New Poolhouse Law?

Three approvals, two postponements, and a lot of talk about poolhouses filled a lengthy East Hampton Village Zoning Board of Appeals session Friday.

In a year's time, the board has considered requests from at least 20 homeowners - two this week - to convert garages or other existing structures into poolhouses, said Gene Cross, the village planning consultant. Perhaps, he suggested, it is time to amend the Village Code to allow poolhouses in pre-existing structures, spelling out specific limits on indoor facilities and setbacks.

That would eliminate a lot of hearings, Mr. Cross observed. More important, he said, once the requirements are spelled out, homeowners will find it harder to obtain variances that stretch the law - for inside showers or wet bars, for example, or to create kitchen facilities where none had existed.

Gould Street

The Z.B.A. approved both of this week's poolhouse requests. Steven Brown of Gould Street can convert a 410-square-foot garage into a 250-square-foot poolhouse, the maximum allowed, with the remaining space for storage.

Mr. Brown had received a variance in October 1995 to renovate the garage to a storage building, but without permission began work on a poolhouse and bath.

"The refrigerator is a nice touch, too," noted Joan Denny, a board member, with some sarcasm. She visited the site recently.

"The contractor thought the owner had a permit," said Tom Lawrence, the building code enforcement officer, "and the owner didn't think he needed [another] permit."

Nonetheless, Ms. Denny and the other board members agreed to allow the renovation, provided it includes only a sink, a toilet, and an outdoor shower. The code enforcement officer will make spot checks to assure compliance.

Egypt Lane

The board also approved Cordelia and William Laverack's 180-square-foot poolhouse, with bath and shower, on Egypt Lane, also a conversion of a 400-square-foot garage. The balance of the building will be storage.

The building is 2.4 feet from the side property line and 2.1 feet from the rear line, where required side and rear yard setbacks are 20 feet.

Fred and Sharon Stein of Old Beach Lane received permission to convert 655 square feet of storage space above a nonconforming garage into a workout room and art studio. William Fleming, the Steins' attorney, said his clients promised not to rent the space or include any kitchen equipment in it. The lawyer said the renovation was "an intelligent use of the property," which is about two acres and contains a tennis court, pool, and poolhouse in addition to the main house and garage.

The Steins were also given a variance for a 29.8-foot side yard setback, where the requirement is 30 feet.

Postponed

The board postponed two requests for lack of information - Ian Bruce Eichner's to replace a brick patio at his Ocean Avenue residence with a covered porch, and the Bayberry Close Corporation's to expand a cooperative cottage near Main Beach, which already has seen two expansions.

In connection with the latter, Frank Manelsky, a neighbor, said the coop has experienced "more maids, more service vehicles, and general saturation," with seven applications approved since 1978. The board's "good will has been abused," he said.

In other village news, the Planning Board will hold a work session next Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at Village Hall.