Seaside inn, ‘putting lipstick on a pig’?

Bayville’s mayor, Paul Rupp, asked that a Nassau County police officer attend the village’s March 22 public hearing. He did so, he said, because a resident was unruly at the last village environmental committee meeting.

The purpose of this week’s meeting was to decide whether to change a zoning law, which would allow for construction of a seaside inn, which also needed to be defined by a different law, on Steve’s Pier’s vacant lot, at 33 Bayville Ave. Because the idea is not popular with some in Bayville, the mayor wanted to be sure he would not have to end the meeting prematurely. One woman asked why the village was wasting taxpayer money having a police officer at the meeting, but no one else seemed to care. And the officer’s services were not needed.

The tenor of the meeting was, however, often volatile, with some Bayvillites saying they didn’t want a seaside inn. Angry outbursts punctuated the evening, and several people expressed their frustrations to the board.

“You are putting lipstick on a pig,” Robert Denatale said. “There is no doubt in my mind that the drawings” — presented by an architect and a builder at a previous meeting — “[are] more of a condo then a seaside inn.”

Others worried that giving the green light to a seaside inn would cause problems for neighbors. “This will have an impact on the sewage system. Neighbors adjacent to the inn will have sewage backup,” Cliff Cotton said.

But some people at the meeting, which drew around 150, supported the changing of the two laws.

“This town in dying,” Rory Cohen said. “I don’t understand why people are against this. We need this town to exist or we will all be in trouble.”

Al Carfora said he was tired of seeing a pile of dirt with a chain link fence around it, referring to the vacant Steve’s Pier property. “I support this,” he said. “Putting a restaurant or retail area there instead will generate more traffic.”

Rupp said he had received 120 emails in favor of the project. He did not receive any negative emails, he added. “To summarize the emails, I can tell you people thought the project was reasonable, will provide economic development for the community, will help support existing businesses and will be an attraction that will keep people in the area,” he said.

There are approximately 6,700 people living in Bayville. Trustee John Taylor said the next day that the village is continuing to receive emails of support.

“Even if all of those who attended last night’s meeting were opposed, that doesn’t represent anywhere near a majority,” Taylor said. “Everywhere we go, people voice support for the inn. Only a few say they’re against it for any reason.”

What’s proposed?

Architect Gregory Andrea and real estate developer Craig Kirsch shared plans for a seaside inn on Feb. 4 at Soundview Caterers, which was packed with interested residents. The hour-long presentation included drawings and data detailing what they said would be a profitable business for Bayville.

Building a seaside inn is a new idea, though there have been others over the years. The last plan, approved in 2014, included a rooftop catering area and a large spa. But it was never built.

Attempting to allay residents’ fears of the inn’s possible failure, Andrea said he was considering adding a mini-spa and a small pool downstairs that would open onto the deck, a large gym and perhaps a coffee shop. This, he said, would be popular with people who live in Bayville, and would provide income to keep the inn open during the winter months.

Plans for the new design include a shingle-styled roof and, on the lower level, a patio with a restaurant and bar area that would accommodate 190 people. There would be 30 or fewer rooms available for rental. The height of the proposed building would be 34 feet.

Kirsch said that there is no plan for condominiums, and that the project should take 13 to 15 months to build once the community approves it.

Concerns and support shared

A few people said they feared that a failed seaside inn would lead to condos or government-subsidized apartment buildings like Locust Valley’s The Tides, which was once a hotel.

“In my job I place people in Section 8 housing, and they would say no to Bayville,” Lisa Maloney said. “There is no public transportation here. People don’t want to get landlocked. We’d have to make it permanent housing, and you can’t get permanent housing at a building designated as an inn.”

There were also concerns that people would try to move into a seaside inn. Rupp said people could only stay for 30 days, but former Bayville Fire Chief Ed Orski wondered who would make people leave. “Who can go there and see if people are staying more than 30 days — only a fire marshal, I think,” he said.

And Michele Principe said it would be easy to return. “They can go around the law by checking out one night and going back in for another 30 days,” she said.

Some, like Peter Bianco, weren’t worried. “I’m for the project,” he said. “I think the inn will be thriving.”

Jim Alessi renovates houses. He believes the inn is just what Bayville needs. “I wanted to hate this project but the more I thought about it, I think it will be a jewel for the town,” he said. “Can our attorney put in a stipulation that it can never become an apartment or residential dwelling? Also, verify that there will not be a kitchen in the rooms so we can believe that this will never become a condo?”

Rupp said after the meeting that restrictions could be brought up at the site plan meeting once plans have been submitted. “I have no problem with putting a kitchen sink in the room, but I do have a problem with a stove or oven.”

The vote, and then frustration for some

After the first law was passed with a vote of 5-2, defining a seaside inn, many people left in disgust. Some of those who remained shared their frustrations.

“This is really not a vote,” David Cicero said. “I’m not against change, just how it is coming about here. I’d like the changes to be done in a more democratic way.”

Frank Bates, the leader of SAVE Bayville NOW Inc., agreed. “Talking to this board is like talking to a brick wall. We asked for a referendum. What are you afraid of?”

But Carla Panetta said she was pleased with the vote and the one that followed, which changed zoning to allow for the inn.

“My peers are for modern improvements,” Panetta said. “I think the loud people here are a minority. A referendum is difficult to get because it will undermine the upcoming election in June. If everything were a vote we wouldn’t need a board.”