Amityville board approves detached garage at 2 Cottage Place with conditions

The Amityville Planning Board on Feb. 5 approved an application by homeowner Linda Desouto to construct a 20-by-24-foot detached garage at 2 Cottage Place, granting approval subject to three conditions intended to preserve the property’s exterior appearance.

Chairperson Stephen Greenwald opened the discussion and asked the applicants to explain the plans. Desouto and her husband, Joseph Lodato, said the proposed garage will be set slightly off center to accommodate an existing fence. "Because my fence is going to run into the garage...that is why I had to offset the garage door," Lodato said.

Board members raised a discrepancy between the submitted architectural drawings and the photo rendering: the drawings showed many small panels on the garage doors while the rendering showed six larger panels. The applicants confirmed the doors will match the rendering.

The board approved the application with three stipulations: the garage door and the side-entry door must match the rendering presented to the board; the house exterior (siding and paint) must be updated after garage completion to create a unified appearance and the roof will be replaced "eventually" to match; and exterior lighting must match the samples provided, with fixtures on either side of the garage door and by the side door. Chairperson Greenwald moved the motion and Member Amanda Lowe seconded; the vote was 5-0.

The applicants were reminded that they must obtain required building permits and comply with village, county and state codes before construction begins. The record notes that the Zoning Board previously granted the applicant variances for minimal side-yard setback and height, which the applicants said had already been obtained.

The board recorded no public opposition on the application. The garage approval is the most recent step before the applicants seek building-permit review from the village building inspector.