Low turnout for budget hearing

By Deborah S. Morris
deborah.morris@newsday.com

Only one person spoke at Tuesday night’s Huntington Town Board meeting during a public hearing on the preliminary operating and capital budgets.

Town Supervisor Frank Petrone said it has been the practice over the past five years to have the budget public hearings moved up one hour to 6 p.m., to give residents enough time to comment.

“In case we have a long session,” Petrone said. “But we never know. We’ve been stuck before where people complained that there wasn’t enough time.”

Public notices for the hearings were published, as required by law, in the September 27 editions of two area weekly newspapers.

The lone speaker, Bill Dowler, who is running for election to the town board in November, said the time change is confusing to the residents who are used to the town board meetings starting at 7 p.m. and contributed the change to the low resident turnout. He also was upset that the public hearings, on the operating and capital budgets, were to be separate but were combined into one.

“This is probably one of the more important issues to residents because it has to do with spending our tax dollars,” Dowler said. “Conveniently the meeting time was changed. It’s ridiculous. They short changed the people who had an opinion to express.”

Petrone said the board will vote on the budget next month. He said that meeting will be held on Nov. 7 at 7 p.m., instead of the previous Tuesday because of Election Day.

The 2008 preliminary budget released by the town maintains the current tax rate in the three major town funds: the General Fund, the Part-Town Fund and the Refuse Fund. In addition, for the second consecutive year, there will be no increase in the Highway Fund tax rate.

The budget of $191,313,577 is $2.5 million more than the 2007 fiscal plan. The increase is largely due to an increase in payroll costs and operating expenses. The average town tax payer who is living in a home assessed at $4,100, will pay $759 per year in taxes for the three major funds, which represents no increase from 2007.

The town’s 2008 capital budget is $13.5 million, a decrease of $3.4 million, and includes funding for several major initiatives and new projects. The Capital Budget also includes $1.2 million for the Veteran’s Community Center at Soundview.

Fundshave also been earmarked for several projects including $600,000 to complete drainage improvements on Round Swamp Road; $500,000 for Economic Development Corp. acquisition of property and Huntington Station Revitalization; $250,000 for road and drainage improvements at Bagatelle Road; $100,000 for the Dix Hills Pool locker rooms and $175,000 for GIS Technology in the Highway Department.

“We’ve talked things out before so people pretty much know [what’s going on] that if there’s anything glaring that’s an issue, we’ll make a modification,” Petrone said. “After it’s voted on, it becomes the adopted budget, then it gets sent to the county where they do the warrant to decide the tax rate.”

Lloyd Harbor trustee resigns

Lloyd Harbor Village Trustee Christopher Seniuk has resigned from the board for personal reasons, Mayor Leland Hairr announced this week.

Hairr, who made the announcement Monday night at the village board meeting, said Seniuk had served the village for approximately 15 years. “He served first on the environmental review board and then he was on the village planning board,” Hairr said. “And then for the last approximately seven years . . . he has been a trustee of the village.”

Seniuk, who was not present at Monday’s meeting and could not be reached immediately for comment, was last elected in June 2005. The board will appoint a replacement who will serve until June, when a special election will be held to fill the remaining year on Seniuk’s four-year term.

“We usually appoint someone who has experience in village government . . . who has served on other boards,” Hairr said. He added that Seniuk would be honored at the next board meeting in November.

Vanderbilt projector funding approved

The Suffolk Legislature voted yesterday 17-1 to $1.5 million to begin replacing the 36-year-old star projector at the Vanderbilt Planetarium in Centerport.

The planetarium has determined that people coming for the star show generate about a half million dollars a year in revenue for the museum. A second phase of funding, for $1.4 million, would be necessary in a later year to complete the replacement of the aging projector. Yesterday’s measure was sponsored by Legis. Jon Cooper (D-Lloyd Harbor)

The planetarium, at 180 Little Neck Rd., opened in 1971 on the grounds of the Vanderbilt estate. The main feature of the facility is a 60-foot Sky Theater, where the GOTO star projector can display the sun, moon, stars and planets. According to the museum, the projector can show 11,369 stars, the Milky Way and several deep sky objects, allowing the staff to recreate the visible night sky as seen under perfect observing conditions.

