envelope would be on this
property if all the setbacks were employed. And it's kind of odd because when you look
at section 100-143, which requires 100' and 70', you end up, the actual size of the LI
property only has to be 100x150'. So how they resolve that as far as setbacks, I don't
know.
CHAIRWOMAN: It's a non-confonning lot.
MS. WICKHAM: No, in your LI zone, the minimum width is 100'. The minimum depth
is 150'. And yet you have to have a 100' setback from the front, and 70 from the rear. It
doesn't add up in terns of what they were thinking about when they wrote the code. But
nonetheless we are here today to deal with what we have.
MEMBER ORLANDO: And you have a 95' setback off of Boisseau?
Page 88 of 125
89
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MS. WICKHAM: We've got a lot of setbacks, let me get out my chart. Let me take
them one at a time. And at first, I'd like to mention that one provision of section 100-143
mentions the fact that you look at the average setback of adjoining buildings. The
setback of the warehouse facility on the adjoining property is at—2'. It encroaches into
Hummel Avenue. I don't think the BD took that into consideration. I'm not sure that we
should. But that is what the code says.
CHAIRWOMAN: I read that. And I also see that they are saying the average setback,
oh, what is the average setback, is 90' on Hummels.
MS. WICKHAM: Yes. That's correct. That's the average setback whereas the,
requirement is 100.
CHAIRWOMAN: And you are asking for, on Hummels?
MS. WICKHAM: 90, as an average.
CHAIRWOMAN: But your plan is showing 95, that's...
(inaudible)
CHAIRWOMAN: We're talking about Boisseau.
From Boisseau
MS. WICKHAM: I think the average is 90. You won't see 90 on the map. The average
I think is 90.
CHAIRWOMAN: He just brought in new maps that we do not, we are not distributing
to the board.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Are they the maps, Gail, that they said that you're
supposed to pick up today? They misunderstood you.
MS. WICKHAM: I think they were submitted yesterday. The maps that you have and
the snaps that are going to be submitted have not changed the building location. What
has changed is the usage. We had some storage areas that are actually warehouse and the
parking computations. But the actual location of the building has not changed. And you
will not find 90' on the map. You'll find that is the average if you add up and divide all
the setbacks.
CHAIRWOMAN: I just don't see what he's making reference to. I don't have any
copies of that showing that anywhere.
Page 89 of 125
i
June 19, 2003 90
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
15.,WICKHAM: Oh, you didn't bring that. Oh, I misunderstood, I'm so You
ding about different maps than I was. The location and setback to the building have re
Stchanged, so the NOD would not be effected. What's changed is the parking and
we of the landscaping. And those revisions were based on conversations we've had
jih_the PB.
IDARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: The message was that Gail was going to pick
hem up today and amend them at the hearing. That's why the ladies did not distribute
*M• We always get the maps the Friday before the meeting, otherwise...
MEMBER HORNING: We need one more down here. I have the old one.
(HAIRWOMAN: Now we can follow the setbacks you are talking about. Okay, so it is
89 would be the closest on Boisseau. And the closest setback from Hummel is 58. Is
yet correct? It's where, it's in the area the building is going to be removed. Is that
corect? The 5 yard setback, there's no change there?
0. WICKHAM: That's correct.
(11AIRWOMAN: And on No. 1, and No. 3.
A. WICKHAM: Now on Boisseau, the 89, is at the southeast corner. You can see
pisseau Ave. angles the northeast corner we're at 117.9'. So the average setback off
DDisseau is 104' as I compute it, which is in excess of 100, minimum. So that to me, is
not the most significant issue here. And I just wanted to point that out. May I continue
now that we've all got the right maps? Thank you. The setbacks, again, are not out of
considerable character from the neighborhood particularly given the size of the lot. I
mentioned the long building on the other end of the block, which is 2' into the highway.
And that's a very long building. It's actually 340' long. And on this property, there's an
existing building E. You will see nothing is happening with that building. That is
located at 15.8. That's Mr. Bohn's building for contractor warehouse. I'd like to run a
little bit, if I may, around the neighborhood. Because it's amazing how many times you
go by something, and until you're involved in something like this, you really don't see
where buildings are located. The Agway building across Youngs Ave. is located about
20' from Youngs Ave., if you don't count the overhang, which is a sort of awning
structure. The Southold Savings Bank building is about 35' from the Youngs Ave. as is
the Seatow building which used to be Southold Lumber Yard's office on the corner of
Hummel and Youngs Ave. If you go around to the other side of the block to Boisseau,
Suffolk County Water Authority(SCWA) has a building, which is about 10' from the
side yard against the railroad tracks. And while I realize that more than what we're
asking, at that point, the railroad ROW is only 30' wide. You can see that from the tax
map. Whereas opposite our property, it is 60' wide. And even wider 110', I think, as
you go further west. If you continue down Boisseau, the Colonial Village has a building,
a residential building, which is 35' from Boisseau Ave. And they have a 4-car garage
Page 90 of 125
91
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
that backs up against the north RR tracks, which has a 4' setback from the RR. And
another 1-car garage with a greenhouse of 4'. Further back into the center of Colonial
Village, which is, again, directly across the RR, they have a 7-car garage and a shed,
which appears to be 4' from the line. And a 6-car garage and shed, which is 4' from the
rear line, or side yard fine. And as you go down, further down Boisseau towards the
Main Road, those small, older buildings are only 7 or 8' off the Boisseau Ave. Now they
are all pre-existing, they are tiny. But I just thought he board ought to be aware of that
character. Also the Southold Savings Bank (SSB), which used to be SSB, has a 3-car
garage in the rear corner, which is 5' from the side yard. Some of those buildings are 1-
story, but they are not screened. And this is going to be screened and architecturally
reviewed, and I think that will make a consideration in terms of attractiveness of the
buildings. We briefly touched on 100-143A, the 100' setback, 60' from Hummel is the
setback on the main building. Again, if this was not a corner lot, 60' would be well in
excess of what was required. Also the building on Hummel will be removed in
approximately that same location. So you're going from a zero setback with an ugly
concrete black building to 60' with the main building. And I've already discussed the
104 average setback from Boisseau. As to the building length, I'd like to address that
next, if I may. That's 100-143C. And the board has previously interpreted this section as
pertaining only to one of two sides on a corner lot. The BD decided that, that should be
addressed to the longest side, which would be the Hummel Ave. side. Although we have
3 separate buildings, they will have connectors. So they determine the aggregate length
is 220'. However, the length of the 3 buildings themselves, are 60' for the office building
No. 1, 70' for the existing warehouse building No. 2, and 70' for the proposed storage
building No. 3. So building No. 1 complies, and No. 2 is pre-existing. So we're really
only talking, I think, about the 70' on warehouse building No. 3. Now I'd like to explain
the connectors. Those are single story hallways, which are being provided to facilitate
employee travel between the buildings. Each building that will be constructed will be
safe contained. I may need help here,but I understand they will each have separate
firewalls that they will qualify as independent buildings. And that the single-story
connectors are included merely for convenience so the employees do not have to go out,
or bring their material that they will be moving from building to building outside. We
certainly would covenant that those connectors would never exceed 1-story, but the
design was done in order to provide the appearance of 3 separate buildings. And the
construction actually accomplishes that. If you look at the schematic that we provided
before, typically when you get screening and fencing in the front of the building, it really
does appear to be 3 separate buildings. Again, I know we have a number of questions
that you may want to explore. There are maps here that show the elevations of the
buildings that apparently also did not get printed out. But we can leave them for you if
you want to distribute them and look at them at your convenience. And they show also
the internal layout of the building. Now, let me just mention one other thing. We have
met with the PB a couple of times. I know you've received a letter from them. We have
discussed with them at length, the question of parking. That's why they have requested a
building usage summary. When we last met with them, they indicated that they would
certainly be looking at it again, but they seemed to be, to my opinion, or from my
Page 91 of 125
92
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
reading, somewhat okay with the parking. And we also discussed with them the
feasibility and the possibility that there may be alternate or additional parking available
should it become necessary and should they deem that appropriate. So we are going to
continue to work with them on that.
CHAIRWOMAN: We can't address the question of the 3'd story today.
MS. WICKHAM: I know, it hasn't been advertised.
CHAIRWOMAN: A couple of things. One of the things I was a little confused about is
the BD had, in one of the NOD's had omitted that, the width of the building was
noncompliant on both Hummel and Boisseau based on a prior interpretation. But the
prior interpretation, I'm sure, said that it required a width of on one street.
And in this case,both streets are non-complying. Is that correct?
MS. WICKHAM: I think they were referring or they were looking at the Lieb...
CHAIRWOMAN: But in that case, one of the streets was compliant. In this instance,
both of them are non-compliant. Both of them exceed, one is 222', the other is 80.
MS. WICKHAM: In that case, they had 2 buildings.
CHAIRWOMAN: Lieb did, one complied. One did not.
MS. WICKHAM: They had 2 buildings and they were too long on the Cox Lane side. I
don't honestly recall if they were both complying on the CR 48 side,but I know that
between the 2 of theirs, they were certainly in excess. But they were separated.
CHAIRWOMAN: I'm a little confused about that because this is not the same thing.
And it is different. And I do recall the interpretation said that the code notes a single
street. The presumption, of course, lies on one and is non-complying on both. Which
brings me to the next question because it is 220' long. So that's the one that you've been
sized on.
MS. WICKHAM: If you add all 3 buildings, including the connectors, yes.
CHAIRWOMAN: The 3-story building, why did you choose a width of 80'? As
opposed to trying to have a 60' wide building in that area.
MS. WICKHAM: Because when they evaluated the need for their office facilities, and
they have an awful lot of equipment, technical equipment, which is included in cabinets
and desk space, that was what they were requiring in terms of the layout. The number of
employees, they have a telecommunications system. They want to provide a cafeteria on
site in order for employees to be able to be there and not have to leave. There's a radio
Page 92 of 125
93
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
room that takes up a certain amount of area. There's a number of handicap bathrooms
they need. They just, when they added up all of the facilities they needed,.that was the
size of the building that they thought was appropriate.
