Huntington Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting – September 3, 2026
Huntington Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting – September 3, 2026
The Zoning Board of Appeals held a meeting on September 3, 2026, to consider five public hearing applications and several other business items. All applications were granted unanimously, with no public opposition voiced during the hearings. The board also approved amendments to prior decisions, confirmed a minor encroachment, corrected a scrivener's error, and issued preliminary letters of approval for two accessory dwelling units (ADUs).
Consent Calendar
- Minutes of the August 13, 2026 meeting were approved by a motion (Mr. McGrath) and second (Mr. Castagna), with all in favor.
- Confirmation of a lawful minor encroachment for a pool at 18 Hillside Avenue (12-inch variation from the required 5-foot setback) was approved.
- Correction of a scrivener's error on ZBA 23736 (change description of garage from detached to attached) was approved.
- Preliminary letter of approval for ADU 2256 (689th Avenue) was authorized, with a notation correction regarding the garage connection.
- Preliminary letter of approval for ADU 2064 (23 Jane Avenue) was authorized.
Discussion Items
Public Hearing #23750 (89 Luyster Street, Huntington Station) – Applicant: Daniel and Ashley Marra. Attorney Michael McCarthy presented on behalf of the owners, requesting a variance to maintain an existing semi-inground swimming pool in a technical front yard on a corner lot. The pool was properly screened and fenced; the property had limited depth. No public comments. Board noted the pool had been in place for some time and was not visible from the street. Motion to grant by Mr. Castagna, seconded by Mr. Basso; all in favor.
Public Hearing #23741 (267 Lenox Road, Huntington Station) – Applicant: Jeremy Deeg and Stephanie Murphy. The representative requested a rear yard variance for a one-story addition built in 1962. The addition was 21.75 feet from the rear lot line, where 25 feet was required (3.25-foot deficiency). No feasible alternative existed short of demolition. The condition resulted from a prior owner's failure to close out a certificate of occupancy (CO). No public comments. Board clarified that the noncompliance was to both the northerly and westerly lines. Motion to grant by Ms. Whalen, seconded by Mr. Capadano; all in favor.
Public Hearing #23726 (86 W. 9th Street, Huntington Station) – Applicant: Armando Dominguez. Attorney Alan M. Davis requested variances to legalize a roofed-over BBQ conversion, porch additions, and a detached garage with habitable features (finished walls but no plumbing or heating). The front porch was 4.5 feet deficient from the required 20-foot setback. The garage was used for storage and a car. No public comments. Board characterized the relief as minor. Motion to grant by Mr. McGrath, seconded by Mr. Basso; all in favor.
Public Hearing #23742 (14 2nd Avenue, Huntington Station) – Applicant: Shay Granov / Second Ave. HS Inc. Expiditor Julie Vatrano presented. The buyer in 2016 was unaware of open permits from a 1979 addition and a detached garage. The application sought relief for a 4.5-foot side yard variance (5 feet required) and a 1.75-foot variance for the garage (2 feet required). The addition and garage had existed unchanged since 1979. No public comments. Board clarified the specific relief requested. Motion to grant by Mr. Castagna, seconded by Mr. Campadano; all in favor.
Public Hearing #23731 (326 W. Jericho Turnpike, Huntington Station) – Applicant: Paul Schweid (Harley's Grill LLC). Attorney Michael McCarthy returned to request a special use permit, parking variance (80 stalls required, 55 provided), and depth extension for a 550-square-foot seasonal outdoor dining addition. The restaurant would not increase seating; valet parking would be used during peak times. Traffic engineer Wayne Muller (RM Engineering) testified that the valet system and available on-street parking on Jones Lane made the 55 stalls adequate. No public comments. Board found the application fit the neighborhood pattern. Motion to grant (including a negative declaration under SEQRA) by Mr. Whalen, seconded by Mr. Cote; all in favor.
Other Business – Amendment to ZBA 23712 (Cabana relief) – Board amended a prior decision to allow air conditioning in the cabana, consistent with previously approved fireplace use.
Other Business – Notification on Cornerstone at Melville – Town board notified the ZBA of a pending application; the board chose to take no action at this time.
Other Business – ZBA 22647 – Matter adjourned to September 24, 2026, pending clarification from counsel.
Other Business – ZBA 23715 (7 Olympia Court, chicken coop) – Board voted to grant the variance for a chicken coop and run, with conditions including no roosters, a limit on the number of chickens, and installation of an odor filtration system as agreed by the applicant. Motion by Mr. Capitano, seconded by Mr. Castagno; all in favor.
Key Outcomes
- All five public hearing applications were granted unanimously.
- The board amended the cabana decision (ZBA 23712) to permit air conditioning.
- A 12-inch pool setback encroachment (18 Hillside Avenue) was confirmed as lawful.
- A scrivener's error on ZBA 23736 was corrected.
- Two ADU preliminary approval letters were authorized.
- The regular meeting scheduled for September 10, 2026 was canceled due to incomplete publication; the next meeting will be September 24, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, good evening, everyone. Welcome to the zoning board of appeals of the town of Huntington for a meeting of September the third, 2026. Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag. United States. Please be seated. First item of business is our minutes for the meeting of uh August 13th, 2026. If there are no corrections, additions, or deletions, I would uh entertain a motion to accept the minutes. I'll make that motion, Mr. Chairman. Mr. McGrath on the motion, Mr. Castagna on the second. All in favor. Aye. Any opposed? Minutes are accepted. Um Dawn, are the appropriate postings and publications done and with the affidavits to prove that's the case to give us jurisdiction for our hearings tonight? Yes. Okay, thank you. Our hearings for tonight will be as follows. We'll be first on the agenda. 23741, which is Lennox Road. Then 23726, 86 West 9th Street, 23742, 2 Eaton Court. Oh no, I'm I take that back. That's the uh applicant's address. The actual address is a quarter. What's the address? 14 2nd Avenue near 4th. Uh 2nd Avenue near 9th Street. And then uh 23731, which is 326 West Jericho Turnpike. Okay, well the applicant or the representative of the applicant for 23750, that's 89 Leicester Street, Huntington Station, please address the board. Good evening, Mr. Chairman and members of the board. Uh my name is Michael McCarthy. I'm an attorney. I'm a partner with the law firm of Fricelli, Deegan Tarana, and I maintain an office at 444 New York Avenue in Huntington. Mr. Chairman, I'm here this evening on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Mara, who are the owners of the uh property, and we are requesting a uh area variance to maintain a semi-ing ground swimming pool in the location that is depicted upon the survey that was there. And uh thanks, Matt. Uh right there. Um, and what brings it into noncompliance is that uh the property uh has frontages on both um poster, I guess that's how you pronounce it, and Leicester Street in Huntington Station. This property is zoned R 10 residence district. Um the uh couple have young children. You can see the pictures of the backyard. Uh the swimming pool got called into question when they made an application for uh an individual permit to do some work upon their house, and it was revealed to them that the pool was in a non-conforming location. Um it's respectfully submitted that the pool has been there for quite some time, it's really not impacting anyone. It's properly screened, it's fenced, uh, doesn't create a hazard by any means.
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