Sip•n•Twirl Rises Again!

Variances granted to permit reconstruction of the LaFountaine building!

Good news! The Brookhaven Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) granted the variances sought to permit the reconstruction of the LaFountaine building that burned in November. The BZA cited the extensive support from within the community to justify granting the variances sought. The BZA also quoted from the several letters submitted by FIPPOA in its findings and conclusions. The granting of the variances will permit the Town of Brookhaven Building Department to issue the necessary building permits. Nicole advises that construction will begin soon.

– As reported by Jay Pagano, FIPPOA President

Thank you!

PJ McAteer
· Sip·n·Twirl
· Pines Bistro
· Pines Pizza

Thank You – We Were Heard

Sincere thanks to everyone, for your support, and particularly to Nicole LaFountaine, the staff of Sip·n·Twirl, the Bistro and Pines Pizza, and to all our “family,” friends and neighbors. You wrote, Tweeted, Facebooked, blogged, posted, emailed, faxed, and more, to spread the word, around the community, and around the world, that helped make a major statement to the zoning board. Thanks, also, to everyone who came to the meeting – yesterday’s turnout, which Newsday puts at “over 200,” was the largest ever for the BZA. 

We came to yesterday’s meeting with 300 faxes and emailed letters, along with more than 1,200 signatures from the online petition, all clearly supporting fast-track permitting. The board “got” the message about time criticality and the extent and strength of community support for reconstruction of the LaFountaine building, in the Pines, for 2012, and has promised a decision “soon.”

 

Thank you,

 

PJ McAteer
· Sip·n·Twirl
· Pines Bistro
· Pines Pizza

Transportation to Brookhaven Zoning Hearing, Jan 11 (Weds)

 Attend this week's BZA hearing to show your support for rebuilding in the Pines:

· Hearing is 2:00-4:00 p.m. – with this matter late in the agenda – at Brookhaven Town Hall in Farmingville
· LIRR trains depart Penn Station for RONKONKOMA at 12:14 & 1:14 on Weds, Jan 11 (both off-peak)
· Colonial Transportation will meet both trains (arr. Ronk. 1:37 & 2:37) & provide transport to hearing
· Return service will be similar, with Colonial providing transport to either Ronkonkoma, or Sayville, LIRR Station, as appropriate
· "Sayville" LIRR tickets are valid for travel to Ronkonkoma
· Please share this with your friends, and email info@sipntwirl.com with your planned NYC departure, to help us estimate requirements
· If you are driving, Brookhaven Town Hall is located at One Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738, phone: 631.451.6477

~

We are working as hard as we can to "be there" for the Pines in 2012.

Thank you for your support,

PJ, Nicole and all your friends

Online Petition: A faster & easier way to show your support

January 11^th is the Date that Brookhaven's Board of Zoning Appeals hears permit requests & recommendations for reconstruction of the LaFountaine building in Fire Island Pines.

Please sign this online petition* to support the fast-track permitting required to allow the LaFountaine “Danikki” Building, at 36 Fire Island Boulevard, to be rebuilt in time for its seven resident businesses to serve the Pines community for the 2012 season.

www.change.org/petitions/rebuild-the-lafountaine-building-in-the-pines

Please share this petition with your friends.

We are working as hard as humanly possible to "be there" for the Pines in 2012.

Thank you for your support.

PJ, Nicole, and all your friends

__________
*Over the last several days, hundreds of supporters have emailed and faxed individual letters of support to us, and directly to the Brookhaven BZA. Since time is of the essence, we have now added an even easier/faster way to show your support. A few clicks, and typing a few words, is all it takes. You may sign this petition in addition to sending an individual letter, as we do not have a way to access and count letters that were sent directly to Brookhaven.

How You Can Help the Rebuilding Effort in the Pines

On January 11, the Brookhaven Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) meets to consider the fast-track permitting that has been recommended by our elected officials, by FIPPOA, and by numerous members of our community. Permits are for the entire LaFountaine Building, home to seven businesses, all of which are important to the Pines community for the 2012 season. 

A few individuals, together with ABCO (Affiliated Brookhaven Civic Organization), oppose this accelerated permit application and are misrepresenting the nature of the proposed project to support their position. A prominent posting on ABCO’s public website claims that the project seeks an “increase to 100% lot occupancy.” In fact, the proposed structure maintains the prior structure’s footprint, floor sizes and lot coverage, and, in addition, within those constraints, plans to include updates to contemporary building structural codes, including ADA compliance. The LaFountaines are simply asking to rebuild what was lost in the fire, which was a legal commercial building, with all current Town of Brookhaven Certificates of Occupancy.

Attached is a letter that you may use to show your support for a rebuilding process that will allow the LaFountaine building, and all its tenants, to be operational for the 2012 season. Please download, complete, sign, and either scan, and email to info@sipntwirl.com, or fax to 631.293.2574.

Please direct any questions to info@sipntwirl.com.

Download BZALetterOfSupport-FINAL

Thank you!