Huntington Planning Board Meeting – April 15, 2026
Huntington Planning Board Meeting – April 15, 2026
On April 15, 2026, the Huntington Planning Board conducted a meeting addressing multiple applications including a public hearing, subdivision pre-applications, zone change referrals, and site plan waivers. The board approved meeting minutes, performance bond extensions, a site plan waiver, and several resolutions, while also hearing public testimony on the Harbor Road Plat subdivision.
Public Hearing – Harbor Road Plat
- The board opened a public hearing for the Harbor Road Plat, a proposal by Ravsey Homes Inc. to subdivide a 4.5-acre lot in Eaton’s Neck into two conforming building lots (approximately 2.5 and 2.3 acres) in the R80 zone. The plan extends South Harbor Road north by about 330 feet to access the northern lot, but does not connect to North Harbor Road. The applicant, represented by Ryan Brown and engineer Chris Robinson, emphasized that the road extension includes a conforming fire apparatus turnaround and meets highway and fire code requirements. Street lighting and curbing were offered for waiver.
- Public comments were heard from several residents:
- William Raish (60 South Harbor Road) opposed any road connection, citing increased through traffic, out-of-character street lighting, and curbing. He noted emergency vehicles have managed without a connection.
- Tara Ryan (94 Cove Road) urged the board to visit the site, describing the existing path as narrow, grass/mulch, and unsafe for extension. She opposed street lighting and a 24-foot-wide road, noting it would abut a neighbor’s house.
- Robert Cassal (74 South Harbor Road) opposed the road connection, stating he bought a home on a dead-end street and values the lack of traffic. He also questioned which fire district has jurisdiction (Eaton’s Neck vs. Northport).
- Jordy Lambrose (neighbor to the north lot) opposed the connection on drainage, environmental, and safety grounds, highlighting steep slopes and potential runoff into Duck Island Harbor wetlands.
- The applicant reiterated they are not seeking a road connection, and the highway department has signed off on drainage plans with multiple dry wells. The hearing was closed.
Consent Calendar
- Resolution #1 – Approval of Minutes: The March 25, 2026 Planning Board meeting minutes were approved (motion carried, two members abstained who were absent).
- Performance Bond Extensions: Resolutions extending performance bonds for Jerry’s Hot Dogs, County Line Mason, Powell Plat, and Mayhew Acres through various dates in April–June 2027 were approved (motion carried).
Discussion Items
- North Shore Holiday House – Site Plan Waiver: The board granted a consensus waiver of site plan review for a small one-story staff dormitory building on the property. The building department will handle construction issues. The Zoning Board had already issued a waiver. No objections.
- Magdi Estates (Subdivision #1 – Pre-Application): Introduced for a 10-lot major subdivision on Little Plains Road. The board noted the long, narrow parcel has limited design flexibility. A yield determination will be the next step, and a public hearing will be scheduled. Cluster subdivision was mentioned but not proposed by the applicant. No action taken beyond introduction.
- Catherine Plat (Subdivision #2 – Pre-Application): The board reviewed a four-lot subdivision in East Northport. A yield map showing a conforming cul-de-sac was presented. The applicant proposes a cluster subdivision to reduce road size and create conservation buffers. The board approved the resolution for a yield determination of four lots (motion carried).
- Villa View Heights – Waiver of Underground Utilities: The board considered a late item request from the applicant for a previously approved two-lot subdivision to use overhead electric service instead of underground, due to a neighbor’s newly built retaining wall adjacent to the utility pole. After hearing from the neighbor (who has no aesthetic objection and is concerned about wall damage), the board voted to grant the waiver (consensus). Board members noted the existing overhead wires and the pragmatic concern for the neighbor’s property.
- 10 Melville Park Road – Lot Line Change: The board approved a lot line adjustment between two industrial properties on Melville Park Road. The eastern lot will acquire a small strip from the western neighbor, who retains conforming parking. The resolution passed with conditions to add notes to the map. (Motion carried.)
- Turf Tek – Zone Change: The board considered a recommendation to the Town Board for a zone change (extending C6 commercial zoning) for a landscape contractor site on Jericho Turnpike. The applicant currently operates without permits and has received violations; neighbors complained of noise, dust, and early/late operations. The board discussed imposing conditions: a minimum 30-foot buffer (existing berm), moving storage activities away from the residential property line, and requiring the Town Board to set specific hours and use restrictions. A negative declaration was adopted. The resolution passed (all in favor).