The other problem was by the time you get done with bathrooms that you have to have on
the roofline,you can only get and then the elevators. When you put the
elevator in, that takes up a lot of space as well.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: I just need to ask your naive for the record, for
the lady who transcribes.
CAPTAIN JOE FROHNHOEFER: Captain Joe.
MS. WICKHAM: Joe Frohnhoefer.
CHAIRWOMAN: Then maybe I'll just ask Mr. Frohnhoefer another question. I note,
on the plans, the plans say the building is 80x60, which would be a footprint of 4800 sq.
ft. But on Mr. Sandback's note, he says the building No. 1 would be 5220 sq. ft. Do you
know where the discrepancy is?
MS. WICKHAM: Yes, I can explain that.
MR. FROHNHOEFER: Is that sidewalks?
MS. WICKHAM: No. If I could just answer the rest of your question, again, this is not
before us today,but this is what we're talking about a P floor elevation. And as you can
see, while this is the 60x80 building, the actual area will be within here,but as you can
see a roof that slopes.
CHAIRWOMAN: What the actual footprint will be.
MS. WICKHAM: That includes that connector.
CHAIRWOMAN: For the addition, okay.
MS. WICKHAM: And possibly, there's a little entry on Boisseau Ave. that might also be
factored in.
CHAIRWOMAN: That is a big,big structure. It looks like SSB.
MS. WICKHAM: Oh, it's much more attractive.
CHAIRWOMAN: I always thought SSB was somewhat attractive. The old one, not the
new one.
Page 93 of 125
94
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MS. WICKHAM: Part of the area requirements are based on how many square feet they
need for people who are on the telecommunications deployment, which is answering the
phone. And they need to have a certain square footage, certain number of people doing
that. And that's where that came up. Again, we'll leave the floor plans with you, but I
encourage them to pair it down as much as possible.
CHAIRWOMAN: The variances are all substantial.
MS. WICKHAM: They are substantial variances. There is no question. We are asking
you to consider the amenability of...
CHAIRWOMAN: Zero building envelope.
MS. WICKHAM: The amenability of use to the neighborhood given the zone, the
reduced setbacks that many of the other properties do have, and the fact that we will deal
with the PB on whatever they feel is the adequate parking constraints.
CHAIRWOMAN: The landscaping and so on.
MS. WICKHAM: All that.
CHAIRWOMAN: Let's see what, if you're through, let's see what questions some of
the board members have. Mr. Horning.
MEMBER HORNING: With regards to the proposed parking and the 58 spaces required,
are there 58 on here? And how does a P floor go into effect?
MS. WICKHAM: We've already considered that.
MEMBER HORNING: What you're calling an attic right now.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Excuse me, could you please speak up? I'm not
picking up the answers, could you please use the microphone? Thank you.
BRETT KEHL, ARCH: Sorry. Brett Kehl. On the computations for the amount of
parking space, we did add up all the attic space that was going to he used as storage, and
it's one parking spot for 500 sq. ft.
MEMBER HORNING: To go over this a little bit, cause you have the building too
delineated requiring 4, building 3, requiring 3. The other thing all refers to building 1,
does it not? The basement warehouse, Is' floor office, 2"d floor office, and the attic,
which may be a P floor.
Page 94 of 125
95
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MR. KEHL: Storage.
MS. WICKHAM: That's all building 1. So if I could clarify that for you, the 58 parking
spaces that were determined, we are asking the PB to accept a 48 spaces based on the
building usage figures that we've given them. We've submitted them an alternate plan
that would provide 3 or 4 additional spaces, which we are asking them to hold back on
unless it becomes necessary because of traffic flow within, we obviously want to avoid.
MEMBER HORNING: So the calculated requirements for approximately 58, you are
proposing approximately 48,maybe 2 or 3 more, 48-50, possibly? Is that right?
MS. WICKHAM: And we are actually one over on building E, and we threw that in for
information, even though that part of the project is not changing.
MEMBER OLIVA: Gail, did you say that they'd be on staggered schedules?
MS. WICKHAM: Yes. The day shift will be coming and going hourly so that probably
by the middle of the...
MEMBER OLIVA: That great shift of 40-50 cars coming out.
MS. WICKHAM: That's correct. Let me give you that. But I only have one copy. I
could provide more. I think I have it. We spent a fair amount of time in the PB with this.
I'm sure we'll be spending more. Do you have any other questions while I'm...
CHAIRWOMAN: The only other thing is, I just noted it. We do have a copy of a NOD
that was amended June 19th now I just see it was amended June 18t11
MS. WICKHAM: One was today, and one was yesterday, right?
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: We didn't get yesterday's yet.
MS. WICKHAM: I didn't get either one of them. I don't know, maybe he made a
mistake the first time. I can't answer that question.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Gail, would you be able to send a letter amending
your application to include the relief for the two amended disapprovals?
MS. WICKHAM: Well once I get straight with the BD what the amendment is with
respect to the 3Td story, that is what I intend to do. And that's what my letter yesterday
indicated that we would have to do.
CHAIRWOMAN: So what we'll do is we'll recess, we'll leave this hearing open. And
then when you have an opportunity to advertise for the new issues that have been raised
Page 95 of 125
96
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
by the BD, then we can take that as well as this same time.
MS. WICKHAM: I'll get that in this week if I have the approval today, I'll try and get it
in tomorrow, disapproval.
CHAIRWOMAN: Let's see if there are other questions, Mr. Orlando.
MEMBER ORLANDO: I know Joe personally, Joe and I have similar livelihoods. So, I
can tell you in fact that you can never have enough storage when you're doing your
emergency response year round, when emergencies do not know holidays or weather or
storms or snow. This winter, digging out equipment in the middle of the night is not fun.
So I can understand Joe's concern for storage. I'm sure the building 1 logistics is the
major management of branch offices and satellites as well as we do. So it's a quiet thing,
more than an active thing. But warehouse No. 3 looks like it's for boats, mainly for
drivable equipment,boats possibly, kind of...
MR. FROHNHOEFER: Mainly for minor maintenance on, if they are ready for
franchising...
MS. WICKHAM: Outfitting.
MEMBER ORLANDO: And building 2 is for other spill supplies, or whatever?
MR. FROHNHOEFER: Correct.
MEMBER ORLANDO: I personally like the way you've pulled everything towards the
RR, I don't think they'll complain about noise.
MS. WICKHAM: I also forgot to mention that most of the trucks that come in and out of
here are UPS, FedEx type deliveries, once or twice a day. We are not talking about
tractor trailer deliveries with any, any kind of frequency at all. If that was one of your
questions.
MEMBER ORLANDO: Like I was saying, I like the way it was pulled back to give
Hummel as much space as they can, and the RR, they make enough noise. That's fine.
It's pulled off of Boisseau, pretty much. They contribute to the town, I always see them
sponsoring something. So, it's nice to have him around.
MR. FROHNHOEFER: One thing you mentioned about the sound, the building will
actually buffer some of the sound, and cut out the noise from the RR to the townspeople.
MEMBER ORLANDO: So you became a sound barrier to them.
Page 96 of 125
97
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MEMBER OLIVA: If you're going to be repairing boats and what is it? Building No.
3...
MR. FROHNHOEFER: We're not going to be repairing boats.
MEMBER OLIVA: No, because I was going to say, you'll going to need a real tall
building.
MR. FROHNHOEFER: No, we just prep them. I think it's 14' high doors. And the
highest point is 21'.
CHAIRWOMAN: Mr. Goehringer.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: The only thing that really concerns me is how do you fight
a fire when you put all the buildings back in that location? That's what concerns me.
MS. WICKHAM: I told you he'd ask that question. I'm ready for that.
MR. FROHNHOEFER: We have to have the entrance on both sides, Hummel and
Boisseau, to get fire trucks in. We'll also have gained an access from the bypass on the
ROW from the LIRR. So we have access on both sides of the building. The main
building is going to be fireproof. That is poured concrete reinforced, ICF formed.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Sprinklers?
MR. FROHNHOEFER: Unnecessary, it has a longer fire rating than anything we have in
town. The middle building is all concrete block now, and it will be fireproof. The steel
building is of course, fireproof. That was one of my major concerns. There are also extra
wells that were put in by Suffolk County, test wells on the property. And we have access
to fire hydrants all along the block. So we are pretty well protected, and definitely in the
response zone, only a couple of minutes.
MEMBER HORNING: Sir, did you say the LIRR will grant you an emergency
easement?
MR. FROHNHOEFER: They have. We just responded, recently, to a car accident when
the train hit the car on Boisseau.
MEMBER HORNING: Can we get that in writing?
MS. WICKHAM: He's referring now to the fire department.,The fire department has
that access.
MEMBER HORNING: Oh, the fire department.
Page 97 of 125
98
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MR. FROHNHOEFER: We can get it for access, either way.
MEMBER HORNING: It would probably be beneficial if you have something directly
from the RR regarding this site. If you say you can get that.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: That's the only question I have at this point. It is, it's a
very interesting plan. There's no question about it.
CHAIRWOMAN: The only other question I have is I just in the plans that you have, .
you have plans for a lighted sign, external?
MS. WICKHAM: Yes.
CHAIRWOMAN: That's okay, I just didn't...
MS. WICKHAM: That'll go through it's own review.
MR. FROHNHOEFER: If I may explain, this will be a security area. The gates will be
closed most of the time. The building will be secured all the time. The entrance to the
building will always be under security.
CHAIRWOMAN: Let's see if there's anyone in the audience who would like to speak
in favor or against this application.