What the neighbors are up to

The town’s Zoning Board of Appeals meets tomorrow at 6 p.m. to discuss the following:

Centerport

Donna Marano seeks to legalize a detached structure (shed) with finished walls and heat to be used as an art studio, east side of McKinley Terrace, west of Centerport Harbor.

East Northport

James Petrosino / Petrosino and Mannibin Architecture, seeks lot-area, lot-width and front- and side-yard variances for first-floor alterations, proposed second floor, roof-over front porch and to legalize shed, west side of West Point Drive, south of Pulaski Road.

Anthony Carrano seeks a special-use permit to convert to a two-family house with office, legalize enclosed porch and decks and parking of commercial equipment and overnight storage requiring site-plan review and setback relief, north side of Brightside Avenue, east of Larkfield Road.

Richard Haufman seeks relief of merger of tax map 050.00 and 051.00 in order to demolish pool and shed on lot 50, build a home on lot 050 and legalize front (long-street side yard) addition CO 063807, too close to property line and legalize deck, southeast corner of Dickinson Avenue and Grant Street.

Huntington

Sally’s Chocolate Llc seeks to utilize municipal parking lot in lieu of on-site parking to utilize premises for a restaurant, north side of Main Street / Route 25A, east of Wall Street.

John Dicke seeks an area variance to legalize an 8-foot by 12-foot detached shed with a rear roof-over on the property line, east side of Blackberry Lane, south of Cherry Place.

Huntington Station

Dennis and Joan Shin seek a use variance to legalize the nonconforming use of property as a multiple-family house (six apartments), north side of West 19th Street, west of New York Avenue.

Melville

RMB Drafting Services, Inc. seeks rear-yard variance to build a two-car, attached garage and requests to legalize shed and deck in conforming location, southeast corner of Breton Avenue and Saxon Street.

In Huntington, we cover the waterfront

By Michael R. Ebert
michael.ebert@newsday.com

The Town of Huntington recently extended its contract with Cashin Associates, the Hauppauge-based engineering firm in charge of preparing the town’s local waterfront revitalization plan (LWRP).

As part of the deal, Cashin will receive $8,000 to conduct an environmental review, which the town had originally planned to conduct itself, according to town officials.

“Initially, the town had planned to complete the environmental review in-house,” said town spokesperson Fran Evans, who noted the environmental review would study the potential ecological impacts of the LWRP. “But the Town Board decided it makes more sense for Cashin to handle it, since they are already handling so much of the project.”

The LWRP is the result of 1981 state legislation that encouraged local municipalities to manage development and protect natural resources. The policy of the plan is to cultivate a pattern of development in coastal areas that enhances community character and preserves open space. Huntington’s LWRP excludes the four incorporated villages of Asharoken, Huntington Bay, Lloyd Harbor, and Northport, which are preparing their own plans.

Five months ago, the town butted heads with residents who were confused over a plan to rezone town-owned underwater land from residential to a “Maritime Zoning” classification, which is needed to get final approval from the state to implement the town’s LWRP plan. Local residents were afraid the rezoning would encroach on their deeded land.

According to Evans, the town’s initial contract with Cashin was approved in 2005 for the amount of $60,000. To date, approximately $57,300 of that allotment has been spent. She was unsure of the timeframe of the environmental review.

Lloyd Harbor passes on traffic change

Trustees Hilary Rolih, Leland Deane, Ralph Alfenito, Mayor Leland Hairr, Trustees Jean Thatcher and William Walsh during last night's vote about the causeway.

By Tim Healy
tim.healy@newsday.com

After a public hearing in which many residents present opposed a proposal to eliminate a passing zone on the West Neck Road/Lloyd Harbor Road causeway, the Lloyd Harbor village board last night decided to retain the passing lane.

