Huntington Zoning Board of Appeals Grants Variances

New York Avenue Used Car Lot
A used car dealership is set to open on New York Avenue next to Canine Corral, in the spot where Northwind Landscaping was formerly located. The property and one-story structure at 1849 New York Avenue, Huntington Station, is owned by Christopher Conologue.

Zoning attorney Tom Abbate, who represented the applicant, 1849 New York Avenue, LLC, noted that used-car sales are conditionally permitted on the .30-acre lot, which is in the C6 zoning district, or general business, but requires a special-use permit.  

The applicant also was seeking a depth extension on the west side of the property to allow parking to the rear of the building. The existing one-story structure will stay. The board approved the application, with conditions.The business hours will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. six days per week. There will be no volume sales permitted nor any residents living on the property. No body work is permitted on site and no more than 17 cars for sale will be allowed on the lot at one time. 

"Most important to us, it's a low generator of traffic," said BZA Chair Christopher Modelewski. 

Real-estate expert John Breslin testified that a used-car lot would be "an upgrade from existing conditions from an economic development standpoint."

Southdown Market Expansion
The owners of the are hoping to expand the store's space to include that of a recently closed dry cleaner. Attorney Robert Caputi, representing the Zoltas family who has owned the store on Wall Street since 1999, said the applicants are seeking a special-use permit as well as parking relief. The acquisition will add 793-square-foot of retail space. 

Board Trustee Carol Gaughran asked if the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation was satisfied that the dry cleaning chemicals have been remediated. Caputi said that the property had been cleaned up prior to the sale. 

Transportation expert Wayne Muller of RMS Engineering testified that no new traffic problems will arise from the location's use being changed from a dry cleaner to an expansion of the market. 

Adapting Steps to Steep Entrance
Architect George Suddell appeared before the BZA to represent Richard and Jill De La Sota for the property at 42 Knollwood Road in Huntington, off Fleets Cove Road. They were seeking an area variance to erect a 60-foot-high retaining wall with no setback and maintain existing non-conforming walls and steps.

"My clients have to walk up 35 steps on Knollwoood to get to their kitchen," Suddell said. "These homeowners had the opportunity to make entrance on higher elevation so there are many that have taken this opportunity that allows them to park closer to the entrance,  as well as alleviate distance they have to travel up the steps."

Suddell said that the applicants plan to landscape the concrete steps with lattice and vegetation. 

Modelewski asked how much new material would be introduced to the site. Suddell said approximately 400 to 500 cubic yards. "It will be clean, compact fill," Suddell said. 

 Gaughran asked if the parking deck would be in the town's right of way. Suddell said no. 

The variances were granted.