BRIAN HANSEN: I'm not in favor or against, I'm definitely not against his business
and what he's doing on this plan. My name is Brian Hansen. And I live at 435 Hummel
Ave. And I have some concerns, obviously, and it has nothing to do with what this plan
is in his building there. And I'm definitely not opposed to his business. My concern is to
excess traffic on the street. And also there's an entrance and exit about 10' west to my
house. And that concerns me too,because I have 3 young children. The traffic on that
street is intense as it is. And I'm worried about the safety factors as well as
environmental factors with that. So I'd like the board to consider that when I, you know,
whether you set limits or whatever you're going to do with this. But I need to be up here
and I need to express my concerns. And I don't want to waste a great deal of your time.
But...
CHAIRWOMAN: Let's see.
MR. HANSEN: I live on the west side of Hummel Ave.
CHAIRWOMAN: So you're in the middle of this site?
MR. HANSEN. I'm a little west of the site, you know, I'm west.
Page 98 of 125
99
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MEMBER ORLANDO: Down toward the pre-existing site.
MEMBER OLIVA: Near Agway.
MR. HANSEN: Yes. There's a fence there now that Mr. Frohnhoefer just put, and I
spoke to them too, and they just put up a fence. And there's a driveway there, you know,
an exit, whatever you want to call it. And that concerns me as well because, you know,
this traffic is busy. I'm a little leery of it anyway down there. Another problem is
obviously people speeding down the street. But the other thing that concerns me is
there's an entrance, exit right there where my house is. I have 3 young children. And
that worries me.
CHAIRWOMAN: Are we talking about the, Mr. Frohnhoefer, are we talking about the
30' wide privacy gate on Hummel, or are we talking about 3 16'...
MR. FROHNHOEFER: Actually what Mr. Hansen is talking about is an opening down
by the barn, pre-existing, Southold Lumber barn, where the wall was falling down, we
took the wall out and put a privacy fence all along there and cleaned up and planted that
white fence all along there, which we hope is going to grow up nice. It will get covered
up eventually. But we have to have an entrance. And what we did was move the
entrance from in front of the houses down to,unfortunately, down by his house. But
before it was an empty lot. There's a tree line. We have to have at least one entrance on
that side off of Hummels for the fire trucks. Jerry is concerned, I mean, I have to have
one. Unfortunately it wound up down by his place. However, that is going to be a
privacy gate, and it is going to be secured. That is not open to public traffic. The main
reason we have it there is strictly for fire access.
MR. HANSEN: And I've talked to them about that. And they definitely have good
intentions. And they've definitely improved the quality of the neighborhood with the
fence and stuff like that. It looks a lot better. But I, you know, I have to go on record
with my concerns about this because I think it's important and they are definitely valid as
far as I'm concerned with the safely issues. And that street in general is a little wild
because everybody cuts across. And I am worried about trucks coming in and out of
there. You know, I have to say that. That's why I'm here. I have nothing against them
personally or their business or anything like that. That's basically all I have to say.
Thank you for your time.
CHAIRWOMAN: Thank you. We'll take that into consideration. Is there anyone else
who would like to speak in favor or against the application?
MEMBER ORLANDO: To respond to that, how much more traffic will there be?
MR. FROHNHOEFER: As far as we're concerned, there won't be any more. The
Page 99 of 125
100
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
problem now is that everybody in town is using it as a bypass to get to the post office.
And let me tell you, it is a bad lot. It's got to get slowed down. And I have a couple of
ideas. I'll talk to you about getting it taken care of.
MEMBER ORLANDO: But your plans don't have a lot more future traffic that you're
going to implement on it?
MR. FROHNHOEFER: I would say it wouldn't be less. It would be the same or,
virtually none. I mean, we don't run up and down the streets.
MEMBER ORLANDO: Most of your traffic will be off Boisseau coming in.
MR. FROHNHOEFER: Correct.
MS. WICKHAM: And once you're in, you're in. They don't go in and out. Except at
the end of the shift.
CHAIRWOMAN: What would be the next calendar date that would give sufficient time
for us to advertise for the postings and the whole 9 yards again.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: August 7, special meeting. When would you be
able to submit all the paperwork?
MR. FROHNHOEFER: If I may, if we can snake it sooner. There are some specific
reasons as to why.
CHAIRWOMAN: Our next regular meeting is on the 24th, and unfortunately, it's
overbooked. The next meeting after that would be the lst. If the height thing hadn't
come up, we'd be fine. But I just don't know how we could possibly move it up.
MS. WICKHAM: Could you look at the 241h again and see?
CHAIRWOMAN: 21 public hearings we have. We are jammed. I simply can't do
anything else at this point. You have any other suggestions?
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: We don't have any cancellations.
CHAIRWOMAN: 7pm, August 71h, is that okay? I'll make a motion to adjourn the
hearing until August 71h at 7pm. I'll also make a motion to advertise for the height and
other added variances on this.
2:53 p.m. EDGEWATER II, LLC #5330. Request for a Variance under Section
Page 100 of 125
101
June 19,2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
100-32, based on the Building Department's March 3, 2003 Notice of Disapproval,
amended March 11, 2003. Applicant proposes a new dwelling with a third story,
instead of the code limitation of 2-1/2 stories with 35 ft. maximum height. Location
of Property: 63735 C.R. 48, Greenport; CTM #1000-40-1-20.2.
CHAIRWOMAN: The next hearing is on behalf of Edgewater II. Is someone here who
would like to speak on behalf of the applicant?
PATRICIA MOORE, ESQ: I have Ira Haspel, the architect here. And Mrs. Cohen is
here as well. The reason we are before the board is because of some design changes that
were required for the house, and you had granted relief for a third floor, but the changes
to the design necessitated us to return. So Ira can go over the specifies of the design, and
I'll defer to him.
IRA HASPEL, ARCH: Good afternoon. Ira Haspel, architect. We were actually granted
a building permit,No. 27980, previously on a prior application. I guess after the owner
spent some time on the property, they wish to change the design of the house. And most
major thing was to move the master bedroom from the east side to the west side, creating
a new footprint and therefore that's the main reason we are in front of you. Also the
design changes included reducing the square footage of the house overall, and a number
of interior changes. We can show you some of the sketches of the house if you like.
MS. MOORE: Just a reminder, this is the center, the middle piece of three lots that are
owned by the family. They have houses. One has a CO, the other is under construction,
on either side.
MR. HASPEL: Similar type of construction. Basically the master bedroom is switched.
And that's the basic reason we are here before again, the square footage.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Question, Lydia?
CHAIRWOMAN: Go ahead.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Mr. Haspel, when you were before us the last time, there
was the direct question to Mrs. Collins. The time to sprinkler the entire house. That
situation has not changed. Is that correct?
MR. HASPEL: No. The house is heavy timber construction and fully sprinklered, top to
bottom.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: The 3"d floor has changed in what respect, other than the
switched?
CHAIRWOMAN: The whole house is changed.
Page 101 of 125
June 19, 2003 102
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
-*MBER GOEHRINGER: I mean square footagewise. I could care less about the
isign.
JR. HASPEL: The basic design...
[EMBER GOEHRINGdER: I don't care about the design. I care about the difference in
square footage on the 3 story.
MR. HASPEL: Okay. Previously the 3rd floor bedroom suite was 990 sq. ft. Now it's
1138 square feet. Previously the 2"d floor was 2415, it's been reduced to 2041 sq. ft.
ind the 1"floor has been reduced as well.
,IS. MOORE: Ground floor is 4357.
rJR. HASPEL: That's what it used to be. It's been reduced to 3458 sq. ft., current
design.
CHAIRWOMAN: So the sq. footage on the 3rd floor has been increased. It's kind of
frustrating because we reviewed this application almost 2 years ago. In fact a little less,
one month less than 2 years ago. And at the time we took a lot of time with the
application, went through it very clearly. And came to a conclusion. And based on th
. And here we arse 2 years later, some plans have changed
conclusion, granted a permit at
and we are simply back for a variance for a 3 floor based on plans that have been
changed.
MS. MOORE: I can appreciate your frustration because there's a lot of time involved in
each variance application that's made. In those 2 years, the 2 houses have been
constructed on either side. This is the last remaining. This is going to be their home.
The other 2 are family. Their families are occu
pying. They are time as well to redesign because this is kind of heir last chance tokdesign the fcenterl lot of
homes with the design changes they've developed over time. Era's spent thousands of
hours as well with modifications. The problem is that the safety concerns are always,
have been addressed. The design elements are what bring us back here. Yes we are
talking about a difference between 990 and 1138, which is the difference of about 200 sq.
ft. more or less from the, on the 3rd floor. Everything else has shrunk down. So in
overall design, the project is smaller. The 3rd floor, the 200 sq. ft. difference is relatively
a minor, nominal one, but because of it's relocation to the opposite side of the house, the
BD felt that rather than the generic approval that you had given, you were much more
specific with the design standards, the design elements of the house. So that's why we
are back here.
CHAIRWOMAN: The other factor is the original approval was based on the fact that
Page 102 of 125
103
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
the 3'-d floor only occupied 25% of the house that now occupies 1/3. So in hindsight what
are we doing? Are we going back and re-doing another decision that we've already made
a decision on?
MS. MOORE: Well, it's a completely different design. You were very specific in your
approval with respect to the, you know, the original application. If they had taken the
same sq. footage,but a completely different design, we'd still, based on the BD's
interpretation, we'd still be back here. So designs change. And certainly over a 2 years
span on a waterfront multimillion dollar piece of property, they've come back and want it
to look a little bit different. You had a generic footprint last time. When we had boxes
instead of design, we may have been able to work around it. But since we really did
change it in configuration, and layout, we are back here. We apologize. Mrs. Cohen
doesn't want to be here anymore than any of you want to see this a 2',d time. But either
way, we were looking to come back to you if,because of the specificity of your original
decision.
CHAIRWOMAN: Mr. Horning.
MEMBER HORNING: I don't have any questions right now. I saw the site today.
CHAIRWOMAN: Mr. Goehringer.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: I voiced my, not my concern,but the basic issue of what the
size is. And I appreciate that information.