The board did vote to reduce the speed limit on the causeway to 35 mpg, from 45, and on an unrelated measure voted to abolish the village police commission and replace it with a police chief.

Twenty-one residents spoke about the causeway proposals, many expressing frustration with the prospect of driving on the lengthy road without the possibility of passing a slow moving vehicle. The passing zone, two-tenths of a mile, is the only place along the road where a car may legally pass another.

Trustee Hilary Rolih, who made the motions to put the speed and passing ordinances up for a vote, said opponents should accept the longer drive. “I’m willing to take the extra five minutes to ensure the safety of our residents.”

The speed limit resolution passed 5-1, with Trustee Ralph Alfenito, at left, casting the opposing vote. He said he had come prepared to support the measure but was swayed by the opposition residents expressed at the hearing. No member of the board would second Rolih’s motion for a vote on the no-passing measure.

The board asked consultants to perform further studies on the road to see if other changes should be considered. For a portion of the original recommendations from Eschbacher VHB engineering, minus the appendix, click here.

Mayor Leland Hairr, when asked if he were surprised by the outcome of the vote on the passing zone, said, “We were very open to see what kind of comments we were going to get from the residents.”

The board also voted to have a police chief run the village’s 12-member department, replacing the police commission. Since 1985, the village police department has been run by a board of police commissioners consisting of two trustees and a chairperson appointed by the mayor, with the approval of the board of trustees.

Hairr said it was not yet determined who would be named to the police chief position. He said the next step was to work with the Suffolk County Civil Service commission to list the position as open.

Funding for Vanderbilt star projector

By Tim Healy
tim.healy@newsday.com

The Suffolk County Legislature is to vote tomorrow on a measure to allocate $1.5 million to begin replacing the 36-year-old star projector at the Vanderbilt Planetarium in Centerport.

“The museum is in agreement that the projector is on its last legs,” explained Legis Jon Cooper (D-Lloyd Harbor), “and we really have to move forward at this point.” Cooper, sponsor of the bill, said the planetarium had determined that the people coming for the star show generate about a half million dollars a year in revenue for the museum.

A second phase of funding, for $1.4 million, would be necessary in a later year to complete the project.

“It’s been in the budget for a number of years now,” Cooper said, “but frankly the funds got raided this year and got raided last year and they were reallocated for other programs at the museum.” Cooper said he expected the bill pass overwhelmingly.

The planetarium, at 180 Little Neck Rd., opened in 1971 on the grounds of the Vanderbilt estate. The main feature of the facility is a 60-foot Sky Theater, where the GOTO star projector can display the sun, moon, stars and planets. According to the museum, the projector can show 11,369 stars, the Milky Way and several deep sky objects, allowing the staff to recreate the visible night sky as seen under perfect observing conditions.

Lloyd Harbor schedules hearing on ending police commission

The village board in Lloyd Harbor meets tomorrow night to hold public hearings on three proposed laws involving public safety – including a measure to change the way the police department is managed.

Since 1985, the village police department has been run by a board of police commissioners consisting of two trustees and a chairperson appointed by the mayor, with the approval of the board of trustees. The measure being discussed tomorrow night would abolish the board of police commissioners and replace it with a police chief who would report to the board of trustees.

The village arranged for a study by Melito & Associates, a management consulting firm with experience in police operations. The study pointed out only 20 out of 388 police departments in the state are managed by a police commission, with Lloyd Harbor being the only such department among the 22 in Suffolk County.

According to the village, the report concluded that by having a police chief the village “is likely to get the most oversight and operational value for its police dollars spent.”

The village is also holding hearings on laws to reduce the speed limit on the West Neck Road/Lloyd Harbor Road causeway to 35 m.p.h. – to match the rest of the village – and to double stripe the road as a no-passing zone. Both measures were prompted by traffic accidents along the causeway.

The hearings are scheduled to start at 8 p.m. at the Lloyd Harbor Elementary School on School Lane.

