Kaplan’s Market gets temporary reprieve from Greenport ZBA
Jeffrey Gordon, the owner of Kaplan’s Market, got a short reprieve last week as Greenport’s Zoning Board of Appeals delayed a decision on July 20 to rescind his variance to use the Kaplan Ave. site for a light industrial operation.
The delay gives board members time to review documentation, but they’re still expected to pull the approval in August, board chairman Douglas Moore said. He called it “something that is unpleasant to do,” but added Mr. Gordon had five years to bring the building into compliance. While he has completed construction previously required by the board, Mr. Gordon failed to file necessary covenants and restrictions with Suffolk County, village attorney Joseph Prokop said.
Mr. Gordon couldn’t be reached. The telephone number he supplied is no longer in service and village building inspector Eileen Wingate said she has no other contact information for him. Nor is the lawyer who represented Mr. Gordon during the original application still working with him.
GOOD FENCES MAKE GOOD NEIGHBORS
Just a month after the Greenport Planning Board gave Frank Purita approval to operate his Sasuke restaurant at the former Townsend Insurance office on Main Street, the ZBA gave Mr. Purita’s neighbor, Sigrid Burton the okay to increase her second floor deck at 210 Main St. by 81 square feet to accommodate fencing. She said that would mitigate the noise from a rear garden seating area of Mr. Purita’s restaurant.
TURN OUT THE LIGHTS
Sterlington Commons owner William Kreisner and his representative, Brian Phelps, were turned down for their request to allow a backlit sign at Trader Bill’s antique store.
Board member Denise Rathbun said the light that was already installed and previously lit from the front, is “unmissable” with the backlights.
“I find it to be extremely offensive,” she said.
Although Mr. Phelps argued that in that mostly commercial area — there are a few second floor residential apartments — the light wouldn’t be “intolerable,” the board expressed concerns that it could set a precedent for other businesses. A few neon lights exist in downtown, but only two, the Greenport Theatre and Scrimshaw Restaurant, hold variances.
MOVING CLOSER TO CANOPY
Mr. Robert’s convenience store owner Ali Sahin received a variance to erect a canopy over his gasoline island on the northwest corner of Front and Third streets, but still needs site plan approval from the Planning Board.
CHANGE OF NOTICE
ZBA members are asking for a code change regarding notification of neighbors who might be affected by requested variances. If the Village Board agrees, the revised code would require that a placard be placed on the property in question 10 days before a public hearing. If there’s a subsequent hearing, the placard would again have to be placed 10 days in advance.