CHAIRWOMAN: Mr. Orlando.
MEMBER ORLANDO: This a new application for me since I wasn't here for the other
one. So this is the 4t"bite of the apple? 4"bite?
MS. MOORE: No, no 2.
MEMBER ORLANDO: There were 3 variances already.
MS. MOORE: No, no, no. We have 2 other houses. We have, it's Edgewater I, 11, and
III. There was tennis court on one.
MEMBER ORLANDO: Tennis courts and lights, right.
MS. MOORE: Tennis courts and lights for the other one, adjacent piece. Each of them
stands alone as a separate owner. Here we have the owner of this piece. As far as
effecting the character of the neighborhood or effecting the neighbors, we are the
neighbors.
Page 103 of 125
104
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MEMBER ORLANDO: So what caused the extra 200 sq. ft.?
MR. HASPEL: When the master bedroom suite was moved from the east side to the
west side, interior changes to take a little better advantage of the sun and view. The
owner requested that it be increased to the size that it is now.
MEMBER ORLANDO: Sun and view is more windows, not more space, correct?
MR. HASPEL: Layout of the furniture. They got very specific about the design.
MEMBER ORLANDO: What is the total square footage of the house?
MS. MOORE: Ground floor?
MEMBER ORLANDO: Total living space.
MS. MOORE: I don't know.
MR. HASPEL: 6775 sq. ft.
MS. MOORE: We're not touching the lot coverage. We are conforming in every other
respect. Side yards,rear yards. We are how many feet from the road?
MR. HASPEL: 500.
MS. MOORE: 500' from the north road. And 100' back from the bluff.
MEMBER ORLANDO: I took a ride back there, it was kind of...
MS. MOORE: It's a beautiful piece of property.
MEMBER ORLANDO: There's a little shed there now.
MS. MOORE: It's very isolated. They've kept the natural features of the property, as
you can tell from both other houses. They've been respectful of the character, of the trees
and everything. They've kept everything the way it is, with minimum clearing.
MR. HASPEL: A point of interest. The lights have not been put up on the tennis court.
CHAIRWOMAN: Good.
MEMBER ORLANDO: No other questions.
CHAIRWOMAN: Ms. Oliva.
Page 104 of 125
105
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MEMBER OLIVA: I've just never been very happy about 3 floors. And especially
about enlarging it, because it is so huge as it is. How many feet back from the bluff?
MS. MOORE: 100.
MEMBER OLIVA: Over 100.
MR. HASPEL: The house is well over 100. 100 is to the steps of the deck on the bluff
side. And then there's about a 16' deck. And then the house starts.
MEMBER OLIVA: No further questions.
CHAIRWOMAN: Let's see if there's anyone in the audience that has any questions. Is
there anyone in the audience who would like to speak for or against the applicant? I
really don't have any other questions. And if the board members don't, I'm going to
make a motion to close the hearing and reserve decision until later. All in favor.
PLEASE SEE MINUTES FOR RESOLUTION
3:09 p.m. HELEN THEOHARIS #5331. Request for a Waiver of Merger under
Section 100-26, based on the Building Department's February 18, 2003 Notice of
Disapproval. Applicant proposes to unmerge CTM #1000-22-4-10 (Stars Manor
#12) from CTM #1000-22-4-11 (Stars Manor #11), vacant land. Location of
Property: 1625 and 1745 Stars Road, East Marion.
CHAIRWOMAN: Is someone here who would like to speak on behalf of the applicant?
Pat Moore spoke briefly about Coyne (see page 71)
CHAIRWOMAN: Now can we go back to this hearing?
MS. MOORE: Sorry, this will be much quicker. Alright, Theoharis, Steve and Helen
Theoharis bought from Costa Stars, from the original developer of the Costa Star
subdivision, in 1965, 2 lots, lot 11 and lot 12. At that time, there was no belief that they
had to checkerboard it. They owned 2 separate pieces of property. They bought 2
because they had 2 sons, and they wanted to pass it on their sons. The attorney that
drafted the wills stated that, in the wills, the properties were deeded over, were to be
conveyed to the sons upon their death. However, Mr. Steve Theoharis passed away from
an illness in May of 2002, and Mrs. Theoharis finds herself in need. As a widower, she
has to sell the property to continue to live off of her assets. And there was a contract
prepared with a P party. And at the time they went to contract thereafter they did a
single and separate search and they discovered that this property had merged by way of,
under our code. That's why we made the application to this board. The properties have
Page 105 of 125
106
June 19,2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
received separate tax bills. They have always been intended to be separately owned and
separately conveyed. And these two properties are identical to all the other lots on Star's
Rd. subdivision. And I've have numerous applications to this board with respect to
waivers and applications for homes that are along Star's Rd. This will be consistent with
all the other homes in the neighborhood and it would be a significant financial hardship
to Mrs. Theoharis that the lot is under contract for$130K. And it would be a significant
decrease to combine the lots if each lot is worth $130K. The combined lots don't equate
to much more than that. So it would be a significant reduction in the value of the
property, and a hardship to the owners. Mr. &Mrs. Theoharis were greek immigrants.
They were not sophisticated with respect to preservation of these properties as single and
separate properties. And this neighborhood, which is primarily owned by many of the
greek immigrants. What you find is people, unknowingly,have these mergers of lots
occur. And that is what we have here. A situation, not unlike many other applications
that you've seen along this. That's all I have.
CHAIRWOMAN: Do the board members have any questions?
MEMBER HORNING: I have one. Perhaps Mrs. Moore could submit to us an area
survey similar to this with a marking of what ones of these parcels are developed with
buildings and what ones are vacant?
MS. MOORE: I can do that. I haven't yet. But, if you'd like, I can provide that.
MEMBER HORNING: It would be helpful.
MS. MOORE: You've had so many applications along this road. I thought maybe in-
house you already have that done. But that's fine. I will submit my own.
CHAIRWOMAN: Does anyone in the audience have any questions? Yes?
JANE GOHOREL: My name is Jane Gohorel. And I have already written of my
opposition this waiver of merger. And I submitted it to you on the basis that I do not see
any reason for undoing something that's been done for 20 years to bring these lots into
compliance. And the fact that the lady who owns this, I'm very sorry her husband died. I
live very close to this lot. The fact that they have been merged, I don't believe would
snake theirs less valuable as one lot than if they would have been as 2 little lots that are
not in compliance. And I have another question. What about the, if 2 houses go on these
lots, what about the cesspool, the distance between cesspool and well for 2 different
houses right next to each other. To me, the lot doesn't look to be that big as it is now. So
there are other houses just behind this lot. Really huge, new houses that have been built,
overpowering in the neighborhood actually. I think these, I mean it's just out of
proportion with anything else. And I would hate to see something similar go up on these
even on one lot itself, much less 2 lots. So I guess my question is, why undo something
that was an improvement in planning after 20 years and make it possible to add even
Page 106 of 125
107
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
more houses to a neighborhood that's been greatly under stress for the past few years
because of all the building activity. And the other thing is if indeed there are some other
lots that are not in compliance, and if you allow this, then how can you say no to any of
the others who come to ask for similar unmerging? That's it. That's what I have to say.
Thank you.
CHAIRWOMAN: Anyone else in the audience?
NANCY SAWASTYNOWICZ: Good afternoon, board. I'm Nancy Sawastynowicz.
And I've lived there for 9 years. And we're not, all the people down there aren't greek. I
have a real, serious, problem with that area. Within one year, there had been over a
dozen homes brought in on flat beds and huge, huge, homes like Mrs. Gohorel just
mentioned on the backside of this property. They are so oversize. I don't know. I would
like this town to do something about the oversized homes that are being built. It's
beyond my belief why somebody would need that much room. So for me to feel sorry for
somebody who has two lots, when I know just down the street, at 100 yards, a small sized
lot went for 190K with nothing on it. I can't feel sorry for anybody. I can't afford to live
in this area. I rent. And I'm like, happy, that I can afford the rent. But for somebody
whose husband just died, obviously she's not young. To not be happy with the amount of
money she's going to get is ludicrous. I find that not a hardship. And I just feel that we
have to stand our ground. There's not even an acre. We're talking now, in last week's
paper, the town just spent$200K for this draft generic environmental impact statement.
It's the current state of development and the pretense for limiting that growth. So we're
trying to deal with this and to, and there's so many undersized lots already on Stars Road.
And it's like behind me, there was 11 acres clear-cut 2 years ago for this house that looks
like a motel. It's disgusting. The animals are in the street. I go out in broad daylight.
The deer are standing there looking at me. The fox are looking at me. I'm going to
myself, where is the planning on this poor, it used to be all wooded. Where is the
planning on this wonderful area? Living there for 9 years I felt like I was in heaven. And
now like I'm saying, it's like getting deluged with these houses. So please don't give this
request approval. I just feel like little lots with big houses because that's, you know,
that's going to happen. It's disgusting, and it's not in character of the area. And I'm
really adamant about it. So I hope you take it into consideration. I know the board is a
very good board, and they think everything out. And I would just like to say thank you
for listening to me. I'm a little emotional because I live there. Thank you.
CHAIRWOMAN: That's okay. Is there anyone in the audience who would like to
speak for or against the applicant?
CINDY MYSLIBORSKI: Hi. My name is Cindy Mysliborski. I'm a new owner on
Stars Road. I've been there for about a year and a half. And this is all new to me. But
since I've been there, I thought I was moving to a nice, quiet, neighborhood to enjoy.
And it's been nothing but construction, and vehicles, and debris. And it's just
outrageous. I woke up the other morning to find 3 little baby foxes born running down
Page 107 of 125
108
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
my driveway, and one of them dead in my pond. They just have nowhere to go. And I
do agree with Mrs. Gohorel and Nancy that the value of land there as one lot certainly
will be worth as much as if it was two. And I am opposed against that. And would like
you to take that into consideration with Mrs. Gohorel and Nancy's request too, that
enough is enough in that neighborhood. And oversized housing is definitely outrageous
in there.
