OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Huntington Planning Board Meeting - January 7, 2026

Meeting Portal — Wednesday, January 7, 2026
BodyHuntington, New York
SessionMeeting Portal
DateWednesday, January 7, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 23:52

Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

Good evening, everyone.

0:02

Welcome to the town of Huntington's planning board meeting for January 7th, 2026.

0:07

I'd like to ask you all to please rise and join me for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:11

Pledge of allegiance?

0:22

Thank you, everyone.

0:24

Good evening, Mr.

0:25

Turner.

0:25

Happy New Year.

0:26

Good evening.

0:27

Mr.

0:27

Chairman.

0:28

Happy New Year to you and the members of the board.

0:31

I think that this building on the screen is proposed for demolition, right?

0:38

Hopefully not in the next few minutes.

0:42

Okay.

0:43

First item on the agenda is the approval of the minutes from the last planning board meeting on December 17th.

0:49

Motion, please.

0:49

Motion, Mrs.

0:50

Amendola.

0:51

Second, Mr.

0:52

Tantillo, all in favor?

0:53

Any opposed?

0:55

One abstain.

0:56

Mr.

0:57

Cote abstains.

0:58

Motion carries.

0:59

Okay.

1:00

Next item on the agenda is an extension of filing time for a subdivision, 67 Norton Drive Platte.

1:07

This was recently given conditional final approval by the planning board.

1:10

I think this is probably its first or maybe second extension.

1:14

Motion, please.

1:16

Mr.

1:16

Becker, second.

1:17

Mr.

1:18

Bontepe, all in favor?

1:19

Any opposed?

1:20

Motion carries.

1:22

Okay.

1:22

Third item on the agenda tonight is the site plan 1044 New York Avenue 2023.

1:29

This is sort of just a project introduction.

1:32

Discussion of the proposed architecture to see if there's any uh uh additional direction we want to provide to the applicant.

1:39

Uh this application was recently granted approval by the zoning board of appeals.

1:44

This is the existing building you're looking at here, a small strip shopping center that is about to get knocked down, replaced by uh as the other buildings around it, a three-story building with commercial use on the first floor and apartments above.

1:58

Uh we have some architectural plans shown above here.

2:02

Uh the proposed for a brick facade on the ground floor, uh, and a hardy plank style uh concrete fiber siding on the upper floors.

2:12

Uh this is a look from the side of the building on Henry Street.

2:16

Uh you see the entrance to the parking area as well as some of the units.

2:20

Uh I know talking to some of the board members, uh there was some thought that you do have sort of a little blank spot there uh on the side of the uh parking lot entrance uh that maybe it looks a little odd with a around it uh that maybe it would be nice to have a window or two in there also to make it all look like it's uh one building together.

2:41

Yeah, I think it would look better.

2:43

I think it would also add a little bit more safety to people going up and down the staircase and give it a little more visibility.

2:49

I thought there should be four little windows, like where those two keyholes are, and then two above it.

2:55

Okay, I know there is a staircase back there that will uh sort of dictate where you know the windows could be placed, but we'll ask the applicant to provide a new drawing and we'll take a look at that as part of our review.

3:09

Otherwise, I think it looks really good.

3:10

I know the materials are what we would like to see.

3:14

Um you want to describe for us the materials for anyone watching?

3:18

Uh yes, uh as I said, they could sort of have a brick face on the on the ground floor on the commercial, which matches the buildings around it.

3:26

Uh second and third floors, they're provo proposing uh a hardy plank or similar system.

3:33

Uh this is a cement fiber board, uh which is uh more three-dimensional and looks more physically uh a physical structure to it than a uh vinyl siding, which is uh thin material, and you could often tell uh what you know that it's vinyl just by looking at it from the side.

3:50

Uh this is a cyber cement fiber boards have some thickness to it.

3:55

Uh they more closely resemble wood, uh, but the real advantage to them in a situation setting like this is that they are fire resistant because they are made out of cement.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning And Land Use█████████████████████████████████████████████94%
Procedural███6%
Summary of Proceedings

Huntington Planning Board Meeting - January 7, 2026

The Huntington Planning Board met on January 7, 2026, to approve minutes and a filing extension, discuss architectural plans, amend a subdivision covenant, deny a street lighting waiver, and provide recommendations on five zoning board referrals. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and adjourned after all items were addressed.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes (December 17, 2025): Motion by Mrs. Amendola, second by Mr. Tantillo. Approved with one abstention (Mr. Cote).
  • Extension of Filing Time – 67 Norton Drive Plat: Motion by Mr. Becker, second by Mr. Bontepe. Extended to April 8, 2026, approved unanimously.

