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Board approves fence-height change near LIRR, stop signs at Ridge Drive and several other measures
Summary
At its Aug. 20 meeting the Flower Hill Board of Trustees adopted a local law allowing 6-foot fences where properties back the Long Island Railroad, approved new stop signage at a Ridge Drive intersection, approved a decorative gate application for 24 Bonnie Heights and affirmed the building superintendent on an appeal at 35 Woodhill. Several other routine administrative items were also approved.
Flower Hill’s Board of Trustees took several formal actions at its Aug. 20 public meeting, approving changes to the village fence code, traffic controls and a high-profile front-yard gate while rejecting an appeal of a building‑permit fee.
The board voted to adopt proposed Local Law G to allow 6-foot fences on properties that back up to the Long Island Railroad, increasing the allowable height from 5 to 6 feet for those lots. In the same motion the board identified the village as lead agency and treated the measure as a Type II action under the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), finding no significant environmental impact; no additional SEQRA review was required. The motions were introduced and carried by vocal assent.
The trustees also approved Local Law I to support a road‑safety project at the Ridge Drive East/Ridge Drive West intersection: two new stop signs and one yield sign. The board again declared the action a Type II under SEQRA, enabling the village to proceed with signage and related work shortly.
On a separate matter the board approved the Muscot decorative fence/gate application at 24 Bonnie Heights after extended discussion about setback distance, visibility and precedent for future gate applications. The board characterized the approved structure as decorative and approved the applicant’s revised plans with requested adjustments to screening and setback.
The board denied an appeal from the applicant at 35 Woodhill, who had argued the work performed should have been treated as a first‑floor alteration for the original permit fee. Trustees and the building superintendent concluded that the scope of work – which the superintendent characterized as having been taken down to the deck – required assessment of additional fees; the board voted to affirm the superintendent’s decision and did not grant relief.
Other actions: the board approved the abstract of vouchers totaling $257,752.90, approved the Manhasset Women’s Coalition 5K walk/run permit for Oct. 5, 2025, and passed a resolution to apply for the 2026 court grant to fund a safe for court receipts and modest conference‑room upgrades.
What the board did not finalize: proposed Local Law H (a tree‑remediation alternative that would allow property owners to donate $500 per removed tree into a village greenery fund in lieu of on‑site replacement) was discussed at length but held over to a future meeting for additional drafting and clarifications about administrative discretion and implementation.
The board said it will distribute more detailed notifications to residents before upcoming road projects (notably an expected three‑day closure on Manhasset Woods Road for concrete replacement and a larger paving program beginning Sept. 22).