CHAIRWOMAN: Is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak for or
against the applicant?
MS. MOORE: Just some quick responses. Each lot here as a single and separate lot,
each lot, rather than combined has a greater assurance of building a house that is in
conformity with the neighborhood than to merge two parcels and have an oversized
parcel that then allows a person to build much more than at 20% of that sized lot than to
retain the character of the area under the original subdivision configuration that all of
these people who have come here and objected to the request all live on the same size
parcel as what we are proposing to return the parcel to it's original size. The master plan
that we've just spent a fortune on, actually talks about housing diversity. And the
diversity is also recognizing that existing subdivisions like these, which are now
undersized because the minimum zoning is one acre, still retain value for the, to retain the
character of the area, and to provide diversity of housing stock in the town of Southold.
The merger law actually breaks down and forces, or combines, parcel in situations like
this where you have pre-existing half-acre lots. Because it takes the parcels and makes
them less affordable for people. At 130, which is the contract that is presently, excuse
me 132, is the contract price. Jean and Betelina Kelly, who are the prospective
purchasers, they can buy this lot and build a modest sized home on it. And have a normal
home,just like everyone else. The alternative is that the seller, Mrs. Theoharis, has to
sell this double sized parcel, which is a much more expensive parcel to someone else.
And the person who buys it will be forced, because of the value of the land itself, to build
a much more grandiose house, which is more like the subdivision that is in the rear, and
the lots that are larger. So we are actually trying to keep within the character of the
existing Stars Road community by retaining the existing pre-existing lot sizes, rather than
combining it under our zoning code, combines two lots that are in common name. And
inadvertently brings the two properties together.
CHAIRWOMAN: Last question.
MS. MOORE: To me?
CHAIRWOMAN: Yes. I went through the title search on this property. And in looking
at the title search, correct me if I'm wrong, but when they bought the two properties, they
bought them in the same name, the husband and wife name.
MS. MOORE: Right. But they bought them in 1965.
Page 108 of 125
109
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
CHAIRWOMAN: In 1965? They never separated the ownership. They never checker
boarded. They never made any effort whatsoever to keep the properties in single and
separate ownership, which has always been noted.
MS. MOORE: If you and I were the owners of the property, we would have known to do
that. These are, to the extent, they were unsophisticated, and did not inquire about, you
know, the changes in the zoning code.
CHAIRWOMAN: Well there were so many opportunities. This is virtually 37 years
ago. It's not 20 years ago when they went to 1-acre zoning in 1972, this lot became
nonconforming. When, all through the `70's...
MS. MOORE: However they continued, the one way they would have been alerted, for
somebody who is unknowing, would be through the tax bill. If their tax bill had been
combined, and the town, the assessor, actually notifies you that it's been merged, it would
have triggered some knowledge by unknowing people. The tax bills continue to come as
they always come in...
CHAIRWOMAN: That's true throughout the town in dozens, and dozens, and dozens of
parcels.
MS. MOORE: There are sophisticated buyers. And the merger law protects those that
are sophisticated buyers. It does not protect against unsophisticated buyers. That's what
your role is. That's what many times, government's role is, to protect against people who
would otherwise not know. They bought 2 lots, always intended it to be 2 lots. Their
wills, which were done in the `90's, reflected each lot going to each son. If you want, I
can get a copy of the will for you.
CHAIRWOMAN: I noticed, in your presentation, you said that because she needs the
money, that she, originally the lots were to go to each son, but because she is now
apparently in a nursing home, or...
MS. MOORE: No, no, no, she's, I don't think she's in nursing home. She's just now a
widow with limited funds.
CHAIRWOMAN: Okay. Now that she has limited funds, she's no longer going to keep
both lots. She's wants to sell one and the other son is going to keep the other lot. It's her
assets, it's her future. It's also her responsibility. But there's no real economic hardship
here.
MS. MOORE: Well the economic hardship is not only to them to combine.
CHAIRWOMAN: Profit is not necessarily hardship in this case. This is a very unusual
Page 109 of 125
110
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
one because this lot has been one lot for so many years. It's not even a question of a
waiver of merger anymore.
MS. MOORE: Let's put it this way. The hardship will truly be for the buyer, the
Kelly's, who were under the impression they were buying a lot to build their house, and
now the contract would be nullified because they are not getting what they expected,
which is their lot. The whole deal would fall through.
CHAIRWOMAN: I'm sure that their purchase is subject to...
MS. MOORE: Oh sure they'll get their money back, of course,but people buy a lot with
great expectations of building their house, and the expense of a survey and the title, and
the lawyers. They have invested a certain amount of money to get to this point when they
discovered that it had merged. So I feel bad for any purchaser who undertakes this.
Because now, when they go out to look for a parcel, they can't find another half-acre
parcel for 130, maybe they find, they are few are far between. And you know as well as I
do that the pressure is now, and in particular for these...
CHAIRWOMAN: But that's not justification to go back and subdivide lots and half-
acre lots. _
MS. MOORE: This was a subdivision, this is a subdivision that was approved by the PB.
We are not talking about like, Captain Kidd Estates where it's an 8th of an acre.
CHAIRWOMAN: This was done in 1965.
MS. MOORE: And they were large lots, at the time, in 1965. Personally, I live on a
half-acre parcel. And quite frankly, that's a nice sized, would I like a lot more, sure. But
my ranch fits very comfortably on a half-acre parcel. It is consistent with all the rest of
the neighborhood. I will supply to Mr. Horning showing how many lots have actually
been developed, and what remains vacant.
CHAIRWOMAN: Okay. Is there any other questions? I'll make a motion to close the
hearing and reserve the decision until later.
PLEASE SEE MINUTES FOR RESOLUTION
3:27 p.m. TARIQ MAHMOD BAIG, and RIFFAT MINHAS #5369(A & B).
Requests for: (a) Variances under Section 100-244, based on the Building
Department's April 17, 2003, Notice of Disapproval amended April 28, 2003, for a
front yard setback of less than 30 feet, and a two-family dwelling on a less having
less than 80,000 sq. ft.; and (b) a Special Exception under Section 100-31B for a
two-family dwelling. Location of Property: 6125 County Rd. 48, Mattituck; CTM
#1000-139-3-49.
Page 110 of 125
111
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
CHAIRWOMAN: Is someone here who would like to speak on behalf of the applicant?
TARIQ MAHMOD BAIG: Good afternoon ZBA members and all of the ladies and
gentlemen. This is my first appearance before the board regarding the lot. It is my
wife's, actually, for my son who has juvenile arthritis, a chronic disease. Instead of
putting the money he inherited from his maternal mother, we're looking forward that this
lot will be useful for providing him shelter. And I'm a heart patient who has 5 by-pass.
To look at this with uncertainty, the possible investment was to buy this piece of land
instead of putting the money in the bank account. The reason for coming to the zoning
board is that the size of this lot is small as it had been a quarter of an acre. When Rt. 48,
where this lot is located, near Wickham Ave. in Mattituck. This lot was when
48 was widened, and extended, and constructed. Because of that, the lot size has been
decreased from the old building allocation of a '/ of an acre to .22 of an acre, a little less
than that. But I have certain examples in Mattituck where the houses are allowed to
construct in old allocation like on Rogers Place where house is constructed on 1/8`h of an
acre. So this is a lot located on three sides around the neighboring houses. And the front
is Rt. 48. Before buying this house, I applied to the Health Department(HD). That
whether it is suitable for making a house or not, HD, according to this map approved this
date initially applied for 3 bedroom, 2-story residence,but HD approved it a maximum of
4 bedrooms, 2-story house can be built on this lot. I have provided this map, and the
proposed other variance maps to all the neighbors as I was to the zoning board
and to the members of the ZBA.
CHAIRWOMAN: Which map did you give to the neighbors?
MR. BAIG: A copy of the HD map and the letter. One I have for the variance that I
want that this house should be 3 bedrooms, 2-story residence with a 3 bedroom accessory
apartment on the 2nd floor. Variance is needed for 3 things. First that 15' of this lot has
been used, according to the new construction law. If I leave behind front and behind 15',
it will be a very small house. So if I be allowed to leave instead of 35' from the front and
35' from the back, I should be allowed for 30' and 30' so I'll be able to gain at least 10',
instead of 15' I have lost, by the construction of Rt. 48. Number 3, as I had described, if
it becomes a 2-family dwelling, if allowed, it will be a source of income for the son who
has juvenile arthritis himself. And I'm a 55-year-old person with a heart condition. He
will not have any other source of income to live off. Except that at this state, being the
parents of the children, we all together, should think about the future of this baby, who is
9 years old, goes to east Cutchogue elementary school. Certainly my emphasis is that we
should come together and think about this. This is a very concern matter to his health and
to my health, and the future of this baby. This place is very near to school at a walking
distance. And this illness is so chronic that he's desperately, always, in need of some
help to go to school and come back. So my emphasis is only 3 things. And I hope this
board will consider my request that if the law makes me to leave 30' from the front and
30' from the back, it will be a spacious home for living. Number 2 that this lot is not
Page 111 of 125
112
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
very small, but there are some houses, which are on the smaller lots like this. And there
are many double story houses all around Mattituck and in Southold. If board likes, I have
the pictures of those houses, which are in the neighborhood as well. On Wickham Ave.
there's a very big house, 2-story house. And seen from outside, I should not have to
invade.the privacy of anybody, but just to give an example, that house must not be less
than 6 bedrooms. There is another way to do this thing that the HD has approved. I can
make 4 bedrooms, and without telling, and lying to this board, it is not fair on my part
with my faith and everybody's honor and respect that I should say, okay, I will make two
rooms and two bedrooms, making it 6 bedrooms indirectly telling that these are two study
rooms. It's not fair. I should tell you, what is the need of my son, is a source of income.
