Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting - July 9, 2026
Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting – July 9, 2026
The Zoning Board of Appeals of the Town of Huntington met on July 9, 2026, to consider seven public hearings for variance requests, along with other business including an extension request, a vote on a previously heard special use permit, and four accessory dwelling unit applications. All public hearings were unopposed and granted unanimously.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The board unanimously approved the minutes of the June 25, 2026 meeting (motion by Mr. McGrath, second by Mr. Capitano).
Public Hearings (Discussion and Decisions)
1. Public Hearing #23717 – 9 Preston Hollow Court, Northport (Applicants: Ali and Jason Erken)
- Request: Retroactive approval for 1,393 sq. ft. of retaining walls (836 sq. ft. permitted) in an R40 zone. Some walls were built under permit, others without. A shed would receive a certificate of occupancy upon approval.
- No public opposition.
- Decision: Motion to grant by Ms. Whalen, second by Mr. Cottey. Unanimously granted.
2. Public Hearing #23705 – 29 Eugene Street, Melville (Applicant: Vitaliy Usten)
- Request: Variance for a 1,680 sq. ft. two‑story addition with cellar. The property is at a dead‑end street adjacent to the Long Island Expressway service road. Applicant previously received a variance for a sauna.
- No public opposition.
- Decision: Motion to grant by Mr. Capadano, second by Mr. McGrath. Unanimously granted.
3. Public Hearing #23700 – 10 Arosa Court, Greenlawn (Applicant: Stephanie Griffin)
- Request: Variance to allow an existing gazebo in the front yard. Applicant stated front yard is the only usable space; neighbor letters of support received.
- No public opposition.
- Decision: Motion to grant by Ms. Whalen, second by Mr. Capitano. Unanimously granted.
4. Public Hearing #23711 – 7 Layne Way, Northport (Applicants: Dennis and Catherine Hacker)
- Request: Relief for side yard setback of 5 ft (7 ft required) for an addition and fence atop a retaining wall at 9 inches (2 ft required). Neighbor letters of support.
- No public opposition.
- Decision: Motion to grant by Mr. Cotet, second by Mr. White. Unanimously granted.
5. Public Hearing #23678 – 40 Wyman Avenue, Huntington Station (Applicant: Hector O. Merlos)
- Request: Retroactive relief for roof overs, shed, and converted rear porch. Setback variances: 5 ft where 20 ft required; shed on property line; side yard 1.37 ft where 5 ft required. Had prior notices of violation.
- No public opposition or letters of objection.
- Decision: Motion to grant by Mr. McGrath, second by Mr. Cotin. Unanimously granted.
6. Public Hearing #23712 – 811 Park Avenue, Huntington (Applicant: Roberto Lopez)
- Request: Retroactive relief for pool, pergola cabana with wood‑burning fireplace, enclosed porch, and rear addition. Property previously used by landscaping businesses. Applicant accepted standard conditions except request to keep fireplace.
- No public opposition.
- Decision: Motion to grant with conditions by Mr. McGrath, second by Mr. Cottey. Unanimously granted.
7. Public Hearing #23645 – 1598 New York Avenue, Huntington Station (Applicant: Nick Voulgaris / Nivo Properties)
- Request: Relief to legalize mixed‑use building (commercial ground floor, residential above) in overlay district. Variances for one parking space (8 required, 7 provided), zero‑foot setback for parking, and elimination of landscape buffer. Applicant agreed to remove ground‑floor apartment for full commercial. Planning board unanimously supported.
- No public opposition.
- Decision: Omnibus motion for negative declaration and grant by Mr. Capadano, second by Ms. Whalen. Unanimously granted.
Other Business
Extension of Prior Grant (ZBA 23469)
- The board granted a one‑year extension for expiring retaining wall relief (North Coast Civil Engineering) without opposition.
Vote on Prior Application (ZBA 23682)
- Special use permit for conversion of storage building to an animal rescue hospital (turtles and birds only) and intake office, previously heard June 25, 2026. Expert testimony submitted.
- Motion for negative declaration and grant of permit by Mr. McGrath, second by Mr. Capadano. Unanimously granted.
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Applications
- Four applications: 40 Amsterdam Street (Huntington), 46 West 13th Street (Huntington Station), 18 Pomper Drive (East Northport), and 20 Beltrain Drive (Dix Hills). No variances required; owner‑occupied, meet guidelines. Board approved preliminary approval subject to Suffolk County septic review.
Key Outcomes
- All seven public hearing applications were granted unanimously.
- A one‑year extension was granted for a prior retaining wall approval.
- A special use permit for an animal rescue hospital was granted.
- Preliminary approval was granted for four accessory dwelling unit applications.
- Meeting adjourned; next meeting scheduled for July 16, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
Be here. Okay, good evening, everyone, and welcome to the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Town of Huntington for our meeting of July the 9th, 2026. Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag. The United States of America. To the Republic for Richard One Divided. Please be seated. The first order of business tonight for us is the minutes for our meeting of June 25th, 2026. And I have been over the minutes. Unless someone has any additions, corrections or deletions, I would entertain a motion to accept the minutes. I'll make that motion. Mr. McGrath on the motion. Second. Mr. Capitano on the second. All in favor? Opposed. The minutes are accepted. Dawn, are all the appropriate postings and publications in the in the newspapers done with an affidavit to give us jurisdiction for our hearings tonight? Okay, thank you very much. The order of hearings tonight will be as follows. 237179 Preston Hollow Court in North Port. 23705, that's 29 Eugene Street in Melville, 23700, 10 Arosa Court in Greenlawn. 23711, uh 7 Lane Way in North Port, 23678, 40 Wyman Avenue in Huntington Station, 23712, which is 811 Park Avenue, and finally 23645. 1598 New York Avenue, Huntington Station. Will the applicant or the representative of the applicant for 237179 Preston Hollow Court, please address the board. Good evening, Judge Asher and members of the board. Mary Ellen Curtis, 22 North Creek Road, Northport, New York, 11768. I'm here this evening on behalf of the Irkin family, who are the owners of nine Preston Hollow Court. This property is located in an R40 zone where 836 square feet of retaining wall area is permitted. The property currently has 1,393 square feet of existing retaining wool. And we are here tonight requesting relief for the additional square footage. Some of the retaining walls were installed when the house was originally built under a permit. Others were constructed as part of the pool permit, and later a shed was built without a permit. And additional retaining walls were needed because of the property's natural grade. We acknowledge the mistake and respectfully ask the board's forgiveness. Since then, the Erkin family has worked diligently to bring the property into compliance. If this variance is approved, the building department will issue a certificate of occupancy for the shed, bringing the property into full compliance. The Erkin family hopes the board will find in favor of the application. Thank you for your time and consideration. Are there any questions from the board? Okay, thank you, Ms. Curtis. Is there anyone in the audience that wishes to be heard regarding this application? Observing that no one wishes to be heard. Um I will entertain a motion to grant this application. I'll move that motion. Ms. Whalen on the motion.
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