Shelter Island Raises Senior Tax Exemption to 65%, Approves Museum Barn Plan
The Shelter Island Town Board voted unanimously on June 29 to increase the maximum senior property tax exemption to 65 percent and to approve a site plan allowing the Shelter Island History Museum to convert an accessory barn into habitable space. The Zoning Board of Appeals also approved two variances by 5-0 votes on June 24.
Town Board Actions
At its June 29 meeting, the board adopted a local law increasing the senior real property tax exemption to as much as 65 percent. The vote was unanimous. A separate local law that would have granted tax exemptions for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers was tabled because the board lacked a quorum to act on it.
The board also gave unanimous approval to a site plan for the Shelter Island History Museum. The plan permits the museum to convert an existing accessory barn into habitable space.
A public hearing was scheduled to correct a scrivener’s error in the dock code; the vote to set the hearing was unanimous.
Zoning Board Decisions
The Zoning Board of Appeals acted on two applications during its June 24 session. It approved a variance for a property at 44 Gardiners Bay Drive (Alphanest LLC) by a 5-0 vote and a variance for 44 St. Mary’s Road (Shelter Mary Property LLC), also by a 5-0 vote. No other decisions were made.
Other Town Discussions
The Town Board held work sessions on June 23 and June 30 to discuss a range of matters for which no final votes were taken. Topics included outdoor assembly applications for fireworks fundraisers at Salt, an update to the dock code, Water Advisory Committee drought-restriction recommendations, the results of a wireless communication master plan survey, an operating-agreement amendment with the Suffolk County Water Authority, a grant application for a payloader, and site plan applications for STARS at White Oak, Sylvester Manor, and a SCWA project.
The Capital Planning and Grants Committee reviewed departmental capital requests on June 23, including police body cameras, beach cameras, a boat ramp, a work boat, HR software, and AI training for the building department. The Water Quality Improvement Advisory Board on July 2 was scheduled to review a new rebate application for 9 W. Thomas Street and to discuss commercial I/A grants and the search for new board members. No decisions from those committee meetings were reported.
Coming Up
The Town Board will hold a special meeting on July 7 expected to include a vote on an outdoor assembly permit for a World Cup final viewing event at Sunset Beach. The free event, proposed for July 19 from 3 to 6 p.m., would carry conditions. The work session preceding the vote will cover a grant application for the Tot Lot, outdoor assembly permits for a Sylvester Manor concert and the Lions Club’s Rocking the Rock event, an amendment to the SCWA/WNWD operating agreement regarding past-due accounts, and the Comprehensive Plan timeline. The board will also meet in executive session for contract negotiations and interviews.
The Taylor’s Island Preservation and Management Committee meets July 8 to review financial balances, outstanding dividend checks, and maintenance items for cabins, landscape, and equipment.
Generated from official meeting agendas and minutes — every underlying document is linked from the city page. Read the primary source before you rely on a detail.