Huntington Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting – August 6, 2026

The Town of Huntington Zoning Board of Appeals met on August 6, 2026, for public hearings and other business. The board approved all five variance applications heard that evening — one with conditions — and also acted on extensions, an encroachment, and several previously filed applications. No meeting minutes were included in the source packet; the transcript shows the board unanimously accepted the minutes of its July 23, 2026 meeting at the start of the session.

Consent Calendar

• The board unanimously accepted the minutes of the July 23, 2026 meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

• For 39 Bunkerhill Drive, no members of the public requested to be heard.
• For 8 Bayview Drive, no members of the public requested to be heard; the applicant noted letters of support from every affected neighbor.
• For 426 Mount Misery Road, a neighbor from 87 Old Country Road expressed concerns about stormwater runoff, soil erosion, water pooling and icing on Old Country Road, and construction beginning before approval. She said the structure itself was not the issue, but asked for soil and water mitigation.
• For 140 Eatons Neck Road, no members of the public requested to be heard.
• For 16 Wentworth Drive, no members of the public requested to be heard; the board noted letters of support and one west-side neighbor request that was impractical.

Discussion Items

• Public Hearing #23732 – 39 Bunkerhill Drive (Aristotelis and Sarah Kougemitros): The applicants sought accessory structure relief to legalize an existing inground pool in a technical front yard on a corner lot with two frontages. The applicant stated one pool corner was 33 feet from the required 50-foot setback, the pool was not visible from the street or neighboring properties, and the violation was discovered while closing out a permit. The board called the request de minimis and granted it. Motion by Mr. Castaño, seconded by Mr. Capadano.
• Public Hearing #23730 – 8 Bayview Drive (Angela and Henry Ludwicki; speaker identified himself as Hank Ludwig): The applicant requested long street side yard and yard modification relief to add a front portico, second-story deck, and two AC units and a fireplace. The speaker requested a 45-inch variance for the portico, a 30-inch variance for a small water-view deck, and a 28-inch variance for an AC unit, describing the property as a 625-square-foot dilapidated bungalow. The board noted neighbor support and granted the request. Motion by Mr. Campadano, seconded by Mr. White.
• Public Hearing #23696 – 426 Mount Misery Road (Damian Lazares, represented by architect Chris Gray): The applicant sought accessory structure and steep slope relief for a pool cabana with a storage basement. The board questioned the proposed nine-foot basement height, and the architect agreed to reduce it to seven feet. A neighbor raised water and soil concerns. The board granted the application with conditions: seven-foot basement ceiling, no habitable features, no plumbing, seasonal use only, and amended plans submitted to the planning department. Motion by Mr. Capitano, seconded by Mr. White.
• Public Hearing #23689 – 140 Eatons Neck Road (Myriam Green, represented by Gordon Stedjan): The applicant requested approval to maintain a storage basement under an existing detached garage. The space is about 170 square feet (9 ft by 16 ft), used solely for household storage, not visible from the street, and the house has no basement. The garage was already built. The board granted the application. Motion by Mr. Castagna, seconded by Ms. Whalen.
• Public Hearing #23738 – 16 Wentworth Drive, Dix Hills (Michael and Ivonne Recupero; architect identified in transcript as Michael Degnan, while the agenda lists Michael J. Duignan RA): The applicants sought front, side, and combined side yard relief to rebuild and expand a fire-damaged dwelling on the existing foundation. The proposed front porch is at a 20.5-foot setback where 23 feet is required. The board confirmed the proposal uses the same foundation from the original R5-era certificate of occupancy, now in an R10 zone, and does not expand the foundation. The board granted the application. Motion by Mr. Capadano, seconded by Mr. White.

Other Business

• Extension – ZBA 23551: Approved extension of an expired grant for Cheley Deegan due to tenant-locating issues; fee paid.
• Lawful minor encroachment – 5 Glenhill Court: Approved for a detached accessory cabana/pool house with an existing setback of 9.9 feet where 10 feet is required.
• ZBA 23321 – 364 Maplewood Road: The board voted to forward correspondence to the building department allowing permits and construction to proceed, because the structures appeared on the plans submitted with the application.
• Extension – ZBA 23519: Approved extension of a non-expired grant due to weather and gas-line relocation delays; fee paid.
• ZBA 2326 – 194 Cate Drive: Granted the dimensional variance relief sought (14.5-foot side yard where 20 feet is required; 38.7-foot combined side yard where 40 feet is required) but denied habitable features, requiring removal of sheetrock. Motion by Mr. McGrath, seconded by Mr. Castaño.
• ZBA 23439 – 194 Cate Drive: The board remanded the accessory dwelling unit matter to the Accessory Apartment Review Board, finding the owner-occupied requirement appeared satisfied after the resident became at least a 10% owner. Motion by Mr. Capadano, seconded by Ms. Whalen.
• ZBA 23699 and 23701 – LaRue Drive: The board approved both applications seeking minor lot-line-related relief. 23701 involves a proposed lot width of 78.94 feet where 100 feet is required and a 12-foot long street side yard where 30 feet is required; 23699 involves a lot width of 91.93 feet where 100 feet is required. The board emphasized it was not approving a subdivision; the lots already existed and are buildable. Motions by Ms. Whalen, seconded by Mr. Castagna.

Key Outcomes

• All five public hearing applications were granted: 23732, 23730, 23696 (with conditions), 23689, and 23738.
• Conditions attached to 23696 include a 7-foot basement ceiling, no habitable features, no plumbing, seasonal use, and submission of amended plans to the planning department.
• The board approved two extension requests, one lawful minor encroachment, and directed correspondence on one building-department matter.
• The board granted dimensional relief on 2326 with a no-habitable-features condition and remanded 23439 to the Accessory Apartment Review Board.
• The board approved the two LaRue Drive lot-line variance applications.
• The next meeting was scheduled for August 13, 2026.

Discrepancy Note

• The transcript identifies the 8 Bayview Drive speaker as Hank Ludwig/owner, while the agenda lists Angela and Henry Ludwicki as owners.
• The transcript identifies the 16 Wentworth Drive architect as Michael Degnan, while the agenda lists Michael J. Duignan RA.