If we would borrow some money from the bank, nearly$300K, certainly that money has
to be returned if something happened to me. State of NY will be again there to do what
we can do to live. And this matter is before the ZBA. So I have sufficiently emphasized,
on my 3 demands. First by extending the Rt. 48 this lot became more small,but not as
much which cannot be redressed. Two, that this lot is still sufficient to build a 2-story
house. It has been approved by the HD. Another thing, which is needed to be mentioned
here, that public water is available from the Rt. 48 side of this lot. So the cesspool hazard
or any other thing to the neighbors will not be as maybe they feel it,but they had the
opportunity and I had to find this thing that this lot and the neighborhood is an area where
running water will be available to everybody and well water, if they like it. I think I have
said much more than what is required if you have any questions of that.
CHAIRWOMAN: Mr. Baig, a couple of things. Because I read through all of your
literature, and I read through all the documentation. The HD, you are here, the property
is small, it's an 8900 sq. ft. parcel, right on Rt. 48. And you are here requesting a special
exception for a 2-family house. You want 3 bedrooms downstairs, kitchen, bath, etc.
You want 2 bedrooms upstairs with a one...
MR. BAIG: A study room.
CHAIRWOMAN: Another unit, rental unit. So it's a total of 3 rental units in one house?
MR. BAIG: 2.
CHAIRWOMAN: 2 upstairs...
MR. BAIG: No. 1 upstairs, 1 downstairs. 1 for my living...
CHAIRWOMAN: Who is going to live in the house? There are 3 owners, who is going
to live in the house?
MR. BAIG: No. There are 2 owners in the house. Because Sonny is 9 years old. And
this house, this lot, will not be bought in his name. So Minhas is the mother, and Mr.
Assad is the maternal uncle of Sonny. And because of my health, it was suggested that I
Page 112 of 125
113
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
should not be the owner if something happened again, Sonny or his another has to go
through of ownership. So to be on the safe side, right from the beginning, I
being the father, is also the representative of these 2 people who own this lot, because
Sonny is 9 years old.
CHAIRWOMAN: So who...
MR. BAIG: Sonny will live with his mother and me, the father in 1-story, the ground
floor. And the 2„d story, which will be 3-bedroom house complete with a kitchen and
living area with all necessities of life. Second floor, that will be rented.
CHAIRWOMAN: I really have to tell you that the code, our town code for a 2-family
unit, our town code requires an area of 80K sq. ft. And going from 80K sq. ft. to 8K sq.
ft. is a very big drop. That's No. 1. Even with the parking that you're showing, you're
showing parking on Rt. 48. There's no way to even get out onto 48 without backing out
into Rt. 48. Eight years that I've been on the board, the board has never approved a 2-
family dwelling on an 8K sq. ft. lot, or even for that matter, a 20K sq. ft. lot. But the
larger issue is that in February the Department of Health gave you approval for a single-
family residence. That means one family. It's, and the approval, I have the map here that
you're talking about, and the approval for the house that they gave you is substantially
smaller than, in fact the house that they gave you approval,you met the setbacks, the 35'
setback in the front, and the 35' setback in the rear. And the driveway was on the side.
Now the map that you're asking us to approve, shows a much larger house. So it shows
the driveway in the front coming back, right out into Rt. 48. It shows the setbacks don't
comply. And I don't think the HD is going to give you approval for a 2-family house on
an 8K sq. ft. lot.
MR. BAIG: There is only one little variance in this regard. As you have said that the
map approved was having 35' setback. And the one I have proposed is 30' setback from
the back. And from the front, that's what I'm demanding a variance. Next I have
requested that from the, instead of east side, I will leave 10' from the west side, and 15'
from the eastern side, making more room, space available for driveway as well as for
parking.
CHAIRWOMAN: But the snap that you submitted to the HD that was approved shows
all the parking on the east side. They are totally different maps. They are totally
different plans.
MR. BAIG: No the driveway also is in the same map. Only the difference is that the
setback has been increased, and that has been switched over from 10 to 15 from west to
east.
MEMBER ORLANDO: But you're putting another family in there too.
Page 113 of 125
114
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
CHAIRWOMAN: Exactly. You're trying to put another family in there. We don't have
any clear floor plans with this. So we really don't have any way to see what the sq.
footage of the house...
MR. BAIG: The floor plan, I think I submitted...
CHAIRWOMAN: There's no sq. footage on this at all. So it's impossible. And the
floor plan that you gave us does not match either one of the, the outlines of either one of
the plans that you gave us. So we have no way of calculating what the size of the
footprint of the I"floor or the 2"d floor. We have no method to even gauge that.
MR. BAIG: Yes, my proposed plan the one approved by the HD has given this
specification and the HD from the Rt. 48 side, the house will be 50' wide, from the east,
14' and the angle for the 8' and from the west side, 22'.
CHAIRWOMAN: Then this survey that you showed us here...
MR. BAIG: And the one I gave you with the approved setback of 30', the size of the
house will increase from 14 to 18'.
CHAIRWOMAN: I'm very confused then because the map that you submitted to us
says proposed 3 bedroom 2-story residence with a 3-bedroom apartment on the 2nd floor.
Is that the map that you want us to consider? That's not one that the HD has reviewed.
It's totally different.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: No. It's the nature of the one, the applicant has before us
today. That's the nature of the disapproval.
MR. BAIG: for the disapproval.
CHAIRWOMAN: Jerry, do you have any questions?
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: The point in question, the Notice of Disapproval (NOD)
reads, I mean the one that's before us, you could still make it subject to HD approval if
the gentlemen has to go back to the HD.
CHAIRWOMAN: He has applied to us for a Special Exception.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: I'm aware of that, but he also applied for a variance.
MR. BAIG: I applied for a variance and the HD already sent back to the zoning board
that they shouldn't go through the variance after the variance is down by the zoning
board. If the ZBA agreed that they allow for the setback of 30' from the front and back,
certainly HD will consider. Only thing that arises is the cesspools adjustment. Cesspools
Page 114 of 125
115
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
will be moved from the back to the front because running water is available.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: The only concern we have is the parking. And that is that
you really cannot back out on that road. Somehow you have to work some kind of
parking plan.
MR. BAIL: There's 123 front of this house and 30' wide. And the person who I have
requested to Mr. Stanley it had already, clearly mentioned here the proposed parking of
9' and 19' wide, long and wide. And those are there too. Entrance of 100' driveway
from the Rt. 48.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: I see the parking in the front of the house that you have
proposed. I think we should go on to the remaining people that have concerns regarding
this and then come back to the hearing and let you speak again. I think that's what we
should do. And that's what I propose to the chairperson.
CHAIRWOMAN: Is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak for or
against the applicant?
MARYLOU FOLTS, ESQ: Madame Chairwoman and members of the board, I'm
Maylou Folts of Lark and Folts. And I'm speaking to you on behalf of Halsey
Goldsmith, one of the neighbors of the property. He's a life tenant at 240 Freeman Rd.,
which is just north of the applicant's property. So it backs up to their backyard. I also
represent Teresa Buelawitz Thompsen who owns the parcel on the corner of Wickham
Ave., 1400 Wickham Ave. and CR 48. And also here is Valerie Meyer who owns the
parcel immediately to the north of the Thompson/Buelawitz. So her lot also backs up to
the Minhas property. Obviously I'm here because these adjacent neighbors oppose the
main thrust of this application, which is to construct this 2-family house on the
applicant's parcel at 6125 CR 48. 1 want to discuss I"the special exception portion of
the application. In making the determination, as you know, you have to follow the
general standards of section 100-2.63 of the zoning code and give consideration to those
specific factors enumerated in 100-264. 1 wish to discuss these factors at the outset. And
that should take care of most of my comments if you'll bear with me. I will, I would like
to address each and every one of these factors to lay it out for you. It's a hearing, and I'd
like to address each one of them. A, the character of their existing and probable
development of uses in the district and the peculiar suitability of such district for such
district for the location of any such pennitted uses. It's a mouthful, but as the board's
aware, the existing neighborhood consists of single family residences. The fact that the
houses are 1 or 2 story is irrelevant. I think that's part of Mr. Baig's confusion. They are
all single-family residences. The point is that the use of a residence is defined, not by the
number of floors. And the residences in this neighborhood are single family, and have
been for probably over 50 years. And considering the size of this applicant's property,
it's not suitable for a 2-family residence. As to factor B, the conservation of property
values and the encouragement of the most appropriate uses of land, as the board's aware,
Page 115 of 125
116
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
we're in Southold Town. This is only 8982 sq. ft. less than 2/10's of an acre. And it's
not NYC, or Queens, or the Bronx, or Brooklyn. We don't have that kind of density. As
to factor C, the effects of the location, the proposed use and the location that entrances
and exits may have upon the creation of undue influence of vehicular traffic congestions
on public streets, highways, or sidewalks to assure the public safety. At the outset,
there's no sidewalks. The entrance is on a turn lane actually. Off of CR 48, there's a turn
lane that starts about midway of this property. So the 2-family house on this undersized
lot is going to create additional traffic. The parking is shown as being provided in the
front yard. And as Mrs. Chariwoman pointed out, it involves backing out onto this bad
highway where there's a bad intersection at Wickham Ave. and CR 48. I think it was
even designated as one of the black spots where there's so many accidents that happen
there. I know within the past year, there was an accident just to the east of this Minhas
property where a child was killed. It's a busy highway, and I can't imagine backing out
onto as being an allowed use. The only relief I would see is if you let him create a single-
family house and have a semicircle driveway that came across the yard. At least in that
way he could drive across the front yard,point in and point out onto CR 48, but to create
a 2-family use which, to me, more than doubles the use of traffic at this point is just
creating a hazard that I don't think this board wants to incur. I think it's a prescription
for disaster. As to factor D, the availability of adequate and proper public or private
water supply and the facilities for treatment removal or discharge of sewage refuse or
other , or other liquid, solid, gaseous, or otherwise that may be caused or created
by, or as a result of the use. Again, the question here is for the board to consider that this
is a 2-family residence. It should have public water. Now I understand, and I didn't see
the HD map before the approval, but. And I was under the impression that public water
ran down Wickham Ave. I wasn't under the impression that it ran along Rt. 48,but
again, that would be for the HD to make that determination. I can't imagine the HD
approving a 2-family use without public water. And what's been presented to them,
obviously isn't the map that's before us, or what was sent to the adjoining neighbors. I
didn't see any application for a 4-bedroom house that was sent to everybody. It's 2-
family houses, they are identical levels from what I looked in your file. They are 3
bedrooms on each floor, living, dining,bathrooms, entrances, kitchens, everything
duplicate, one on top of the other. The next factor, factor E, whether the use of the
materials, incidental there too or produced thereby, may give off obnoxious gases, odors,
smoke or soot. You'll be happy to know I have no comment on that. Factor 4, whether
the use will cause disturbing emissions of electrical discharges, dust, light, vibration or
noise. This is probably not relevant because I don't know what they propose in the way
of lighting. That would be the only comment I would have to that. It they were going to
do something obnoxious with lighting on side yards or rear yards that would effect the
Thompson, Meyer, or Goldsmith property. Factor G, whether the operation in pursuance
of the use will cause undue interference with the orderly enjoyment by the public of
parking or recreational facilities either existing or proposed by the town, or by other
competent governmental agencies. Again, it's not relevant to this application. Factor H,
the necessity for luminous surface space for purposes of off street parking of vehicles
incidental to the use and whether such spaces reasonably adequate and appropriate and
Page 116 of 125
117
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
can be furnished by the owner of this lot sought to be used within or adjacent to the plot
wherein the use shall be located. Again, he's proposing, the applicants are proposing
parking slots on the front lawn and the driveway. And whether black top or asphalt, it
appears they are going to have, over half the front yard is paved over with something.
