Icahn Sues Z.B.A.
Carl Icahn of Nichols Lane has sued the East Hampton Village Zoning Board of Appeals, its building inspectors, and Nathan Halpern, a neighbor. The suit, filed Feb. 12 in State Supreme Court, Riverhead, seeks to set aside a Z.B.A. ruling directing Mr. Icahn to remove the concrete patio he built in November 1994 on a dune in front of his property.
A building permit was issued for the structure at the time, but the Z.B.A. overturned it following an impassioned appeal by Mr. Halpern.
Mr. Icahn, the former head of Trans World Airlines, claims Mr. Halpern's October 1996 appeal was "untimely," that the board's ruling was "arbitrary and capricious," and that the patio was built according to a duly issued permit.
At its meeting on Friday, the East Hampton Village Board voted to retain the law firm of Pachman, Pachman, & Brown of Commack to defend the suit.
Gingerbread Congestion
The board, absent two members who were away on vacation, took care of other monthly business in short order.
Among its actions, all completed within 15 minutes, the board scheduled a public hearing before its March 21 meeting on changes to parking regulations on and around Gingerbread Lane Extension.
Congestion there has been a problem since September, when the new John M. Marshall Elementary School entryway and the new Learning Center opened on that street.
Traffic is expected to increase still more this week with the return of some 100 kindergarteners to their new digs.
New Parking Laws
The proposed new regulations include:
No stopping, standing or parking on the south side of Gingerbread Lane from 20 feet west to 138 feet east of its intersection with Church Street.
No stopping, standing, or parking on the south side of Gingerbread Lane Extension 20 feet west and 207 feet east of its intersection with the Learning Center driveway.
No stopping, standing, or parking between 8 and 9 a.m. and 2 and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday from Sept. 1 through June 30 on the south side of Gingerbread Lane Extension at the Gingerbread Lane intersection and 555 feet east.
One-hour parking between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on the south side of Gingerbread Lane Extension from 20 feet to 240 feet west of the Learning Center driveway.
Sag Harbor Breakwater
Mayor Rickenbach welcomed Ina Garten as the newest member of the East Hampton Village Design Review Board. Ms. Garten will complete the term through July 31 of John Cataletto, who resigned.
The Mayor also welcomed Dr. John Kavanaugh, an East Hampton chiropractor, as a new member of the East Hampton Fire Department.
The board passed a resolution which was sent to Senators Alfonse D'Amato and Daniel Patrick Moynihan, asking the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to repair and restore the breakwater at Sag Harbor for the "continued protection of public and private property landward . . . and the safe and protected passages of vessels in the vicinity" of that village.
The Corps constructed the Sag Harbor breakwater in 1908. The resolution, the Mayor said, was to "reinforce" a similar request by Sag Harbor's governing body.
Enforcement Officers
In other action, the board:
Resolved to review the Village Code in connection with building construction administration and fire prevention, and to officially create two positions of code enforcement officer to replace the positions of building and zoning inspector and fire marshal.
Hired Sue Ann Glogg as a public safety dispatcher in the emergency services department at an annual salary of $27,316, and Bonnie L. Brady and June C. Lugowe as part-time dispatchers at an hourly rate of $9.75.
Approved course and travel expenses for Kimberly R. Harden and Layla K. Bennett to attend a municipal bookkeeping course in New Hyde Park in April.
Before its next meeting, the board will hold a public hearing on permits, bonds, and insurance coverage required for moving buildings over the village's streets.