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THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ^®
OF SHELTER ISLAND

Notes on the Town Board Work Session
March 25, 2008

Quilts on display

I. Work Session

a. Jeanne Richardson had a concern regarding Shell beach, and the lack of parking on the road. This makes it a private beach for the local homeowners only. Peter Reich responded that it was a police concern about safety.. Jim Dougherty said we will revisit it next week and invite the Chief to attend.

b. Draft code re retaining walls, berms

Laury Dowd, Town Attorney, issues: definition of retaining walls, location, and design. Keep them out of set-backs and distance between walls of 8.5 feet. 4.5 feet max, unless special engineering studies allow. Building permit required for any wall over 2 feet.

Emery Breiner raised issue of Suffolk count y health department requirements, Will be issue at Planning Board meeting tonight. Board said that the Town has final approval over the County.

Berms issue. Definition: dirt or sand mounds up to 4 feet in height.. Over 18 inches requires permit.

Jim Dougherty: agreement on walls but not on berms. Ask Planning Board to review berms issue.

c. Comprehensive Plan

1. Ad in paper to solicit interest in serving on a committee.
2. Create charge to Committee

d. Certificate of Occupancy Policy

Laury: Request for information on current status of property, has to go through the owner.

Tim Hogue Shelter Island Association deferred to the Silver Beach Association:

Issue of requests from title companies regarding current status of building regarding zoning and other compliance issues. Made it a Bill of Rights issue, privacy and search, 4th and 9th amendments.

Jim Dougherty: we will wait on this since there is so much concern and the draft regulation was just published today.

e. Draft code amendment re lot coverage

To make the code consistent. Driveways are part of lot coverage, as are tennis courts.

Peter Reich: Purpose of the code: Aesthetics as much as ground water protection.
Glen Waddington: Should pay attention to impervious and pervious issue for water recharge. Not proper to count gravel and dirt driveways as coverage.
Bill Banks: No problem determining impervious and pervious driveways.
Jim Dougherty: Shelter Island is the most generous on the East End regarding percentage of lot coverage that we allow—40% coverage allowed.
Board is divided on this issue if the pervious exception should be included and which is more important aesthetics or ground water recharge.
Also given the 40% rule, how big of a problem is this?

Another issue: Laury: no mention in the code regarding businesses lot coverage. Needs to be corrected.

f. Discuss limits on building heights and number of stories.

Laury: What is a story—attic, widow’s walk, cupola?
Maybe it should be a height limitation rather than stores. 35 feet.

Billy Banks: State code allows three stories, with some conditions.

Peter Reich: Fire department issue on heights. Don’t want to have to buy new fire trucks.

Patricia Shillingburg: This is a big issue and needs to be looked at in a larger context of size of houses, lot coverage, and heights. Town needs to address this issue.

Billy Banks: Code works, State rules work, no problem.
Laury Dowd: I disagree, it does not work.

g. Chartuni matter

Jay Card, contractor: Have cut back weeds and left trees. Needs guidance from Town Board. Board wants him to mark trees that can be saved. Jay agreed. Board will go visit after that. Russian olive plants are invasive species should be removed.

h. Protection of Town-owned trees—Midway Road

CAC asked Town Board to protect trees on town owned property.

Mark Ketcham will meet with property owner who has put dirt around the trees which is destroying the trees.

i. Around the Table

1. Peter Reich: geothermal construction—we may need some codes on this.
Fertilizer symposium: great session. 2009 new Suffolk country law saying no fertilizers from Oct. 1 to May 1.

2. Jim Dougherty: discussion on green initiatives on agenda for next work session. Also attended and found it very important. Should have her back for homeowners only.

3. Glenn Waddington: Also at Fertilizer forum and found it very informative. More on fertilizers than on pesticides.

5th grade graduation ceremony at the school.

Affordable Housing final document coming.

4. Chris Lewis: Have a green information day on all topics.

j. Bridge St. Park
Concern from audience:

Hurricanes and Nor’ Easterners
Bars
Teenagers
Could some of these designs be used at Ice Pond?

II. Executive Session

a. Personnel
b. Contract Negotiations

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Updated March 25, 2008