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Design review panel approves Jewish Center alteration, hears preliminary plan for private artist studio and honors longtime member
Summary
The East Hampton Design Review Board on June 16 approved a minor alteration for the Jewish Center of the Hamptons, reviewed a preliminary proposal for a private artist studio at Cosmic Studios LLC that will require zoning variances and additional parking plans, and paid tribute to departing member Cheryl Dayton after 37 years of service.
The East Hampton Design Review Board on June 16 unanimously approved a minor alteration for the Jewish Center of the Hamptons and completed a preliminary review of a proposal for a private art studio at Cosmic Studios LLC, while members honored longtime board member Cheryl Dayton, who is resigning after 37 years.
Andrew Goldstein, speaking for the applicant, described the Jewish Center project as a relatively minor alteration and asked the board to approve the application. The board confirmed receipt of a written decision from the village attorney and, after no substantive questions from members, a motion to approve was made and the clerk polled the board; the recorded responses listed Chair Robert Caruso, Vice Chair Kristen Corwin, Member Cheryl Dayton, Member Heather Barris and Member Lisa Larson as approving the application.
The approval covers an exterior change the applicant described as “closing in a front” and was treated as a preliminary/minor design alteration; the board did not require additional design changes before granting approval. The clerk read the recorded poll results into the record.
On the Cosmic Studios LLC matter, Tara Burke of Lighthouse Land Planning presented the proposal and said the intended use is “a private art studio for a relatively well known artist” that will not be open to the public and will have no sales or regular gallery operations on site. Burke said there will generally be low-intensity activity and limited trips: “There shouldn’t be any noise outside the building, or any machinery involved,” she said.
Village staff member Billy Hajak advised the board that the proposed use is generally compatible with the commercial zoning district but that parking will be the principal technical hurdle. Hajak said the village will likely expect the applicant to land-bank parking (mark and install the spaces needed now while allowing for additional spaces to be added if future demand requires it) and that the applicant will have to obtain a variance from the zoning board for the parking approach and possibly a minor coverage variance before returning to the design review board. The DRB concluded the item as a preliminary review and asked the applicant to provide additional information and revised details addressing parking and technical compliance.
Members also paused during the meeting to recognize Member Cheryl Dayton’s long service after Chair Robert Caruso noted her planned resignation. Several members and the mayor offered tributes; Dayton responded with personal recollections of the village’s history. The chair and members invited board members to a village board meeting the following day, where Dayton will be formally honored.
The board adjourned after completing the agenda. Next procedural steps recorded on the Cosmic Studios item include the applicant’s need to apply for a variance from the zoning board and to return to the Design Review Board with the requested parking and technical details.
Votes at a glance: Minutes (05/16/2026) — motion carried by voice; Jewish Center of the Hamptons — recorded poll read into the record listing Caruso, Corwin, Dayton, Barris and Larson as approving; adjournment — motion carried by voice.
