Sag Harbor Village Halts Constuction Of Garage; Frame Exceeds Permit

The skeleton of a garage at 24 Rysam Street in Sag Harbor has sat untouched since a stop work order was issued on June 30 to prevent further construction, as the framing was twice the size specified in the building permit. Since then, an appearance ticket had been issued by the village based on the structure’s height, which exceeds 15 feet, according to Sag Harbor Village Senior Building Inspector Thomas Preiato.

“I had asked for the structure to be lowered to the maximum 15 feet, as I have no authority to allow for anything surpassing that height regardless of the permit issued,” Mr. Preiato said in an email on Friday, September 9.

What was supposed to be a 456-square-foot, detached garage began taking different a shape, according to Mr. Preiato, who had issued the building permit on June 14. The incomplete garage stood at about 900 square feet, including a second level topping out at about 19 feet.

The home belongs to Jack Morris, a real estate developer from New Jersey.

“He complied immediately,” Mr. Preiato said, noting that neighbors were frustrated about the expanded structure. The next step will be to take the incomplete structure down or secure permission to complete a garage that exceeds what village regulations allow.

Mr. Morris’s attorney, Brian Desesa of Sag Harbor, said he could not confirm whether his client would seek approval for the larger garage, and said he could not provide a comment.

Mr. Preiato had said he spoke to Mr. Desesa and expects Mr. Morris to apply for a variance to continue building the structure.

“I contacted them last week just to make sure that it is indeed in process, because I can’t just have it in limbo,” Mr. Preiato had said on August 26. As of September 9, no application had been submitted.