Last month, the Appellate Division, Third Department, held the Mined Land Reclamation Law (“Mining Law”), as amended, does not preempt certain local zoning laws which prohibit mining. Specifically, in Town of Southampton v New York State Dept. of Envtl. Conservation, 2021 NY Slip Op 03351 [3d Dept 2021], the Appellate Division held the statute “clearly recognizes that the
Continue Reading Sand Mining Hits Rock Bottom: LI’s Local Laws May Prohibit Future Operations

Last February, in Dreyer v Stachecki, 2020 NY Slip Op 50134(U), the Suffolk County Supreme Court denied an unopposed motion for pre-action discovery. CPLR Section 3102(c) authorizes disclosure – prior to commencement – to aid in bringing an action or proceeding. In this case, the petitioner-movant sought the production of documents and depositions in anticipation of his challenges to
Continue Reading Utilizing CPLR 3102(c) Pre-Action Discovery in Article 78 Proceedings – Can’t Go Fishin’

Last week, the New York Supreme Court, Suffolk County, denied an application for a preliminary injunction to enjoin the completion, maintenance and operation of two sixty-foot tall electronic billboard-monuments (“Project”) on opposite sides of State Route 27 a.k.a. Sunrise Highway, which Project is owned by the Shinnecock Indian Nation (“Nation”).

A.  The Project and the State’s Action

In or
Continue Reading Court Denies Preliminary Injunction to Enjoin Shinnecock Nation’s Project along Sunrise Highway

In response to the Coronavirus outbreak, many New York City residents have sought refuge from the epicenter of the disease by travelling to the East End of Long Island. On March 27, 2020, several East End leaders, including leaders from the Town of Southampton, Town of Southold, Town of Riverhead, Village of Westhampton Beach, Village of North Haven, Village of
Continue Reading Southampton Town Targets Short Term Rentals For Enforcement Due To Covid-19 Outbreak

Town of Southampton GIS

The Supreme Court, Suffolk County recently upheld a determination of the Southampton Town Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) perhaps ending a lengthy and controversial review of the development of a day camp on residentially zoned property with frontage on Little Fresh Pond. The subject property is located at 665 Major’s Path in
Continue Reading Supreme Court, Suffolk County Upholds ZBA Determination Authorizing a Change In Nonconforming Use

By decision dated December 17, 2015, the Town of Southampton Zoning Board of Appeals granted relief from Town Code §330-82 to allow a zero foot road frontage (where 40 feet is required) for two landlocked parcels located at 86 and 138 Old Sag Harbor Road in North Sea to allow for the construction of a single family residence. The
Continue Reading Appellate Division Affirms Supreme Court Determination Upholding Southampton Town ZBA Decision

A recent Second Department decision applying the doctrine of laches highlights the importance of taking prompt action against a property owner who may be acting in violation of a zoning or building code.

The dispute in Kverel v. Silverman arose when the defendant contracted to purchase an undeveloped parcel of land (the “Premises”) in the Town of Southampton (the “Town”) 
Continue Reading Doctrine of Laches Bars Neighbor’s Challenge to Development

The Long Island Pine Barrens Maritime Reserve Act, Environmental Conservation Law, Article 57 (the “Act”), was adopted in 1993 for the purpose of protecting approximately 102,500 acres of the Long Island Pine Barrens located within the towns of Brookhaven, Riverhead and Southampton.  The Act defines the boundaries of the Central Pine Barrens and divides it into two geographic areas,
Continue Reading Developments of Regional Significance Are Subject to Additional Scrutiny by Pine Barrens Commission

In a decision dated October 30, 2018, Supreme Court Judge Joseph Pastoressa remanded a decision made by the Southampton Village Architectural and Historic Board (BARHP) for further consideration. Manger et al. v. Board of Architectural Review and Historic Review of the Village of Southampton.

 The property owner in Manger applied to the BARHP for a certificate of appropriateness
Continue Reading Potential Conflicts and Interplay between the Village of Southampton Board of Architectural and Historic Preservation and the Village of Southampton Zoning Code

A few days ago, the Town Supervisor of the Town of Southampton and the Town Trustee President sent a letter to the State Comptroller and State Park Commissioner requesting an opinion as to whether Town Trustee property, known as Hayground Cove or the Rose Hill Drive Boat Ramp, a small waterfront area with a boat launch, is parkland.  If so,
Continue Reading Southampton Trustees-Possible Thorny Parkland Alienation Issue On Rose Hill Drive