Great Neck zoning board approves variances for homes

Janelle Clausen
The Zoning Board of Appeals in Great Neck approved space variances for the construction of a home at 4 Moreland Court. (Photo from Estate Construction LLC)
The Zoning Board of Appeals in Great Neck approved space variances for the construction of a home at 4 Moreland Court. (Photo from Estate Construction LLC)

The Great Neck Board of Zoning Appeals approved two variances for the construction of a new home on Moreland Court on Thursday night to permit more floor space and a detatched parking garage.

Estate Construction LLC, the owner of the property, sought to create a home with a building floor area of just under 2,844 square feet, putting it 334 and a half feet above the maximum allowed 2,509.3 square feet for the lot.

The applicant also aimed to have a dethatched parking garage 10 feet from the home, rather than the 20 as called for in code.

Paul Bloom, a lawyer for Estate Construction LLC, argued that it wouldn’t be practical to go to the letter of the code.

By removing the 15 x 15 master bedroom – one of four bedrooms on the main floor – it would not bring the home into compliance, he said, nor make it as appealing to people looking into the area, including “observant Jews.”

“This is not trying to put a mansion on this piece of property,” Bloom said.

Bloom also noted that the entry foyer, which is about 103 square feet, should not count as “livable area” for the home.

Bloom also said developers had looked into “flipping” the position of the house, but said this would likely increase the variances developers need overall

Zoning board members also asked about how developers would mitigate fire concerns, stemming from the use of wood and the closeness of the garage to the two-story home.

Morris Lavi, an architect and president of Estate Construction LLC, said the firm could install fire-rated sheetrock and make the driveway and garage whole brick.

He also confirmed that they could put fire-resistant shingles on the roof of the home, include steel risers for a set of stairs, and move the boiler room further from the stairs.

Dennis Grossman, the chair of the zoning board, said legal counsel would “draft a decision in favor” with requested changes incorporated. The board will officially vote at its next meeting on Sept. 6.

In other zoning board business, board members approved variances for Wai Ki Chin, who is seeking to subdivide the property of 12 Ravine Road to potentially build two new dwellings.

Bloom, who also represented Chin, said they met with neighbors and plan to incorporate smaller plantings to avoid blocking sunlight. Additionally, Bloom also submitted a copy of a revised building plan with the signature of the owner of 14 Ravine Road.

“At this point, I think we have met all the concerns of our neighbor,” Bloom said.

In unrelated zoning board business, members also moved to adjourn a hearing about the creation of a Verizon facility atop 307 East Shore Road to a “certain” date of Oct. 4, 2018, with planners needing more time to assemble the necessary documentation.

They also adjourned a matter concerning a retaining wall for 48 Polo Road.

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