Discussion Items

  • Site Plan #1 – 1044 New York Avenue (2023 Item 1): Discussion of proposed architecture for a three-story building with commercial ground floor and apartments above. Board members suggested adding windows on the side facing Henry Street for safety and aesthetics. Staff described materials: brick facade on ground floor, hardiplank cement fiber siding on upper floors, consistent with neighboring developments. The applicant will provide revised drawings; no vote taken.
  • Subdivision #1 – Woodhull Plat (Resolution to Amend Covenant): Amendment to replace a berm requirement with a retaining wall maintenance covenant. The new covenant states two property owners with the retaining wall will share ownership and maintenance. Motion by Mrs. Amendola, second by Mr. Bontepe. Approved.
  • Subdivision #2 – 8 Ruth Plat (Waiver of Street Lighting): Discussion of a request to waive street lighting. The street lighting department recommended denial, citing safety for pedestrians (since no sidewalks) and that the dark sky ordinance prevents neighbor disturbance. Board agreed to deny the waiver.
  • Lot Line Change #1 – Galioto: Introduction of a project to adjust lot lines between two existing houses. The smaller lot (non-conforming) will purchase land from an oversized neighbor to meet minimum lot size. The purchase parcel is 37.3 feet wide, requiring a variance for lot width and frontage from the Zoning Board. Staff noted no new construction is proposed. No vote; will return after ZBA action.
  • Zone Change #1 – 50 Woodbury Road: Pulled from the agenda.

Zoning Board Referrals

  • ZBA #23477 – 149 Depot Road (Michael Grigoraki): Two existing buildings; rear garage to be converted to commercial use. Variances sought for two buildings on a lot, small depth extension, and parking buffer. Staff recommended approval. Board consensus to support.
  • ZBA #23573 – 181 Cuba Hill Road (Domenica Palisciano): Existing daycare seeking to increase occupancy from 24 to 36 children. No exterior changes proposed. Staff noted this is a zoning board issue; applicant must address state staffing requirements. Board agreed.
  • ZBA #23610 – Francesca Chang: Interior alterations to former salon for children's play area/party center. No exterior changes. Staff flagged that a required traffic study may not meet the zoning board's standards. Board acknowledged.
  • ZBA #23606 – 191 East Second Street (Jeffrey Littell): Vacant industrial site (former pallet storage, damaged by fire). Proposes new building with outdoor storage and overnight parking in front. Staff suggested better design would place parking and storage behind the building. Board decided to table the recommendation for two weeks to allow applicant to consider alternative designs before the ZBA hearing on February 26.
  • ZBA #23635 – Kahn Property Owner LLC (Residences at OHA): Proposed residential condominium adjacent to Oheka Castle. Requesting relief for a second primary building on one lot and retaining walls exceeding four feet. Board supported the relief but recommended that any approval include a covenant ensuring the existing Oheka catering hall, hotel, and restaurant remain open to the general public. No objections.

Key Outcomes

  • Minutes approved (1 abstention) and filing extension granted.
  • Woodhult covenant amended; 8 Ruth street lighting waiver denied.
  • 191 East Second Street recommendation tabled for further discussion.
  • All other ZBA referrals received board support or acknowledgment as discussed.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the town of Huntington's planning board meeting for January 7th, 2026. I'd like to ask you all to please rise and join me for the Pledge of Allegiance. Pledge of allegiance? Thank you, everyone. Good evening, Mr. Turner. Happy New Year. Good evening. Mr. Chairman. Happy New Year to you and the members of the board. I think that this building on the screen is proposed for demolition, right? Hopefully not in the next few minutes. Okay. First item on the agenda is the approval of the minutes from the last planning board meeting on December 17th. Motion, please. Motion, Mrs. Amendola. Second, Mr. Tantillo, all in favor? Any opposed? One abstain. Mr. Cote abstains. Motion carries. Okay. Next item on the agenda is an extension of filing time for a subdivision, 67 Norton Drive Platte. This was recently given conditional final approval by the planning board. I think this is probably its first or maybe second extension. Motion, please. Mr. Becker, second. Mr. Bontepe, all in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. Okay. Third item on the agenda tonight is the site plan 1044 New York Avenue 2023. This is sort of just a project introduction. Discussion of the proposed architecture to see if there's any uh uh additional direction we want to provide to the applicant. Uh this application was recently granted approval by the zoning board of appeals. This is the existing building you're looking at here, a small strip shopping center that is about to get knocked down, replaced by uh as the other buildings around it, a three-story building with commercial use on the first floor and apartments above. Uh we have some architectural plans shown above here. Uh the proposed for a brick facade on the ground floor, uh, and a hardy plank style uh concrete fiber siding on the upper floors. Uh this is a look from the side of the building on Henry Street. Uh you see the entrance to the parking area as well as some of the units. Uh I know talking to some of the board members, uh there was some thought that you do have sort of a little blank spot there uh on the side of the uh parking lot entrance uh that maybe it looks a little odd with a around it uh that maybe it would be nice to have a window or two in there also to make it all look like it's uh one building together. Yeah, I think it would look better. I think it would also add a little bit more safety to people going up and down the staircase and give it a little more visibility.

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