Town of Huntington Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting – October 22, 2026

The Town of Huntington Zoning Board of Appeals met on October 22, 2026, to conduct public hearings on six applications and to consider four additional business items. All applications on the hearing calendar were granted except one hearing that was adjourned because required legal postings were not completed. The board also acted on two accessory dwelling unit (ADU) requests, an amended written decision, and a time extension request.

Consent Calendar

• The board accepted the October 8, 2026 meeting minutes, as corrected by the chairman, on a motion by Mr. McGrath seconded by Mr. Cortey; all voted in favor.
• Town counsel confirmed that affidavits of posting, publication, and notice were filed to establish jurisdiction for the evening’s hearings.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public requested to be heard during the public comment portions of the hearings.
• Richard Bronchick (JL Drafting), for owner Dawn Fasano, testified at the 48 Highland Court hearing.
• Paula Ruiz (Universal Science and Service), representing Wing Stop, testified in support of the proposed signage at 215 W. Jericho Turnpike.
• Jessica Zalin (Cuddy & Fader), attorney for the Dickens Avenue applicants, presented the retaining wall requests, with structural engineer Charles Clackett available to answer questions.

Discussion Items

• 88 Harriet Lane (Public Hearing #23779): The hearing was adjourned to December 10, 2026, because the applicant did not complete required postings and publications.
• 48 Highland Court (Public Hearing #23762): The applicant requested a front-yard setback reduction from 20 feet to 17 feet to build a three-foot-deep front vestibule. The representative said the vestibule would address a dangerous stair entrance located less than four feet behind the front door. The agenda describes the work as a one-story addition, while the transcript describes it as a two-story addition; this discrepancy was not discussed by the board.
• 215 W. Jericho Turnpike (Public Hearing #23757): Paula Ruiz requested a 12-foot-tall freestanding ground sign with a 10-foot setback. She argued the sign was needed for visibility on a 40 mph commercial corridor. Board members noted the application also covered existing building signs and asked about vacant space behind the 14-seat food shop; the representative said she did not have that information. The board determined a negative declaration was required under environmental review before granting the request.
• 8, 10, 12, 14 Dickens Avenue (Public Hearings #23781, #23776, #23770, #23775): The four contiguous properties were heard jointly. Attorney Jessica Zalin explained that a shared rear retaining wall appearing on surveys from 1969 was removed in 2024 after the town found a portion at 12 Dickens unsafe. The proposed replacement wall, with a ready rock ledge stone base and a 5-foot PVC fence, would have a maximum exposed height of about 11 feet. Letters of support were provided by owners of rear properties at 9, 11, 16, and 17 Cather Avenue. Board members praised the application and stated all five legal factors were met, characterizing the project as a repair rather than a new hillside cut.
• Other Business: The board heard four non-hearing items: a second extension for Application 23314 at 104 Soundview Terrace, Northport; an amended decision for Application 23752 at 33 Pine Drive, Cold Spring Harbor to include 993.2 square feet of retaining wall relief (code allows 746.2 square feet) that had been granted on October 8 but omitted from the written decision; and preliminary approvals for ADU 2258 at 27 Weston Street, Huntington Station (300 square feet, one-bedroom, owner-occupied, no saturation issues) and ADU 2256 at 689th Avenue, Huntington Station, after the building department confirmed a meaningful connection between the main dwelling and the proposed ADU.

Key Outcomes

• The October 8, 2026 minutes were approved unanimously.
• Public Hearing #23779 for 88 Harriet Lane was adjourned to December 10, 2026, without action.
• Public Hearing #23762 was granted: front-yard setback reduced to 17 feet for the 48 Highland Court vestibule.
• Public Hearing #23757 was granted: sign variances for 215 W. Jericho Turnpike, with a negative declaration under environmental review.
• Public Hearings #23781, #23776, #23770, and #23775 were each granted by separate unanimous motions for 8, 10, 12, and 14 Dickens Avenue, respectively.
• Application 23314 received a second extension of the prior grant due to family and financial concerns.
• Application 23752 was directed to receive an amended written decision reflecting the retaining wall relief granted on October 8.
• ADU 2258 and ADU 2256 received preliminary approvals.
• The meeting was adjourned to October 29, 2026.