Maidstone Club Seeks Okay for a ‘Warming Hut’

A 39.2-acre portion of the more than 200-acre Maidstone Club property, which stretches along Dunemere and Old Beach Lanes, was the focus of the East Hampton Village Zoning Board of Appeals on Friday when it reviewed an application for a 676-square-foot “warming hut” where its platform tennis courts and main clubhouse are located.

The hut would require a 958-square-foot village variance to allow 277,301 square feet of coverage on the 39.2-acre site as well as special permit and coastal erosion hazard area permits. The club also seeks to legalize two storage sheds, one of which is seaward of the coastal erosion hazard line. 

Richard Whalen, an attorney for the club, told the Z.B.A. that the warming hut would be just eastward of the tennis courts, which were constructed in 1967. Known as paddle as well as platform tennis, the sport is played in the winter, Mr. Whalen said, chiefly from October through March, and at night. “My understanding is they don’t use these in the summertime,” he said.

Tony Panza, the project’s architect, said the one-story wooden hut would contain a fireplace and two bathrooms. For the most part, Mr. Whalen said, it would be out of view, even from the club property. “There might be some view from the beach, but I think it will be quite restrictive.” A neighbor to the west has submitted a letter strongly supporting the application, he said. 

Lights associated with the courts, however, “have certainly changed the vista,” said Lys Marigold, the board’s vice chairwoman, later saying  they were “very intrusive” to southbound drivers on Egypt Lane. 

Frank Newbold, the board’s chairman, also voiced concern about the lights “because they are visible from other parts of the village.” Making the lighting less intrusive would be a mitigating measure, he said.

The design review board, which already has considered the application, must also sign off on it. Mr. Whalen noted that the lighting had come up with the D.R.B. Calling lighting a necessity, he said, “We have investigated whether we can put shields on the lights. . . . We believe we can do that and will discuss it with the D.R.B.” He also said the fixtures would be removed after the playing season. 

“We echo the D.R.B.’s concerns about the lights,” Mr. Newbold said, “and welcome anything that can be done to modify it.” 

With respect to the coverage variance, Mr. Whalen said the increase to accommodate the warming hut amounts to less than 3 10ths of 1 percent of coverage of the 39.2-acre portion of the property. He noted that there are no structures at all on most of the 220 acres owned by the club. 

The club has existed longer than the incorporated village, Mr. Whalen said, and “visually remains an integral part of the village.” It has not obstructed the bucolic views “by planting what I consider the bane of the South Fork, the privet hedge.” He added that the property is as close as we can get to seeing the village as it once was.

Apart from the platform tennis courts’ lighting, the board seemed to have no concerns and closed the hearing.

In addition to a determination on Ronald Perelman’s application to legalize construction at his estate, the Creeks, which is covered separately in this issue, the board issued seven determinations, all but one for properties surrounding Lily Pond. 

The owners of properties ringing the pond were granted wetland permits to undertake coordinated phragmites removal. The invasive species is to be cut by hand over four consecutive years at 200 Lily Pond Lane, owned by the Edward W. Williams Qualified Personal Residence Trust and the Lisa B. Williams Q.P.R.T.; 127 Apaquogue Road, owned by the Evelyn McNiff Revocable Trust; 103 Apaquogue Road, owned by the Edward W. Williams Revocable Trust; 89 Apaquogue Road, owned by the John H. Williams Revocable Trust; 85 Apaquogue Road, owned by the Eugene F. Williams III Revocable Trust, and 81 Apaquogue Road, a limited liability corporation, and a homeowners association affiliated with the owners of the properties. 

The board also granted J. Tomilson Hill III and Janine Hill variances allowing a sculpture to be installed within the required 100-foot setback from the 15-foot contour line of the ocean dune at 23 East Dune Lane. Mr. Hill is vice chairman of the Blackstone Group.