Z.B.A. Approves Dredging

    The East Hampton Town Zoning Board of Appeals had a busy work session on July 10, approving variances for several applicants. None of the applications was considered controversial, as evidenced by the fact that no one spoke against them at the public hearings, although the East Hampton Town Trustees had sent the Z.B.A. a letter saying they intended to turn down one of the applications, from the Devon Yacht Club.

    The yacht club asked for and won unanimous approval of a natural resources permit to dredge 950 cubic yards of sand annually for five years from the northwestern side of the inlet to its boat basin and to deposit the sand on the southeastern shore. The trustees own the beaches and bottomland in the area.

    Alex Walter, the Z.B.A. chairman, said the trustees’ letter should not affect the decision, while Sharon McCobb, one of the members, said she was under the impression that the trustees merely wanted the zoning board to act first, before issuing approval. The chairman, however, called the project an environmental upgrade and said the decision should be based “on its merits.”

    “They don’t do public hearings; that is why they kicked it to us,” Don Cirillo, a member, said.

    In other decisions that night:

    • Laurence Cohen won unanimous approval to build a 2,400-square-foot house on the last undeveloped lot on Mitchell Dunes. The hearing was held on May 1. Board members expressed appreciation for the work the applicant had done on the plan.

    • Phyllis and John Chiarelli got an okay to put a 676-square-foot second story on their house at 107 South Fairview Avenue in Montauk, overlooking the golf course.

    • Diane Lentini won approval for a planned 614-square-foot addition to her house on South Elroy Drive in Montauk. Bryan Gosman, a board member, noted that the family had owned the house for over 40 years and said the variances were minor.