The Jewish Center of the Hamptons, after filing in court to annul a building inspector’s determination that essentially prevented it from enclosing two porches, was back before the East Hampton Village Zoning Board of Appeals earlier this month seeking approval for what it initially asked for: a variance of 26 square feet and a special permit to enclose two porches to add 788 square feet of gross floor area to the main building.
This time, it seems headed for approval.
Linda Margolin, an attorney speaking for the applicant, told the board on May 8 that the variance is needed in order to include a paved area, including a driveway and parking area, in the center’s coverage calculation — “part of which had been counted under previous applications and part of which had not.”
The center, located on 3.3 acres on Woods Lane in a residential district, would use one enclosed area as an office, the other for classroom space. The variance is needed to permit 29,918 square feet of coverage where a prior zoning board variance permitted 29,892 square feet. The special permit is needed to make structural alterations and construct additions to a building that contains a religious use.
The board had granted the center a coverage variance in 2023, Ms. Margolin explained, and “it appears to me that the construction that actually resulted did not produce quite as much coverage as the board had allowed. But since we are now obliged to count a paved walkway as well, we wind up needing a variance for 26 square feet.”
“There’s a very small strip between a handicapped access ramp and the existing coverage of the floor of the porch,” Ms. Margolin said, “and that’s the part that’s going to be enclosed and result in a need for a 26-square-foot variance.”
Board members agreed that the center’s plans were not substantial and would produce no undesirable change in the neighborhood. The hearing was quickly closed, and a determination will be issued at a future meeting.
