Pink House Denial
The Pink House, a bed and breakfast on James Lane in East Hampton will not expand as its owner, Ronald Steinhilber, had hoped. The Village Zoning Board of Appeals denied Mr. Steinhilber's application for a special permit Friday after a James Lane neighbor, Patricia Handal, expressed "concern" that "sprawl" was created when "people move with good intentions but change the complexion of our little village."
Mr. Steinhilber had hoped to add 825 square feet to the building, including two new guest rooms, and renovate an existing garage.
"Why should we enlarge a pre-existing nonconforming use?" asked James Amaden, a board member.
"That's a bona fide question," answered Joan Denny, another member, adding that she had "questioned this years ago, because B and B's are not rooming houses."
"This is commercial, in my opinion," said Mr. Amaden.
In its decision, the board noted that the expansion could "adversely affect the harmony and character of use in the district."
Fait Accompli
Though noting that it was after the fact, the board did grant a variance to Ruth Mueller to remodel and attach an accessory structure to her house on the Circle to within 3.2 feet of the side yard, where the setback is 10 feet.
The structure already has been connected to the residence, noted Thomas Lawrence, the building inspector.
"Why was the work done first?" asked Mr. Amaden.
Mr. Lawrence said that Donald Bennett, the previous inspector, had interpreted the Village Code to mean that the existing structure would be allowed, and issued a permit.
The applicant needed the Z.B.A. approval to obtain a valid certificate of occupancy.
Icahn Patio
The Z.B.A. spent yet another 20 minutes on Carl Icahn's concrete patio. Mr. Icahn's permit for the patio, which is on an ocean dune fronting his Nichols Lane property, was rescinded a few weeks ago, but the eight-page decision was not ready to be read aloud until Friday.
It cited three public hearings in 1996, including an appeal by Mr. Icahn's neighbor, Nathan Halpern, challenging the original permit.
Michael Walsh of Water Mill, Mr. Icahn's attorney, who has repeatedly requested a rehearing claiming he had new evidence, sat quietly, taking notes.
Mr. Icahn has 90 days to remove the patio. Mr. Walsh said there was "a good chance" he would appeal the ruling.
Mr. Halpern's attorney, William Esseks, of Riverhead, listened to the proceedings without comment from the back of the room.
In other news of the village, the Design Review Board, after many weeks' deliberation, decided on Jan. 8 that David Fink can begin renovating the front of his 83 Main Street property, which has been characterized by its recessed windows and entry.
Turn-Of-The-Century Style
Mr. Fink intends to bring the storefront out to line up with an existing front wall in a "style most closely related to . . . turn-of-the-century Main Street buildings numbers 1 through 81 and 78." His claim that the alteration will not increase the store's gross square footage, which would necessitate a reduction in floor space in the back, will be heard by the Z.B.A.
The D.R.B. will meet again Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Village Hall. The Village Board will meet tomorrow at 11 a.m. in the Emergency Services Building on Cedar Street, when it will conduct a public hearing on a scenic and conservation easement from Peter Wolf, whose property lies on a private road off Briar Patch Road.