What the neighbors are up to

Compiled by Lynn Petry

The town's Zoning Board of Appeals meets Thursday at 6 p.m. to consider the following:

Centerport
Northeast Drafting seeks a front-yard variance to build an enclosed front porch, west side of Washington Drive, south of Van Buren Street.

Commack
Public Storage seeks a special-use permit to construct a second, two-story building with each floor having an area of 31,350 square feet and total building area of 62,700 square feet, where not more than one main building on a lot is permitted, floor area greater than 60 percent, south side of Jericho Turnpike, west of Calvert Avenue.

Huntington
Jeffrey Richey seeks a special-use permit in order to receive site-plan approval for use of municipal parking lot in order to convert existing building for office retail space on first floor, two, one-bedroom apartments on second floor and cellar storage, on the east side of New York Avenue, north of Gerard Street.

Huntington Station
Joseph E. Shwereb seeks a front- and side yard variance to remove existing enclosed porch and build a two-story addition and build a front roofed over porch, west of Fernwood Road, north of Foxwood Drive.

Anthony and Suzanne Marrone seek a buffer requirement for parking to build a 26-foot by 38-foot detached garage, northeast corner of Birchwood Drive and Hare Place.

Warren Almquist AIA seeks a special-use permit and parking requirements to legalize the existing U-Haul Center for truck rental and self-storage facility, which has occupied the property without obtaining the required permits since 1978, north side of Jericho Turnpike, east of Homecrest Avenue.

Maximilliano Sanchez seeks a front-yard variance to legalize conversion of front porch to living space and to replace expired building permits for a second-story rear addition and detached shed, south side of East 11th Street, west of First Avenue.

Methods to avoid home foreclosure

By Deborah Morris
deborah.morris@newsday.com

The Community Development Corporation of Long Island will hold a free seminar on how to avoid home foreclosure in Huntington. Hosted by Councilwomen Glenda Jackson, the seminar, Hope For Homeowners: Taking Positive Steps to Avoid Foreclosure, will cover pertinent methods to avoid the foreclosure of your house, as well as discuss options in the event of such a situation. The event takes place Monday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m. in the town board room. To RSVP, call Susannah Mrazek at 631-351-3270.

What the neighbors are up to

Compiled by Lynn Petry
lynn.petry@newsday.com

The Huntington Town Zoning Board of Appeals meets Thursday at 6 p.m. to consider the following applications:

East Northport

Linda Silvestri seeks a rear-yard variance to remove existing roofed-over patio and build a rear addition to enlarge kitchen, dining room and bathroom and attached deck, southwest corner of Selden and Cedar Hill drives.

Greenlawn

John Condon Realty Inc. seeks a rear-yard variance to legalize garage addition and legalize gazebo and deck, southwest corner of Kipling Drive and Frost Lane.

Michael T. Matassa seeks a use variance in order to convert a house to an accessory apartment legal for non-resident and conditional accessory apartment upon the approval of Suffolk County Health Department.

Huntington

James Galtieri seeks front- and rear-yard variances to legalize a one-story addition in the rear and build a front roofed-over porch to existing single-family house, east side of Anondale Drive, northeast of West Pulaski Road.

Thomas Abbate seeks a special-use permit and parking variance to expand existing restaurant with an 896-square-foot party room, west side of Wall Street, south of Southdown Road.

Michael E. and Deborah Ferranti seek a front-yard variance and relief of merger to legalize front-yard setback for existing letter in lieu of house, demolish masonry building and build a new single-family house. New lot to be conforming in all respects, east side of Virginia Avenue, south of Canyon Street.

Huntington Station

David and Stacey Elar seek a front-yard variance to legalize a front porch conversion, finish basement, replace building permit No. 983425 to build deck with awning and legalize shed, south side of East 25th Street, west of Homecrest Avenue.

Northport

Jack and JoEllen McCarthy seek a side-yard variance to build wood entry deck with open carport below, family room and basement rear patio with second-story roofed deck above, to legalize detached oversized garage with storage above shed, in-ground pool, removal of decks, converted garage and basement, east side of Rinaldo Road, north of Woodycrest Drive.

