Surf Lodge Gets Another Adjournment
"Proposals" on the table as case heads to zoning board of appeals.
Still facing over 600 violations in East Hampton Justice Court, owners of the Surf Lodge in Montauk received yet another adjournment on Monday.
Justice Catherine A. Cahill emerged from chambers after conferencing the ordinance case and announced that "several proposals" were discussed between defense attorney Colin Astarita and assistant town attorney Pat Gunn. She said the proposals not only address the charges, "but the bigger picture," as well.
The matter was put over for another conference on March 19, which Cahill noted is before a zoning board of appeals meeting, in which the Surf Lodge will be on the agenda.
The popular late-night hot-spot, which wracked up zoning and quality of life violations all summer, submitted site plans to the East Hampton Town Planning Board in September. Edgemere Montauk L.L.C. is seeking to legalize a 5-by-8-foot hot dog cart in a parking area, and a 7-by-12-foot seasonal, covered wait service area on the restaurant deck, according to The East Hampton Star.
Located in a residential zone, Surf Lodge has two legal commercial uses to be a restaurant and a motel, which are considered pre-existing non-confirming uses.
Ultimately, the planning department determined a natural resources permit, a use variance, and four variances for setbacks from freshwater wetlands, as well as the parking variance were required, The Star reported.
The planning board referred the application to the zoning board of appeals in late January.
Attorneys for Surf Lodge will reportedly appeal the planning board's decision to the zoning board.
Two weeks ago Justice Catherine A. Cahill denied a request to recuse herself from the case, stating that the Astarita had failed to make a case or prove she has acted with bias.
In This article
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The Surf Lodge
183 Edgemere St, Montauk, NY -
The East Hampton Star
153 Main St, East Hampton, NY -
todd
8:00 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
I can hear the slap on the wrist from here. No way Wilkie is going to punish his Surf Lodge buddies.
PATRIOT
7:23 am on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
I have total confidence that the Honorable Justice Cahill will adjudicate the case in a fair and equitable manner .
Justice Cahill has proven herself to be a decision maker based in truth ; justice and the American way . Obviously a deal is being structured to rid her calander of this case ; once and for all parties satisfaction. I have no doubt Justice will be served ; fairly ; honestly and without compromise . She has proven herself a leader worthy of the difficult job she deals with year after year . I continue to find her decisions worthy of my interests as a citizen of our
great community . She will handle this case accordingly.
The outcome will be negotiated ; and fair ; this I know.:
In a Democratic process ; she knows her job and will do it
well ; as she has for decades. It's a tough job; carried by a fair lady ; let her decide ; it's what we elect her to do .
Let her do her job ; then make your judgements ; til then
Let justice run its course .
Connie Judson
8:41 am on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
600 violations! this is ridiculous. To the owners it is easier to pay the violations a mere drop in the bucket considering the amount of revenue brought in. The laws should be changed: if one does not adhere to the laws then after a certain number of violations the business should be shut down. The problem I have with the surf lodge is that the location is NOT equipped to handle the amount traffic and people there. It is an accident waiting to happen. Clogging up the road so that emergency vehicles have a hard time getting through is a threat to all our safety. Go down there on a weekend and tell me this is not an issue of concern for all!!! Not to mention the environmental side.... this is such a fragile zone it was never meant to handle the number of people that are packed in there.
S.B. Bonacker
10:32 am on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Stall, Stall, Stall. They have flashy expensive lawyers who are paid to keep these violations at bay, and the owners are having the last laugh at the people of Montauk every time there is an adjournment. I will not be surprised at all if these violations & fines are plea-bargained down to practically nothing. Then they can start the new season and earn a fresh set of violations all over again....and continue to have the last laugh at Montauk's citizens.
tm
11:36 am on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
they dont have flashy anything. The violations are largely for minor building issues and setbacks, they just issued them daily to make it seem worse. Everyone who gets these types of violations is allowed extended adjournments to get necessary permits. its standard and what is called for.
Lois
12:05 pm on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
close it! Too many cars, too dangerous, too loud and I totally agree with Connie, this is a very sensitive environmental area. Get them out of Montauk!