A wooden stockade fence erected around East End Venture’s Ferry Road property last month has drawn the ire of some village board members, who say it is illegal, not the fence approved for the property in October 2008, and that it obstructs a water view.
Harbor Committee member Jeff Peters said on Monday the “illegal fence” obstructs the water vista, which is in direct violation of Sag Harbor’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan (LWRP) and asked building department secretary Doris Alvarez to make sure the village building inspector is looking into the situation.
On Wednesday, Sag Harbor Historic Preservation and Architectural Review Board (ARB) Chairman Cee Scott Brown said the fence is not what his board approved in October of 2008, and that the board specifically tried to ensure such a large expanse of fence would not appear imposing or block water views to adjacent beachfront.
On October 9, 2008, the ARB approved a three-foot high, wide space picket cedar fence. The board was amendable to having the fence lined with mesh to keep debris from blowing onto the property from the neighboring 7-Eleven parking lot.
“If they want to put in what was approved, fine, but I don’t think this board would modify our approval to approve what has been put up,” he said.
On Monday, East End Ventures Project Manager Mark D’Andrea said the firm’s insurance company said it would cancel its policy if a fence was not erected on the property and that the ARB approved fence was not secure enough in the insurance company’s mind.
D’Andrea said the fence was necessary as he has received phone calls about vagrants living on the property, as well as people parking illegally on the site and the company needs to protect itself from liability.
On Monday, Alvarez informed Peters and the rest of the Harbor Committee that Sag Harbor Building Inspector Tim Platt has already issued a stop work order for the fence, which is completed, and is looking into the matter.
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East End Venture is just pissed they are not being allowed to build their planned (and ridiculously tall) condos, not that they can pay the bills due at their other ridiculously tall condo project.
esp#1 You must be a dope. The village has made a choice to start a war and it is costing the good folks of this town a lot of hard earned money and resources. Wait until you are denied your rights if you even own anything. How many people have fences around their property? This is not about the fence. Think about it, you could be next.
Yes Armando I own a home here and I don’t think another condo project is going to make my home more valuable – especially one that blocks water views and sits unfinished with several liens on it like East End Ventures’ first condo project.
And yes Armando this is about a fence.
The village should have bought this property a few years ago from the Diner family. If I recall, the property went for approx. 5.5 million. Or at least the village should of put up the purchase before the village voters, and let them decide. About 25 years ago, the village put up for vote the purchase of the property where the Cigar Bar sits. It was 200 thousand at the time. I voted for it, but enough village residents voted against the purchase and look at that woderful building your stuck with now at the bottom of Main Street.
Just tear down the stupid fence. Problem solved.
The town started this war and the fence is a protest. Yes the town should have purchased the property and did not. Now the Monday morning QB’s have all the answers. The owners did their due diligence and researched what could be built. Once the initial plans were submitted the building department got cute and stalled the project long enough to change the laws. If they can do this to them they can do it to you. Not very democratic is it??? Guess what, everyone looses and we get a falling down abandoned building to look at for the long term. It’s Brilliant!!! I am so proud of our leadership. Can’t wait to see what we spend in legal fees defending our arrogance.