Atlantic Beach residents oppose beach club variances
Cite interference with current zoning and safety concerns
Focused on the future of the barrier beach they live on, several residents of Atlantic Beach Estates and the Village of Atlantic Beach voiced concerns regarding the requested variances of the Atlantic Beach Club during the second portion of a Town of Hempstead Zoning Board of Appeals hearing on March 16.
The initial hearing on Feb. 15 was adjourned after partial testimony was taken. The original meeting scheduled for Dec. 7 was postponed. The Atlantic Beach Club is seeking to legalize several existing multiple structures that were added through the years without the required building permits, a special exception to use the existing clubhouse as a “place of assembly and amusement,” another special exception to maintain two storage containers, a use variance for a mobile trailer used as an office, an off-street parking variance and construct an addition to an existing cabana.
“Whatever takes place in Atlantic Beach Estates affects us in Atlantic Beach,” said Ruth Radow, a Village of Atlantic Beach resident, who opposed the beach club’s applications based on her opinion that the requests infringe on the marine recreation zoning that was established in 1987 by the
town to preserve the beaches by prohibiting development of the beach club properties for housing.
Atlantic Beach resident Carl Baessler said he is opposed to any beach club development except what is permitted within the marine recreation district. “The application pushes the envelope — the beach club building adds 40-square feet — my answer must be an emphatic no,” said Baessler, a village resident since 1975, who is married to Linda Baessler, a current Atlantic Beach trustee.
Mildred Beck, who lives in Atlantic Beach Estates, and Barry Ringelheim, an Atlantic Beach resident, both noted safety concerns. Beck views the club’s request to increase its number of parking spaces from 403 to 461 as a hardship on residents in case of an emergency due to the area’s limited roadway access. “We have limited egress in case of emergency situations,” she said. Worried that high winds could displace the mobile trailer, Ringelheim said he would, “rather see a solid brick structure.”