- ZBA Referral #23639 – James DeLuca (65 East Carver Street): The board supported the applicant’s request to legalize an existing two-family house (use variance) in a C1 zone that permits multifamily but not two-family. Staff had no objection. No further discussion.
- ZBA Referral #23666 – 165 Depot Road Property Corp.: The board discussed a special use permit for outdoor storage at a small engine repair business. The board amended the staff memo to not waive site plan review, requiring the applicant to return for a full site plan to address storage containment, landscaping, and signage. The board’s recommendation will include conditions for fencing and orderly storage.
Key Outcomes
- Approved: Minutes of March 25, 2026.
- Approved: Performance bond extensions for four properties.
- Approved: Waiver of site plan review for North Shore Holiday House.
- Approved: Yield determination for Catherine Plat (4 lots).
- Approved: Lot line change for 10 Melville Park Road.
- Approved: Negative declaration and recommendation for Turf Tek zone change (with conditions).
- Approved: Waiver of underground utilities for Villa View Heights.
- Directives: ZBA referral for 165 Depot Road to include site plan review requirement; Harbor Road Plat public hearing closed; Magdi Estates to proceed to yield determination and public hearing.
Meeting Transcript
Please join former planning board member and deputy highway uh director George Schwertle for the pledge. Thank you, everyone. So we're gonna go right into the public hearing. You want to go right at the bearing? Yeah, because we talked about before. We'll just stay with it. Okay, so we have a public hearing tonight. It's Harbor Road Platte. And is there a representative for Harbor Road Platte here? To address the board. Come right up. Please state your name. Ryan Brown, Breslin and Brown PC, 44 Elm Street Suite 5 Huntington, New York 11743. Good evening, Mr. Chairman and members of the board. So we're here for Ravsey Homes Incorporated, which owns the subject property. It's uh about a four and a half acre lot located in Eaton's neck, proposing to uh provide two fully conforming building lots, uh both over two acres in the R80 zone in which this exists. That's going to be in conformity with the character of the neighborhood. Basically be extending that lot line that you see coming from the property at the west through the middle of this, uh creating two lots that are uh two and a half and two point three acres, I believe, off the top of my head. I will also be providing a conservation area at the rear of the property that will uh have to remain natural so as not to disturb the rear of the property there. I know there was a number of letters that came into the board uh addressing some concerns related to an extension of South Harbor Road to the north to create a through street, as you can see by the map that Benson has up on the board there. That's not the case. It's only going to be extended so as to provide access to the northern lot. I think there was also some concern expressed related to street lighting. We're only providing lighting that's uh required under the code as it relates to subdivision regulations. I'm sure the owner would be happy not to provide any street lighting if that's what the board would decide. Uh Chris Robinson is here from RM Engineering, be able to speak to any of the technical aspects of the map, and I'm happy to answer any questions that the board may have. So you're not proposing to connect the two roads. Nope, no connection. That was a request from the fire district. The fire district or someone who associated with fire district. It was from the fire district itself, yeah. That was from the fire district they had requested. Requested that or did not make that request, but it was okay with not connecting the roads. I'm not really here anymore. All right, I'm sorry, I apologize. Sorry, everyone. Did you get all that? Uh the fire district at no time did not require or request uh that those roads be connected. The fire district did request that those roads be replaced. Chris Robinson, uh President RM Engineering, 50 Elm Street, Huntington, New York. We did receive two comment letters from the Eaton's neck fire district. Uh the July or August letter uh approved a map as as presented to them, which just showed the extension as we showed. Now they came back with a second letter later asking for North and South Harbor Roads to be connected. We responded to them in writing after meeting with the town fire marshal uh that that was not our proposal to connect, and we don't feel it needs to be connected. Uh and we've provided a fully conforming fire apparatus turnaround at the northerly terminus of our extension of South Harbor Road. So fire trucks can turn around and pull out of the so what is the position of the fire district? Uh they haven't replied after that letter. Okay. Uh fire marshals in agreement with the plan that we presume that we've prepared and submitted, which is in fully conformance with the New York State fire code.
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