BETHEL — Kauneonga Lake resident Wayne Margulies, of West Shore Drive, expressed considerable impairment of his rights as a property owner because of property violations of a neighbor. 

He asked the Town of Bethel to “investigate how permission was allegedly given for (retaining) walls and a large staircase” (that extends to the road), and which “obstruct plowing and proper drainage.”

Voicing his concerns at the Bethel Town Board meeting June 11, where he read aloud a letter, he raises broader questions about oversight, permitting, and equity in the application of town regulations: “I understand that challenges arise with enforcement, and I recognize the competing demands on your time and resources. However, it’s important for residents to feel that ordinances are upheld consistently and transparently, especially when public safety and property damage are at stake.” 

He mentioned a field that leads to a community pool that was dug up and never restored, as well as partially removed asphalt.

Matthew Korn, a NYS licensed architect with an office in Roslyn, was hired by Margulies to examine the unresolved issues. His findings, stated in a letter presented to Bethel Town Supervisor Dan Sturm and the Town Council, indicate that construction on the neighbor’s property which “started nine years ago, (still) continues, and has grown, with no end in sight.”

His review of the situation demonstrates the “financial, psychological, and real property damage” it has caused. 

“The construction violates Town Zoning and Building Codes,” including lack of properly filed building permit applications, “expired permit not extended, lack of updated survey, lack of stamped and sealed drawings by a design professional, and lack of any civil engineering to show proper grading, drainage, and water management.”

Korn’s immediate remedy request asks the Town Council to instruct the Building and Highway Departments to “act immediately to prevent further water damage.” His suggested remedies include “erosion control measures, such as hay bales, silt fencing, and removal of overburden soil from the front and sides of subject property to prevent further contaminated runoff; improvement of “drainage ditch that runs under the property curb-cut;” and removal of “llegal retaining wall which is dangerous to pedestrians, limits street width and parking, and which is within Town property borders.”

He states, “My clients and I “have lived in the town since 1965…in the past, many residents have complained to the Town and DOB that include Mr. and Mrs. Margulies, the CCPOA Country Club Property Owners Association, and adjacent neighbors. The CCPOA Homeowners Association was forced to hire an attorney, Mr. Steven Mogel. His findings are the same as above, yet very little has changed. In fact, the construction, which started nine years ago, continues with no end in sight.”

“We have faith that the Town Council will act on the enforcement of Building and Zoning Codes, good sense, the community, and specifically, Mr. Margulies. Please act accordingly with no delay.”

Supervisor Sturm said that there are unresolved issues with the particular property “still in court”, yet he would attempt to remedy the situation by taking the “first step” and send the letters to the Building and Highway Departments, as it is formally in their hands.

Several people in the room cited other various construction activities, mostly in the Swan Lake area, on back roads, which appear to lack proper permits or oversight. It was urged, that a “Boots on the Ground” policy be endorsed, whereby, since the Building Department is now fully staffed, inspectors should travel along back roads throughout the town to see the construction and renovation activities currently taking place.”

Councilwoman Lillian Hendrickson lauded renovations made to several bungalows on Mattison Road and noted that two residential structures on the same property are in neglected condition. She asked that something be done, as they are unsafe. Sturm said, 

“There already are property violations there” and that the Town will address it.