Riverhead Town Board wrap: August 5 meeting

Four public hearings on the Aug. 5 agenda of the Riverhead Town Board kept yesterday’s meeting in session for more than three hours.

The bulk of that time was devoted to the consideration of a new code aimed at regulating commercial solar energy production. See separate story.

The board received little or no comment during the three other hearings held: special use permit application of R&K Precision Autoworks; appeal of revocation of a rental permit held by a South Jamesport woman; and the consideration of a local law to regulate clothing drop-off bins.

The R&K special use permit application — to reconstruct a portion of the company’s building on Sound Avenue and build an 2,980-square-foot addition, expanding a pre-existing, nonconforming use — was actually previously granted by the town in 2011, but had expired. The facility, located just east of the Lobster Roll restaurant, will double in size when construction is completed. There were no objections to the plan raised during the public hearing. The record was left open for 10 days to allow written comment.

Rental permit revocation appeal

Attorney Charles Cuddy, representing Kathleen Johannsen of South Jamesport, asked the town to overturn the revocation of a rental permit held by his client for property at 22 West Second Street in South Jamesport. Johannsen, who has long held a rental permit, he said, got caught up in the recently amended rental law banning transient rentals in Riverhead.

Cuddy asked the board to reconsider the definition of “transient” rentals, arguing that rentals of less than one month should not be barred. The definition of “transient” as any rental for a period of under 30 days, was “arbitrary.”

He also argued that the town’s failure to mail notice to rental permit holders was a “failure of procedural due process.”

He asked that his client at least be allowed to fulfill contractual obligations she entered into for this season prior to the adoption of the new restrictions.

“She rents to people a yaer in advance,” Cuddy said. “You’ve impaired the obligation of contract she has with people.”

Hearing on proposal to regulate drop-off bins

A proposal to regulate clothing drop-off bins in Riverhead elicited no comment other than an expression of “strong support” from the Wading River Civic Association.

If adopted, the new code would require permits for the placement of drop-off bins anywhere in town. The code would limit the availability of permits to “charitable organizations” that have nonprofit status under the Internal Revenue Code. Further, drop-off bins would only be allowed in the Destination Retail and Business Center zoning use districts and on any premises occupied by houses of worship or other religious institutions, regardless of zoning.

The proposed code would establish regulations for the placement of bins, their size, construction and maintenance. Bins will be required to bear lettering indicating the name, principal address and phone number of their owners.

Permits would be evidenced by town-issued stickers affixed to the bins.

Violations of the new code would be punishable by fines of $500 to $10,000 per week. The town would also be able to impound any illegal bins, without prior notice to their owners or the property owners. Impounded bins would be subject to separate and additional impound fees, as well as forfeiture after 10 days in storage.

The hearing record was left open for 10 days for written comment.

Upcoming public hearings scheduled

The town board yesterday also scheduled the following public hearings:

Proposal to make the intersection of Griffing Avenue and Lincoln Street a four-way stop. (Aug. 19 at 7:10 p.m.)

Amendments to chapters 12, 47 and 107 of the town code pertaining to permit application review processes of the conservation advisory council (Aug. 19 at 7:15, 7:20 and 7:25 p.m.)

Appeal of taxicab business license revocation of Day and Night Taxi and Limo Inc. (Aug. 19 at 7:30 p.m.)

Special permit application of North Fork Coffee Co. for a coffee shop, espresso bar and bakery on Main Road in Aqubogue. (Sept. 16 at 7:10 p.m.) See prior story.

Amendment to the town zoning code to allow certain Pine Barrens credits to satisfy the transfer of development rights requirement for increased development yield in the retirement community zoning use district.

Other board action of note

Also at yesterday’s meeting, the town board:

• authorized legal action in state supreme court against East End Commons LLC, the owners of the BJs/KMart shopping center on Route 58, where trees were cleared in violation of an approved site plan, according to town officials, who issued a stop-work order in June;

• gave the go-ahead to the Jamesport Fire Department for the construction of a 30-foot by 30-foot pavilion on the site of its Manor Lane headquarters;

• appointed Darlene Folks to replace Ellen Saunders on the Veterans Advisory Committee;

• appointed Jeff Rottkamp to the Agricultural Advisory Committee;

• approved a special event permit for the Riverhead Country Fair on Oct. 12;

• approved a special event permit for the 5K Run for the Ridley on Oct. 25.