And just putting it all in the front yard just still is not feasible for safety purposes. That's
basically all'I have to say on that factor. The other factor, whether it's a hazard to life,
limb, or property because of fire, flood, erosion, or panic may be created by a reason or
result of the use or by the structures to be used therefore or by the inaccessibility of the
property or structures they are on for the convenient entry and operation of fire and other
emergency apparatus, or by the undue concentration or assemblage of persons upon the
plot. Now fire and emergency vehicles gaining access to the property is not a problem.
Obviously it's on this highway. And I know you're not building inspectors,but if you
look at the house and the various entrances on what you show on the floor plans that you
have, there's only an ingress and egress to the upstairs through the east or, I think, the
northeast corner of the floor plan so the upstairs can only be gotten to from that one end
of the house by, and that's, again,passing into the first floor of the house. I don't know.
I'm not a building inspector, either are you. But it's another factor that I'd want to
consider. The other factor, J, whether the use of the structures to be used therefore will
cause an overcrowding of land or undue concentration of population. Clearly by the
location of the proposed 2-family residents on CR 48 on this 8900 sq. ft. plot on a busy
intersection, and 2-families, obviously creates double the people, double the crowding,
double the traffic. I think that covers that. Factor K, whether the plot area is sufficient,
appropriate and adequate for the use and the reasonably anticipated operation and
expansion thereof. Again, it's a 2-family house on 2/10's of an acre property. It's,
common sense says it shouldn't have been brought. You've got 10 pounds and you're
trying to cram it into a 5-pound bag. That's the best way I can say it. The other factor, L,
whether the use is to be operated as unreasonably near to a church, school, theater,
recreational area, or other place of public assembly doesn't seem to be relevant to this
case. Factor M, whether the site of the proposed use is a particularly suitable for such
use. And again, for the reasons I've gone over, no, it's not suited. It's 8900 sq. ft. As to
factor N, whether adequate buffer yards and screening can and will be provided to
adjacent properties and land uses from possible detrimental impacts of the proposed use.
If you look at the lot today, it's densely wooded, but when you look where the proposed
plan is for the house, the parking, the driveway, cesspools, if he does have them. It's
obvious the property is going to be stripped of everything. And there would be no
buffers if, I don't know how much property they could possibly be left for buffers after
building, over-building what he wants to do here. Factor O, whether adequate provision
can and will be made for the collection and disposal of storm water runoff sewage,
refuse, and other liquid, solid, or gaseous waste which the proposed use will generate.
From what I can tell, it's a level piece of property. And basically when they build the
house, the grading will determine any kind of a runoff problem. But it doesn't seem to be
at this point. Factor P, whether the natural characteristics of the site or such that the
proposed use may be introduced there without undue disturbance or disruption of
important natural features, systems, or processes. And without risk of pollution to ground
Page 117 of 125
118
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals =
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
water and surface waters on and off the site. And again, on that, I have no comment.
CHAIRWOMAN: Could you,just because of the time, we do have to be out of here.
Do you have a copy of this, that you could provide us with?
MS. FOLTS: I'd like to get it on the record if I could. And it won't be too much longer.
I'm through reading the code to you. I don't mean to give a training lesson. I just want
to preserve the record and give you the grounds.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: If you give us a copy, it's automatically in the
record.
MS. FOLTS: I'd just like to continue, if you don't mind. As I said, the factors I just
went through, all of them the A-P are the matters you have to consider when you make
your 6 findings and determinations as required by the 100-263. And again,back in those
factors, the use of the property for a 2-family house will prevent the orderly and
reasonable use of adjacent properties because they are all single-family houses. And this
is a proposal for a 2-family house. If the applicant's lot is located in this legally
established single-family residential neighborhood, and I can't emphasize that enough.
The health and safety issue is obvious because of the traffic and I just can't imagine
backing out onto Rt. 48. Granting the special exception certainly doesn't promote
harmony in the general purposes of the code.'To grant the application raises the question
of why have zoning at all when it's not compatible with this neighborhood. And again,
factor F that the proposed structure be readily accessible, again, I don't know until we
know which plans they are dealing with. I just don't know what the house plans are.
Applicant's theory that this application is just for this lot and within this, it's boundary
and area. Again, it's contrary. If everybody went in and said, it's just for mine, don't
worry about it, it's just my lot, it's not. Once you give it to him, somebody else comes in.
It's special exception after special exception. Turning now, quickly if I can to the
variance issue, and I won't take up too much more of your time. The variance is again, is
for the 2-family house. And under town law, section 267B, the criteria can't be met.
CHAIRWOMAN: It's for special exception.
MS. FOLTS: For the area and for the 3 variances.
CHAIRWOMAN: The 2 setbacks, front, rear, and the lot area. And then there's special
exception. So we are looking at 3 variances and a special exception. The special
exception, which he has applied for, is what you just addressed, which is the 2-family
dwelling.
MS. FOLTS: The, basically the area variance ties into a lot of the same factors, what you
are looking at, the size of the property, the benefit that's sought by the applicant just can't
be had on this property. But it doesn't mean he's deprived of the use of his property.
Page 118 of 125
119
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
He's still got the option of coming to you for a single-family residence. And from what
you said, there's a map in your file that shows that he wouldn't even have to apply for
variances for setbacks if he went with a smaller, single-family house, which to me, seems
reasonable. Now I know he says he'd only request, for this particular variance, he wants
a 5' in a rear, and a 5' back rear yard and front yard setback adjustment. But that
becomes substantial when you consider the size of the parcel. So I submit to you it's
two-family, it's going to have an adverse impact on the neighborhood. Now the issue,
when you are looking at the variance, an area variance is weather his hardship is self
created. And I know that's not a commanding factor, it doesn't have to be the only factor
that you look at. But he bought it, I believe, in February of 2003. At that point, it was
already an 8982 sq. ft. lot. It hasn't changed. He bought it knowing what it was. The
county taking 15' or however many feet they took was years ago. And they took it and
compensated the owner at that time. When he bought in 2003, he bought what was there.
So he hasn't been deprived of anything at that point. And basically, the house size seems
to be based on his idea that he needs the money to support the child in his health and
other people's health, and that. But, again, I feel sorry for him, my clients feel sorry for
him. And we sympathize. But it's not, they've created their own hardship by buying this
small lot and trying to do too much with too little. So basically, scale it back and I'm
sure the neighbors wouldn't have an objection to a single-family residence without
backing out onto CR 48. And with a single-family residence, and half the traffic, and less
parking area, I think that can be worked out. In conclusion, the problem you are going to
have, is that the applicant's mere purchase does not warrant this 2-family, the variance
for the 2-family house. And if you deny the special exception, then I would think you'd
have to legally deny the variance and I guess that they reapply. You can't convert this, I
think to a single family because you need to have them reapply, give plans for the house
that they plan to build. And basically, I don't know what the confusion is with them with
the, whether it's 4 bedrooms, 6 bedrooms, or what. But what we are looking at is a 2-
family house. And if he presented you the same plans and said, gee, I want a single
family house. I think you'd look at it and say hey, it looks like a duck, walks like a duck,
quacks like a duck, it's a duck. It's a 2-family house whether he came back with the
same plans. I think if you approve a single-family residence with this kind of plans,
you're just kind of saying yeah, yeah, you're going to have something illegal, accessory,
happen there. So again, when he comes back, you'll give further consideration as to what
he's trying to do. I feel badly that he can't do what he wants to do with his property.
But, again, it's not for you, the board, to grant variances or special exceptions based on
self-created hardship or the fact that you just want something that the neighborhood
doesn't allow. Basically, I'm just asking you, at tliis point, to deny the special exception,
and deny the 3 variances. And I thank you for your time. Enough said.
CHAIRWOMAN: Is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak for or
against the applicant?
MR. BAIG: Can I give you, these are the pictures of 3-story houses built in area.
Page 119 of 125
120
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
CHAIRWOMAN: Mr. Baig, we have to be out of Town Hall at a certain time, and we
really have to wrap this up. And the other 2-story houses in the neighborhood. They are
single family. That's one family. So it does not matter that they are 2 stories.
