Village considers fines for illegal construction
Hewlett Harbor’s BZA wants residents to seek prior approval
In a move to have Hewlett Harbor residents seek the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) approval before beginning construction on their homes, the village is exploring the idea of implementing fines.
Hewlett Harbor Mayor Mark Weiss said the issue was raised at their May 10 meeting by a Board of Zoning Appeals member. That BZA member requested that the village’s board of trustees have an additional penalty instead of simply approving a work request during construction or upon completion. “We’d be able to communicate to residents that you have the option of coming to the Board of Zoning Appeals for approval and want to make it clear that it’s better to come to the board and get prior approval,” Weiss said.
“The board of zoning appeals member believes that if residents understood that there was going to be some fine for work that was done without prior approval, they would be more likely to get prior approval,” he added. The village attorney, Charles Casolaro, and Trustee Kenneth Kornblau have been chosen by Weiss to explore the possibility of instituting fines.
An Everit Avenue resident, who declined to be identified, does not agree with the possibility of implementing fines. “You have to give people a break and we pay enough taxes here,” the resident said. “I appreciate residents needing certain permits and the village keeping track of how the work is progressing and if reputable people are performing the job but if a resident started seeking approval a head of time, that’s putting pressure on residents.”
The resident added, “I understand that people have to feel pain in order to follow the rules but it has to be done within limits. This is a community, not a transient community, and why create animosity towards the [board of trustees] and the people who run the town when you can accomplish it another way. There has to be other avenues they could take rather than to fine people.”
Deputy Mayor Len Oppenheimer agrees with the idea to implement fines. “There is this feeling among residents that it’s easier to do what you want and beg for forgiveness later but there is a tremendous effort on behalf of the village when someone performs illegal work on their home as we have to get building inspectors and attorneys involved and they cost money,” he said. “This is really the only way.”
Weiss said if the board does decide to implement fines, they’re not looking to make it a punishment. “What we really want people to understand is if the board agrees to this approach, they will get notice to the residents to make them aware and we are inviting them to come in and present the work they’re interested in doing as early as possible so they understand the building code and so they stay within regulations of the village,” he said. “We’re happy to work with them and our building inspector is eager to work with them in advance of work being done. If they do this in advance and get approval before they do work, it will be a much easier process.”
The Village of Hewlett Harbor board of trustees will discuss the issue at their next meeting on June 14 at 449 Pepperidge Road in Hewlett at 7:30 p.m.