Town gets $50,000 LIPA grant

By Deborah S. Morris
deborah.morris@newsday.com

The town of Huntington received a $50,000 grant from the Long Island Power Authority for research of Long Island Sound.

The grant is being provided in conjunction with the $100 million Northport-to-Norwalk cable project sponsored by LIPA and Connecticut Light and Power. The project will replace the electric transmission cable system that links Northport with Norwalk, Connecticut.

Huntington Town Supervisor Frank Petrone said the funds will be used to continue the town’s efforts in complying with the Environmental Protection Agency. In 2002, an EPA directive required operators of small, separate municipal storm sewer systems to develop practices to control polluted storm water runoff. This involves sampling runoff from major outfall pipes to determine which are the most significant contributors of coli form.

“Since high coli form counts can result in closures of public beaches and restrictions on shell fishing, it can have very negative social and economic impacts in an area like Huntington,” Petrone said. “This study will complement our ongoing efforts to improve water quality in Huntington Harbor while providing valuable information.”

Work on the cable project began earlier this month when seven fluid-insulated lines were taken out of service. The removal of those cables is scheduled to begin next month. Those cables will be replaced with three state-of-the-art solid core cables that can transmit 300 megawatts of electricity between Long Island and Connecticut.

Installation and testing of the new cables is expected to be completed by the end of 2008. The new cables will help strengthen the reliability of the electric grid on both sides of the sound, according to LIPA.

Suffolk DA funds Asharoken PD computers

Asharoken Police Officer Alex Rubino uses one of the new mobile computers installed in two of the department's patrol cars.

Asharoken police have been given two mobile computers to use in their patrol cars, providing them greater access to criminal and motor vehicle information and better communications with county and neighboring police departments.

The computers were paid for and installed with more than $20,000 in asset forfeiture funds turned over by Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas J. Spota. According to the Asharoken police, the DA’s office has, over the years, provided essential equipment to Asharoken police, including radios and defibrillators.

The computers are also expected to provide a vital link in the growing homeland security network that seeks to connect all law enforcement agencies, according to the police.


Photo by Steve Silverman / Asharoken Police Department

Panel to study underage drinking

A countywide task force to study underage drinking has been formed, according to Leg. Steve Stern (D-Huntington), and it has scheduled three public hearings in coming months, including one in Dix Hills.

The 10-person task form has representatives from the Suffolk County Police Department, the County Probation and Health Services departments, the County’s STOP-DWI Program, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Students Against Drunk Driving.

Stern’s legislation, adopted June 26, has created a working task force that will study issues facing adolescents such as exposure to alcohol, peer pressure, the risk of carrying out or being a victim of physical or sexual assault or even death from injuries as a result of underage drinking.

“Several municipalities in New York State have undertaken aggressive campaigns to curb underage drinking and Suffolk County needs to do the same,” Stern said in a statement issued from the Legislature’s office of presiding supervisor. “Suffolk County must develop an effective strategy to combat underage drinking which, at a minimum, should include law enforcement and educational components. Too many families and too many communities continue to experience the pain of loss and injuries to loved ones as a consequence of underage drinking.”

The task force will hold its first public hearing on Thursday, Oct. 4 at the Suffolk County Legislature, William H. Rogers Building in Hauppauge from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. A second hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 14 at the Half Hollow Hills High School East Lecture Hall, 50 Vanderbilt Pkwy., Dix Hills from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., with a final hearing to be scheduled in December.

The task force will expire in January and submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the county Legislature and the county executive.

The members besides Stern, who will serve as chairman, are:

Maria Perez-Lent, coordinator, Suffolk County STOP DWI

Officer Andrea Neubauer, Suffolk County Probation Dept.

Fran Greenspan, Nassau-Suffolk School Boards

Deena Cohen, President LI Chapter MADD

Olivia Fishetti and Emily Hemendinger, SADD

Jacquelyn Best, Suffolk County Health Services

Capt. Thomas Palmieri, Suffolk County Police Dept.

