Quogue Village Board Modifies Laws Pertaining To Storage Containers, Accessory Structures

The Quogue Village Board approved modifications to a pair of laws on Friday, one that limits how long storage containers can be placed on private property, and the other defining how accessory structures are to be utilized moving forward.

Both measures were approved 4-0, with Mayor Peter Sartorius and Village Board members Randy Cardo, Ted Necarsulmer and Kimberley Payne voting in favor. Trustee Jeannette Obser was not in attendance.

The first amendment places restrictions on portable storage units in the village for the first time. With the update, village residents can keep a storage unit on their property for up to 60 days; prior to the change, there was no time restriction on such containers.

Additionally, storage containers in Quogue cannot exceed 8 feet by 16 feet in size, according to the updated village code, and must be set back at least 25 feet from a property line.

The board then adopted a resolution that clarifies language in the local law pertaining to accessory structures in residential areas, primarily by allowing second-floor additions to be built over detached garages. Also, the updated law offers specific definitions for home offices, living quarters and one-family dwellings—such explanations did not exist under the old code.

According to the updated law, a home office is now defined as an office in a private dwelling that can be used for private business purposes by the homeowner. The space cannot be used by employees, or visited by customers or vendors, according to the updated code. Additionally, no on-site advertising is permitted.

The law additionally allows for larger pool houses and garages. With the modifications, pool houses in Quogue can now be up to 1,000 square feet in size, while garages up to 1,200 square feet are now permitted.

Village Board members had been soliciting feedback from village residents since May prior to making last week’s modifications.