Northport Planning: Steep Slopes and Site Plans

O'Shea Steep Slope, 167 Bayview
This resolution requested a steep slope application for the waterfront, .42 acre-property, two-family property owned by William O'Shea at 167 Bayview Avenue.

The steep slope application was being pursued under Section 219-27 of the Village code. The request was being filed so that two existing three- to four-foot retaining walls could be moved back, a little to the west of where the walls currently are.

O'Shea's attorney Christopher Modelewski noted that an application to construct a second story on the house was heard by the Zoning Board of Appeals in 2005, chaired then and now by Andy Cangemi.

It was denied at that time because it was revealed through testimony that the basement at the residence constituted a story of its own, and the ZBA did not grant the second story as it would have actually constituted a third story.

O'Shea recently came to the zoning board with a new proposal for the second story, and the steep-slope permit is in accordance with that plan, which requires the walls to be closer to the road.

In addition, the O'Shea's were seeking that the application be amended to allow one wall to be moved on the south side of the premises and for another wall on the north side to be turned into a garage wall to support the construction of a garage.

Modelewski said that this garage had not been approved by the zoning board, as they didn't want to decide on it when the application was heard. Instead, the zoning board sent them to the Village Planning Board to get the request for a steep slope application approved first.

He said the garage was reviewed as an alternate plan; the O'Sheas want to construct the garage, but they have to go back to the zoning board and re-submit the plan before it can be approved.

If the garage was constructed, the current driveway would most likely become landscape. The logic behind the garage would be to reduce the amount of traffic along the very narrow street and cars parked along Bayview Avenue.

The Planning Board members said they felt the plan looked fine, but they could not approve the application yet as it still needed to be reviewed by engineering company Gannett Fleming. The board considered allowing a conditional approval based on a positive review from Gannett Fleming, but instead decided to delay a final decision until next month's meeting, scheduled for Feb. 22,  so that the review could be completed and a decision made in time for a presentation in front of the zoning board scheduled for Feb. 23.

Willen Steep Slope, 28 Bluff Point
This application was filed by the Willen residence of 28 Bluff Point Road. The request was for a steep slope permit for a proposed pool, retaining walls, and a boat-storage building. The proposal is to construct an in-ground pool with a patio around it. An application for a trellis to be constructed around the pool and for construction of a sports court was already approved by the zoning board.

The pool needs a four-foot retaining wall behind it, which is why the steep slope permit was filed. There were an additional six-foot retaining wall requested in order to stabilize an area with a hill. A building for boat storage would also need a four-foot retaining wall constructed behind it.

There was a discrepancy between the plans the Planning Board had with them, saying that they were not updated as properly requested in a recent letter featuring bullet points that needed to be addressed. They also noted that the representatives of the Willen residence needed to submit a revised, updated landscaping plan signed by a licensed architect in order to pass a later permit process. The representatives for the Willen residence said that they addressed concerns raised in a plan submitted on October 13, and that they also had an updated and signed landscape plan with them. The resolution was passed under the condition that that new landscape plan is approved upon review.

Gemport Resolution
This resolution was filed in regard to the Gemport Site Plan #66. The request was for a preliminary approval extension of six months, until July 27. It was approved without discussion.