MR. BAIG: Only one thing I am mentioning here. They have rented those houses and
are earning money. I don't know how far it is right, but these are the documents I had
been submitting all those neighborhoods. Next a traffic hazard, entrance and exit of this
lot is from the Rt. 48, not from the neighborhood. And there is a curb available for the
entrance and exit. If you have to go and see, personally,because no proper map is
available from the Southold Town for this regarding how the road map has been planned
on this for the traffic. It's a very convenient entrance and exit available because there is a
traffic light there. And it is safe that the environmental hazard, yes I was aware of the
extent that this kind of thing can come. There's water available if they don't want, and
they want a lot of water to irrigate their lawns and grasses and other things, certainly they
would not allowed to use that water. But for drinking water, as many families need
water,more is available. And nobody can be denied from getting water to use for their
personal use instead of irrigating their lawns. And this has been in the newspaper that
people should be suggested that they should not misuse this water for irrigating
their lawns. And next, it is very wise to allow multi-family living in this area to save the
agricultural land has been doing. To save the land for the betterment
environmental and other things that are going on if you'll not allow the people
to make multi-story buildings, then how can you save the land? Further houses will be
built in that instead of extending the size of the lot. This lot...
CHAIRWOMAN: I'm going to have to cut you short because we've devoted over an
hour to this hearing. And there are people who've been waiting here since 2:00. And we
simple cannot devote anymore time. It's not fair to them.
MR. BAIG: Thank you very much.
CHAIRWOMAN: We will take all of your comments into consideration. And thank
you for your presentation. I'll snake a motion to close the hearing and reserve decision.
PLEASE SEE MINUTES FOR RESOLUTION
4:08 p.m. ERNEST SCHNEIDER#5343. Request for a Variance under Section
100-30A.3, based on the Building Department's March 11, 2003 Notice of
Disapproval. Applicant proposes a lot with an area of less than 40,000 sq. ft. and lot
width of less than 150 ft. in this R-40 Residential Zone District. Location of
Property: 1015 and 915 Lakeside Drive, Southold; CTM 9-4-5- and 6.
CHAIRWOMAN: Is someone here who would like to speak on behalf of the applicant?
GAIL WICKHAM, ESQ: Two issues 1'd like to go over. First of all the front yard
Page 120 of 125
121
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
width, as you can see, we are merely moving 9' from one lot to another. The lot that is
being reduced by 9' has an existing dwelling. It has plantings and a driveway that are not
in the effected area. The total lot width of both parcels together will not change. The
object of a lot line change was to snake what was an existing legal vacant lot a little bit
bigger because of it's proximity to the wetlands. On the second point area, I just spoke to
Damon at the BD because I think he and I both misread the snap. And the 40K sq. ft. that
he thought we were under, he was referring, and he had circled on his snap, on tax lot 6
proposed adjacent area, 27K sq. ft. If you go up and look at the map, itself, on the upper
lot, it says 1.9 acres proposed. So it is, in fact, over 40K sq. ft.
CHAIRWOMAN: That's the one thing, because our maps came in 2 different pieces. If
I could just, if we could just get to the real, it's like fill in the blanks. Lot 5 is the size
now, is lot 5 is the wetland lot.
MS. WICKHAM: .825 acres.
CHAIRWOMAN: Excuse me?
MS. WICKHAM: .825 acres.
CHAIRWOMAN: Do we have any sq. footage on that?
MS. WICKHAM: 35K, 36K
CHAIRWOMAN: 36K, is that even?
MS. WICKHAM: 35,933.80. I'm sorry, I was rushing, because I know you are so far
behind.
CHAIRWOMAN: The size of lot 5 now. And after the change, it's going to be?
MS. WICKHAM: 49,590 sq. ft.
CHAIRWOMAN: Okay, lot 6?
MS. WICKHAM: Lot 6 is now 57,613.
CHAIRWOMAN: And it will be?
MS. WICKHAM: It will be 43,956. 1 hope if we subtract, it may come out right.
CHAIRWOMAN: We'll make them come out right. That was the question actually of,
that was the only question I have for this whole thing. I know that you've been to the
Planning Board on it, and I know that you've been granted a waiver from the Town
Page 121 of 125
122
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
Board on it. And I have absolutely no objections.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Nor do I.
CHAIRWOMAN: And board members have any questions?
MEMBER HORNING: Again, clarification,proposed adjacent area for 5 is say, 27K?
MS. WICKHAM: That's a demarcation that the environmental agencies, the DEC
requires it to be shown on the map. And I confirmed that with the surveyor that that's
what that refers to. Is what the DEC needs to show is an adjacent area, adjacent to
wetlands. And it has to do with elevations and what not.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Both lots over 40K sq. ft, correct?
MS. WICKHAM: Yes.
BOARD SECRETARY KOWALSKI: I just wanted to make sure I have the right
numbers.
CHAIRWOMAN: They will be after the change.
MEMBER ORLANDO: Quick question. The proposed house will be sold to stranger,
relatives, friends?
MS. WICKHAM: It will be built by and occupied by Mr. Schneider. He's selling the
existing house.
CHAIRWOMAN: Congratulations.
MS. WICKHAM: He's living in a trailer right now.
CHAIRWOMAN: I make a motion to close the hearing and reserve decision to later.
PLEASE SEE MINUTES FOR RESOLUTION
4:14 p.m. PETER BOGER #5341 - Request for a Variance under Section 100-33C
(ref. 100-244B), based on the Building Department's February 11, 2003 Notice of
Disapproval. Applicant proposes to demolish an existing accessory shed and to
construct a new accessory building at less than 35 feet from the front lot line, at 717
Private Road #12, Southold; CTM#1000-87-4-4.
PETER BOGER: My name is Peter Boger. I'm the owner of the subject property on
Page 122 of 125
123
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
which I'm seeking a variance. My family has owned this property for 55 years. The
property is presently improved with a 950 sq. ft. approximate seasonal bungalow and
metal shed. I am seeking to demolish the existing deteriorating metal shed, and replace it
with a wooded shed. The shed has been in this location for over 40 years. It needs to be
in this particular location as I mentioned in my application because the shed houses,
among other things, the well pump and the tank for domestic water for the house. The
well needs to be in that location because of proximity to the wetlands and adjacent
cesspools. So there really is no other practical spot in the yard which to place the shed.
The initial application was denied because the Building Department (BD) deemed the
shed to be in the front yard, but as a practical matter looking at the survey and looking at
the land, layout of the house, it is really, in effect, the backyard. So what I'm seeking to
do is replace this with a nice,more attractive, wooden shed. I've spoken with 3 out of the
4 neighbors in question. None of those 3 have any objection to the proposed
construction.
CHAIRWOMAN: The application is actually very simple. You want to be 22' from the
so-called ROW. I understand. I have no questions/comments/objections to this
whatsoever.
MEMBER OLIVA: No questions.
MEMBER ORLANDO: I agree it will look much nicer than the existing shed.
MR. BOGER: You've seen it, I guess.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Yes, I was down there and I couldn't agree with you more.
It will look much nicer.
MEMBER HORNING: I'm pleased with the application. I looks very straightforward.
CHAIRWOMAN: Is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak for or
against the applicant? Seeing no hands, I'll make a motion closing the hearing reserving
the decision until later.
PLEASE SEE MINUTES FOR RESOLUTION
4:16 p.m. ROBERT SAMOLEWSKI #5338. Request for a Variance under Section
100-33, based on the Building Department's March 14, 2003 Notice of Disapproval.
Applicant proposes an accessory garage in an area other than the code required
rear yard, at 7800 Alvah's Lane, Cutchogue; CTM#1000-101-1-19.3.
CHAIRWOMAN: Is someone here who would like to speak on behalf of the applicant?
You want to put a new garage...
Page 123 of 125
124
June 19,2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
ROBERT SAMOLEWSKI: Yes, on the corner of 48 and Alvah's Lane. We are building
a new house and we want to put a detached garage. And because it's on the corner, it
says we have 2 front yards, but it's really the side yard because where the driveway is and
all. I have an existing tree line that I put up. It's setback 65' off of the Main Road. And
then the garage is going 90' from the Main Road. So it's plenty far away from the Main
Road. I also have pictures here if you need to see as far as the way it's set up.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: You mean Middle Road, you don't mean Main Road.
MR. SAMOLEWSKI: Oh yes, Middle Road, 48.
MEMBER ORLANDO: When are you going to get the crane there to put that together?
MR. SAMOLEWSKI: Right.
CHAIRWOMAN: I don't have any questions.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: The house will contain utility of what? Pardon me, the
garage, the utility of what?
MR. SAMOLEWSKI: Just for storage. Electric will be in there.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: No water?
MR. SAMOLEWSKI: No water.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: Thank you.
MEMBER OLIVA: No questions, good luck.
MEMBER ORLANDO: I'll follow up with Jerry. Just storage?
MR. SAMOLEWSKI: Just storage.
MEMBER GOEHRINGER: One story, or 2-story?
MR. SAMOLEWSKI: It's a 2-story, 2-car garage.
MEMBER ORLANDO: No bathroom, or anything like that?
MR. SAMOLEWSKI: No.
MEMBER ORLANDO: I'd be tough with no water, right?
Page 124 of 125
125
June 19, 2003
Southold Town Board of Appeals
Regular Meeting Public Hearing
MR. SAMOLEWSKI: Yes it would be.
MEMBER ORLANDO: No other questions, good luck.
CHAIRWOMAN: Is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak for or
against the applicant?
MEMBER ORLANDO: Is that going to be stick built or modular?
MR. SAMOLEWSKI: Stick built.
CHAIRWOMAN: Good luck. And I'm going to make a motion closing the hearing,
reserving decision until later.
PLEASE SEE MINUTES FOR RESOLUTION
Public hearing concluded 4:20pm
Page 125 of 125