Board approves septic/well variance for 70 Peninsula Road near Pine Lake

The Westhampton Board of Health on July 13 approved a variance for 70 Peninsula Road that permits a septic layout with a reduced setback from the property’s own well.

Health inspector Sydney Lewandowski said properties around Pine Lake are constrained and that the designer’s plan "meets all well setbacks for abutting properties, but the well is 43 feet from tank and less than 100 feet from soil management system." Lewandowski told the board the system includes a pretreatment tank that oxygenates effluent and a separate filtering tank that reduces contaminant load before subsurface disposal, an element she cited when saying she believed the variance was fair.

Board member Heather Livingston moved to approve the variance "as proposed by the owner." Robby Armenti seconded the motion. The board recorded no objections and the motion passed; the transcript does not include a formal vote tally.

The variance approval followed a public meeting called at 6:15 p.m. specifically for this application. Board Chair Katch Bacheller and staff noted the applicant and septic designer argued the plan is the only feasible solution for the lot and that it would not affect neighboring wells. The record shows the board relied on the designer’s site plan, the presence of pretreatment, and assurances about abutters’ wells in reaching its decision.

Next steps recorded in the meeting minutes: the public meeting was closed and the Board resumed its regular business. The meeting record does not specify any additional conditions attached to the variance or the exact vote tally by member.