By ARIELLA MONTI
The trustees have finalized, but not yet approved, legislation that would govern where homeowners can install central air conditioning units.
According to the proposed law, homeowners who wish to install such units must do so in either their front yard, set back at least 20 feet from the front property line, or their backyard, at least 15 feet from the rear property line. The measure would prohibit placement of a unit in a side yard, with the exception of some houses on corner lots. The building department would require that the location of a central air conditioning unit be noted on the property survey.
Houses that currently have units in their side yards would be grandfathered, if they were lawfully installed - and repair or replacement of such a unit would be allowed.
To avoid confusion, the proposed law defines a central air conditioning system as one that is located either entirely or partially outside a home and distributes heated, cooled or dehumidified air to more than one room - or uses pipes to distribute chilled water to heat exchangers in more than one room - and is not plugged into a standard outlet. This excludes air conditioning units that are installed in a wall or window.
During the public hearing, Trustee Jeanne Mulry brought up possible issues with unique properties, such as a home whose side yard faces the backyard of the adjoining property. Questions were raised about whether such lots would be included in the law, and Building Superintendent Daniel Cassella said that waivers could be submitted to the department.
Trustee Andrew Karamouzis criticized the proposed legislation. "I think by prohibiting side yards you are putting an unfair burden on property owners," he said, adding that side yard installation should be permitted with restrictions.
The board also heard from longtime neighbors whose bitter dispute initially brought the issue to the board's attention, when one of them complained about potential issues with the other's side yard compressor. The owner of the side yard unit said he is concerned that the new law would restrict what taxpayers can do with their property, while his neighbor countered that he and other homeowners should not have to listen to their neighbors' noisy compressors.
After much debate, the board moved to close the public hearing on the issue, but did not approve the legislation. It will be taken up again at the board's next meeting, on June 17.
In other action:
Mayor Mary Bossart made a special comment regarding the June 10 Department of Environmental Conservation Remediation meeting with a representative from Albany to discuss the brownfield cleanup of the former Darby Drug site. The board urged residents to attend this special hearing, scheduled for 8 p.m. at Village Hall, or e-mail questions via the village Web site, which at press time was posting more information on the meeting and the brownfield cleanup effort.
The board announced that it is close to a final draft of a franchise agreement with Verizon, and will be holding a public hearing.
The recently closed nightclub, Rapture, has dropped its appeal and will remained closed.
The board also announced that state water conservation laws will be strictly enforced, with summonses and fines set by village courts.
Comments about this story? AMonti@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 282.
