Huntington Planning Board Meeting - January 21, 2026

This meeting of the Huntington Planning Board covered routine approvals, two site plans, a subdivision, and four Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) referrals. With only four board members present, all votes required unanimous participation. The board approved minutes, bond extensions, and one subdivision, while discussing architecture, landscaping, and zoning recommendations for commercial properties.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes: Approved minutes from the January 7, 2026 Planning Board meeting and the December 3, 2025 public hearing for the 8 Ruth Plat. The minutes for the Map of Huntington Manor Section A, Lots 40-43 public hearing from December 3, 2025 were tabled to the next meeting.
• Performance Bond Extensions: Approved one-year extensions for three bonds: 46 Dunlop Road Plat (to 12/23/2026 nunc pro tunc), 570 Park Avenue Perf Bond Monument & Demolition (to 2/9/2027), and Map of Darren Malcolm Plat (to 2/20/2027). Board member Judge Lipson noted concerns about the lack of justification for extensions, but staff indicated that new information forms are being sent out to improve future submittals.

Discussion Items

• Cold Spring Country Club Pickleball Courts (SP-25-10030): The club installed three pickleball courts without prior planning board approval and removed several trees along Green Meadow Lane, eliminating a visual buffer. The board reviewed a proposed landscape plan with evergreen shrubs and deciduous trees to replace the lost buffer. The board found the plan adequate and approved the site plan unanimously.
• 790 New York Avenue (SP-25-?): This existing medical office building will add residential apartments on the second floor. The board reviewed the proposed architectural changes, which replace strip windows with residential-style windows and introduce metal panels and horizontal siding to break up the stucco facade. The board expressed consensus that the architecture is an improvement; formal approval of the architectural plan was given, while the landscape plan will be reviewed later during site plan review.
• 15 Hart Place Subdivision: A two-lot subdivision on a flag lot in Dix Hills. The board granted conditional final approval after the applicant responded to all staff and departmental comments. A letter from the applicant requesting early land clearing due to northern long-eared bat concerns was discussed; the town’s environmental reviewer confirmed the site is outside the bat zone, so no winter clearing restriction applies. Clearing may begin after the final subdivision map is signed and permits are filed.
• ZBA Referral #1 – Anne Brower School (ZBA #23616): The school seeks variances to remove a residential occupancy requirement for the operator, legalize parking lot expansions, and address a front yard setback. The staff recommended no objection, but noted a cross-access agreement is needed instead of a parcel merger, and a landscape plan should buffer neighboring residential properties. The board concurred with these conditions.
• ZBA Referral #2 – 40 Marcus Drive (ZBA #23568): An industrial site installed a third monument sign without permits. The board had no issue with the signs but noted dumpsters lack proper masonry enclosures and landscaping has deteriorated. The board recommended a simple site plan to address these issues.
• ZBA Referral #3 – 200 Carver Street (ZBA #23633): An existing office building in an R5 zone seeks a variance for a 46-square-foot addition (parking) and a monument sign. The board recommended limiting the sign to 20 square feet (maximum for residential zones) and requiring landscaping. The board also noted that the final sign design should be reviewed by the Huntington Historical Preservation Commission.
• ZBA Referral #4 – 185 New York Avenue (Dough E Fresh) (ZBA #23644): A pizzeria conversion seeks a special use permit for outdoor dining. The staff initially recommended limiting outdoor dining to the front area due to parking constraints. After discussion, the board expressed support for the business and consensus to modify the recommendation to no objection to the special use permit as requested, leaving the amount of outdoor dining to the ZBA’s discretion. Board members preferred rear yard seating over sidewalk seating.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes: Approved for Jan 7 and Dec 3 (8 Ruth Plat); tabled for Dec 3 (Huntington Manor).
• Bond Extensions: Approved unanimously for three properties.
• Cold Spring Country Club Pickleball Courts: Site plan approved with required landscaping.
• 790 New York Avenue: Architectural plan approved; landscape plan deferred.
• 15 Hart Place: Conditional final subdivision approval granted; clearing allowed after final map signing.
• ZBA Referrals: Board issued recommendations as summarized above, with modifications for Anne Brower School (cross-access agreement), 200 Carver Street (sign limit and landscaping), and 185 New York Avenue (supportive recommendation without restrictions).