Huron board approves Pier Fifty Three special permit for cruise boat, requires temporary and permanent fencing

The Town of Huron Zoning Board of Appeals on July 8 approved application 1231-25SP to allow Pier Fifty Three LLC to operate the cruise boat Rose Lummis and expand parking at 7147 Lake Bluff Rd.; the board attached a temporary rope fence to be installed on the north property line within one week and a permanent split-rail fence to be installed within 90 days. The motion to approve the application following findings of fact was moved by Tom Hamilton and seconded by Dalton Bean and carried 5-0 (Nick Santino absent).

Owner Kristy Fowler (introduced during the public hearing) deferred to Don Riling, president of Save Our Sodus (SOS), who thanked the Town of Huron and Supervisor David Fantuzzo for prior support and said a donor — who asked to remain anonymous — had offered to fund an eco-tour boat. Riling emphasized parking controls and said boat pump-outs would be performed on the far side of the bay; he stated, "SOS will be responsible for getting it done." Neighbor Frank Teeple said he was "not opposed and is glad they are taking the initiative for the additional parking, so they are not using the sides of the road," but requested a protective barrier near his property to avoid damage while mowing.

Before the public hearing closed the board completed a SEQRA short-form review: Gordon Smith moved that the request be treated as a Type II action under 6 NYCRR 617.5(c)(9) and the board accepted Part II of the short EAF. The approval formalized the fence timetable and emphasized that parking must not encroach on Teeple’s right-of-way. (Note: the guest list earlier in the record lists a "Kristy Ritter"; the speaker at the hearing identified herself as Kristy Fowler and is identified in the meeting text as the owner of Pier 53.)