Baron’s Cove Nears Approval

    David Kronman and Curtis Sachs, representing Cape Advisors, which has acquired the Baron’s Cove property on Water Street, moved closer at Tuesday night’s meeting of the Sag Harbor Village Planning Board to special exception approval of a plan to construct an 87-seat restaurant and 8-seat bar as an “accessory use to a resort motel.” The men were prepared and assisted by Richard Warren of InterScience Associates in responding  to a letter from Timothy Platt, the village’s building inspector. The property is zoned for resort motel use.

     Mr. Platt’s letter said that the application from Cape Advisors “meets all of the requirements for an accessory restaurant as set forth” in the village code. The presence of a bar in the proposed accessory restaurant “is not unlike every other restarurant” in Sag Harbor, he said. He also listed a number of concerns that needed to be addressed.

    Neil Slevin, the chairman of the planning board, had asked for Mr. Platt’s opinion in September. A large group of neighbors had attended that meeting, expressing opposition to a large ground-floor lobby area and bar in the plans. They indicated that they feared the property would become another Rocco’s, a nightclub at Baron’s Cove, which had caused nighttime disturbances.

     Mr. Slevin, going over Mr. Platt’s letter, said that where the bar was sited was “not relevant to anything.” The village code and concessions the applicant is willing to make would protect the community from a “repeat Rocco’s fiasco,” Mr. Slevin said. Mr. Platt had written that the restaurant did not constitute a “tavern, bar, nightclub, or discotheque,” which have different code requirements.

    “We feel we’ve adequately addressed issues raised and volunteered unprecedented restrictions to the community who worries,” Mr. Sachs said on Tuesday night. With no public comment, the hearing was closed. Mr. Warren then quickly read through Mr. Platt’s concerns so the board could review the changes the applicant has agreed to make before taking action.

    The revisions are in regard to a poolside concession stand, where serving alcohol will not be permitted, and in regard to lighting, landscaping, handicapped accessibility, sanitation, and parking, although there are now 20 more spaces than the code requires.

    Mr. Kronman asked Denise Schoen, the village attorney, to draft a determination for possible approval at the board’s next meeting, if Mr. Platt approves the revisions. Gregory Ferraris, a board member, agreed. Ms. Schoen said she would have a draft for the Nov. 27 meeting.

    The building is adjacent to the long-vacant condominium owned by East End Development, which recently claimed bankruptcy.