An 8-year wait to get a permit

The April 21st 2010 Trustee’s meeting agenda had 6 administrative permits, all granted; 14 extensions/transfers/amendments, all granted; 8 moorings/duck blinds permits, all granted except the duck blind request where the Bay Constable thought the distance from the blind to neighboring properties was too close.  In the Wetland Permits portion of the meeting, the New Suffolk [...]

Earth Day 2010: Fragile Waterways

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation provided funding for Channel Thirteen’s documentary “Fragile Waterways”, which aired last night to mark Earth Day 2010. Roughly an hour long, the program features the Peconic Bay, with Chris Pickerell of Cornell Marine, and his father. The program also explores the challenges facing Brooklyn, NY, the Great Lakes, [...]

The Town Board is ready to define “Demolition”

The issue of “demolition” comes up regularly with waterfront property which has received a variance to build an addition and renovate the existing house.  In addition to a variance, a Southold Town Trustees wetland permit may have been issued The Building Department, Zoning Board and Trustees each have their own interpretation of what constitutes demolition.  [...]

Trustee meeting March 17th 2010

Notes from the March 17th Town Trustees’ meeting The meeting went quickly.  There were only three administrative permits: all granted.  There were eight applications for extensions, transfers, or amendments; none too exciting.  Eight wetland permits applications were heard, several concerning actions obviously either out of the jurisdiction of the Trustees, such as work on the [...]

Double Whammy

Current Southold Town code defines a bluff or a bulkhead and a lot line so an owner needs to go to both the Trustees and the ZBA to be granted relief from setbacks for waterfront properties. The problem with this duel jurisdiction is not just time and money but, receiving two different answers. Chairman John Betsch makes the case for resolving this problem.

BEWARE the Zoning Board is legislating

The expansion of the Zoning Board’s power began in January 2002 with the “Walz” decision [that is how the Town refers to this type of variance application].  In the Walz case the property, a quarter acre parcel, with a one story house, was 3 feet from one side yard and 6.5 feet from the other [...]

The Last of the Trustees…

…for this year… Public frustration with lack of communication between departments survives the year end, while John Kramer shares a good tip for prospective buyers of waterfront property in the Town of Southold in his report of the December 16th Trustee Meeting.

How Big a Buffer?

“PH 12/1/09 7:35 Pm – Minor Exempt – WCRL” This is exactly how a Public Hearing for a new Local Law regarding an amendment exempting minor actions of the – WCRL [Waterfront Consistency Review Law] appeared on the December 1st Town Board meeting agenda on the Town’s website. In theory, this should have been a [...]

What is “Buildable Land”?

Patricia Mooore Esq. is a land use attorney and since she’s works regularly with environmental regulations, Southold VOICE asked her to explain the question given to the candidates on the topic of Buildable Land. The Town has added layers of regulations without reconciling some of the regulations.

Cedar Beach is Eroding

Some years ago the osprey pole pictured here was 50 feet inland.  Today at high tide it is 15 feet out in Peconic Bay.  What has happened?  Obviously the sand has washed away.  That is because the Southeastern face of Great Hog Neck forms a race with Jessup’s neck on the South Fork and a [...]

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