Jewish Center Seeks Classrooms

An application from the Jewish Center of the Hamptons for variances and permission to convert a garage into classrooms and legalize existing accessory structures, including a shed and a tent, was discussed at the East Hampton Village Zoning Board of Appeals meeting on Friday. 

Since the center is a religious institution, the Z.B.A. is required by the village code to grant a special permit to allow the extension or alteration of structures although the specifics are subject to review. Approval is also required by the design review board.

Andrew Goldstein, a lawyer representing the center, addressed the tent first, saying he had submitted an affidavit from Rabbi-Cantor Debra Stein stating the tent was there when she came to the Jewish Center in the early 1980s. Mr. Goldstein said the tent therefore predates the village law that limits the use of outdoor tents to 21 days a year. 

The 198-square-foot shed, which is used for storage and a workshop for a caretaker, is within five feet of the garage, a violation of the building code. To rectify that, Mr. Goldstein said, the center plans to attach the shed to the garage, thereby creating a 1,233-square-foot space for four Sunday school classrooms. Accessory structures are limited, however, to one room with a maximum gross floor area of 250 square feet. “Even I, in my boundless creativity, cannot make that an insubstantial variance,” Mr. Goldstein said. 

The new building would also require a coverage variance. The legal notice for the hearing stated that overall coverage would be 29,452 square feet, where the allowable amount is 21,064. Mr. Goldstein said the figures were misleading because more than 28,000 square feet of coverage was from pre-existing, non-conforming structures. 

“The overarching consideration is the religious use,” Mr. Goldstein said. The center’s requests, he said, were well within the precedent set by the board for additional structures used for religious purposes.

Frank Newbold, the chairman of the Z.B.A., inquired about how the center uses the tent. “After services it’s a place to congregate and have an informal libation, and usually pound cake and honey,” Mr. Goldstein said.

Lys Marigold, the Z.B.A. vice chairwoman, noted that the funeral for Jeff Salaway, the founder of Nick and Toni’s restaurant, had been held under a tent in 2001. “That could be,” Mr. Goldstein said, adding that a tent also might serve as a huppah for wedding ceremonies. 

“As you know we’ve had a lot of discussions about weddings under tents,” Mr. Newbold noted, referring to the recent Code Enforcement Department decision denying the Hedges Inn the right to hold outdoor special events. The hearing was closed after two neighbors raised concerns. 

Also on Friday, the board announced six decisions on earlier applications, including the Hedges Inn’s appeal of the code enforcement decision. 

John and Mary Pizzo, the owners of 37 Church Street, were denied area variances to construct a detached garage four feet from the rear lot line and four feet from the side lot line, where the required setbacks are 10 feet. A variance to permit a second curb cut, where one is permitted, also was denied. 

Clifford Ross, the owner of 47 and 41 Cove Hollow Farm Road, was granted a freshwater wetlands permit to remove phragmites and other nonnative plants from wetlands and adjacent areas by cutting and digging with hand-held equipment in compliance with a plan presented by B. Horwith on June 27, 2018. The permit was granted on the condition that Mr. Ross notifies the Code Enforcement Department two days before the work commences and two days after it is completed. 

The Kenneth Brown Irrevocable Trust and the Linda Brown Irrevocable Trust, the owners of 92 Meadow Way, were granted variances of 13.8 feet and 6 feet to legalize a shed that is 1.2 feet from the rear lot line and 9 feet from the side lot line; variances of 8.8 feet and 8 feet to legalize an addition to a shed that is 6.2 feet and 7 feet from the side lot lines; variances of 11.5 feet and 15 feet to legalize a brick patio that is 11.5 feet from the side lot lines, and variances of 10 feet and 9 feet to legalize two air-conditioning condensers 5 feet and 6 feet from the side lot line, where the required rear and side-yard setbacks are 15 feet. 

Michael DeFlorio, who plans to merge 18 and 30 Buell Lane, was granted a 397-square-foot variance to allow additions to an existing one-family house on the property, resulting in a residence with 7,908 square feet of gross floor area, where the maximum is 7,511 square feet; a 7-foot variance to legalize a patio 13 feet from the rear lot line, where the required setback is 20 feet, and a variance of 1 foot 11 inches to allow the roof to be 26 feet 11 inches high,