Mary Silberstein, director, Pederson-Krag Center (medical expert)

Kym Laube, director, Human Understanding Growth Seminars "HUGS" (alcohol abuse prevention)

Huntington OKs $1.6M for bridge repair

The Huntington Town Board last night approved entering into a contract with RB Conway and Sons of Bay Shore for the reconstruction of the Mill Dam Causeway for $1.6 million.

The causeway, which crosses Mill Pond between the Little Neck peninsula and Huntington Beach, was closed to vehicle traffic late last month when it was deemed unsafe by the town's highway superintendent. It is expected to be closed for several months.

The board also held several hearings on proposed local laws, including one to ban private helicopters from landing in the town, and one to allow the town to designate a home as possibly containing an illegal apartment if the building has two entrances or two doorbells. That measure, if adopted, would let the town qualify for a Suffolk County program that provides funds to combat illegal housing.

Votes on both measures are pending.

Jo-Ann Raia, the town clerk, delivered copies of the town's proposed operating and capital budgets. Public hearings on the two documents are scheduled for Oct. 16.

Huntington board considers helicopter ban

The Huntington Town Board meets tonight to consider banning many helicopters from landing in the town.

The board will hold a hearing on the “motorized aircraft” ordinance, which was described by an official as preemptive, since private helicopters are not now landing in the town and no one has applied for permission to do so.

The board is also scheduled to:

Amend its regulations on accessory apartments in order to qualify for a Suffolk County program that provides funds to combat illegal housing. The measure would add having two doors or two doorbells to the list of indicators of accessory apartments.

Authorize the supervisor to execute a contract with RB Conway & Sons for reconstruction of the Mill Dam Causeway in Centerport.

Schedule public hearings for Oct. 16 on the town’s operating and capital budgets.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at town hall. For a full preliminary agenda, click here.

What the neighbors are up to

Compiled by Lynn Petry

The town’s Zoning Board of Appeals meets Thursday at 6 p.m. to consider the following applications:

Commack

Angela Cipriani seeks front-yard variance to legalize front wood porch and legalize conversion of rear open porch to an enclosed heated porch, west side of Larry Drive, south of Rosalie Place.

Richard Punturo seeks to legalize a 12-foot by 10-foot storage shed, 8-foot by 7-foot gazebo, both in front of the main house, and legalize decks attached to rear of house, northwest corner of Galleine Street and Burton Lane.

Dix Hills

Thomas Raneri seeks side-yard variance to build a second-story addition, new portico, two dormers and interior alteration and legalize conversion of detached two-car carport to attached two-car garage by an enclosed breezeway and legalize front porch, west side of Westminster Avenue, north of Ormonde Street.

All Island Permits seeks long-street side-yard variance to build a front roofed-over porch, southwest corner of Broadoak Lane and Woodsend Road.

East Northport

Vincent Mercuries / All Island Permits seeks front- and long-street side yard variances to build first- and second-story additions with proposed front portico and masonry steps with planter in long-street side-yard and to replace expired permit for addition and garage conversion, southeast corner of Cedar Road.

Raffaele Petruzzellis seeks a side-yard variance to legalize a cellar entrance, west side of Larkfield Road, south of Cedar Road.

Huntington Station

Huntington Indoor Tennis Inc. seeks to build an addition of 8,092-square-foot for additional tennis court requiring rear-yard relief, relaxation of buffers, interpretation from zoning board of appeals and parking relief, south side of Broadway across from Highview Avenue.

Melville

Anthony Branchinelli / Route 110 Associates, Llc, received parking relief (Zoning Board of Appeals 18947) to apply to Planning Board for site-plan approval to demolish existing 2800-square-foot restaurant and build 4,550-square-foot structure, as per Department of Transportation, applicant now requires relief for two additional parking spaces.

Pool safety measure passes unanimously

The Suffolk County Legislature today unanimously approved creation of an annual "Be Pool Smart" public education campaign to promote pool safety.

The vote follows the drowning death of a 3-year-old Mastic Beach boy in his family's backyard pool earlier this month and the drowning of a 4-year-old Commack girl who was found in her family's pool last month.

The measure, sponsored by Majority Leader Jon Cooper (D-Huntington), above, is designed to inform the public about pool safety steps, include proper fencing, pool alarms and door exit alarms, as well as safety covers when pools are not in use. The campaign will emphasize that none of these steps is a substitute for constant adult supervision.

The cornerstone of the campaign will be an annual poster contest for elementary school students in Suffolk County. The winning poster will be featured on the front cover of a pool safety pamphlet that will be printed each year by the Department of Health and Human Services and that will be distributed free to schools, public libraries, pool supply stores and other locations.

Huntington Bay zoning meeting tomorrow

The Huntington Bay Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing tomorrow night at 7:30 to review five applications. Because a large crowd is expected, the meeting has been moved to the Halesite Fire House, 1 New York Ave., Huntington.

The five applications, as described by the village, are:

Morris Sendor; 17 Locust Lane: In order to construct an in-ground pool, patio and pool equipment the applicant requires a variance for Area of lot and Lot Area Coverage. The subject property is located within flood hazard zone: X, areas outside of five hundred (500) year floodplain.

Fran Geier; 23 Heckscher Dr. In order to construct additions and alterations the applicant requires a variance for Area of lot, Floor area ratio, Lot area coverage, Side yards, Rear yard, and Items permitted in setback areas. Site Plan Review by the Planning Board of the Village of Huntington Bay is also required. As the subject property is located adjacent to Huntington Harbor,a permit for construction or a letter of non jurisdiction issued by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is required. As the subject property is within 500ft. of a village boundary, referral to the Suffolk County Planning Commission is required.

Dan Lefkowitz; 1 Shore Dr. In order to legalize an enlarged reverse gable and a new reverse gable, both built without benefit of a building permit, the applicant requires a variance for Area of Lot, Width of Lot, Floor area ratio, Lot area coverage, Front yard, Side yards, Rear yard and Items permitted in setback areas, compliance of driveways. Site Plan Review by the Planning Board of the Village of Huntington Bay is required. As the subject property is waterfront property, a Permit or Letter of Non-Jurisdiction from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is required. As the subject property is within 500ft. of a village boundary, referral to the Suffolk County Planning Commission is required.

Wendy & Michael Busby; 183 Bay Ave. The property is located in the Incorporated Village of Huntington Bay Zoning District `C.' In order to construct a new dwelling to replace one destroyed by fire the applicant requires a variance for Area of lot, Width of lot, Floor area ratio, Lot area coverage and Items permitted in setback areas, compliance of driveways. The subject property is located within flood hazard zone X, areas outside of the five hundred (500) year floodplain.

6 Castle Harbor Partners, LLC; 1 Schwab Rd. Suite 8, Melville In order to replace an existing dwelling at 6 Castle Harbor Road the applicant requires a variance for Area of Lot, Floor area ratio, Lot area coverage, Side yards, Items permitted in setback areas, compliance of driveways. A Steep Slope Special Permit issued by the Planning Board is required. Site Plan Review by the Planning Board is required. The subject property is located within flood hazard zone X, areas outside of the five hundred (500) year floodplain. As the subject property is within 500ft. of a Village boundary, referral to the Suffolk County Planning Commission is required.

Town sets more babysitting workshops

Remember the Huntington Town babysitting workshops we told you about last month? (If not, click here.)

More have been scheduled at the Dix Hills, Greenlawn, Melville and Centerport fire departments. You can call 351-3171 for starting dates, times and exact locations.

They are open to young teenagers and will run for four consecutive weeks, one hour session each week. Participants who complete the course will receive a certificate of completion and their name will be placed on a course completion roster.

A parent or guardian seeking the services of a babysitter can either call Project EXCEL or the participating Fire Department for the name of a local youth that completed the course. At that time, an interview can be set up to discuss family childcare information, emergency numbers, household rules, etc.