Huntington orders removal of private tennis court from public lands

Huntington officials have ordered owners of a Melville property to remove improvements -- including a tennis court -- from town parkland.

At its July 15 meeting, the town board voted 4-0 to approve a settlement that requires the Stacey E. Schnapp Revocable Living Trust to remove all the encroachments from public lands, restore the affected area to the town's satisfaction and pay a fine. Board member Susan Berland abstained.

Calls to the home on the property and the trust's Huntington-based attorney, Dan Cahn, were not immediately returned.

According to town officials, a routine survey by the town in 2011 found the violations at Dr. Jeffrey Wenig Memorial Park. Inspectors found that the trust had encroached on town property without the town's consent, from its property at 24 Elkland Rd.

In December 2012, the town board voted to start a civil action against the property owner, to force the removal of all encroachments into the 29.1 acre town-owned parcel at the Strathmore Hills subdivision.

Town officials said the property owner has until Oct. 31 to remove the tennis court, oversize shed, trampoline, pond, stone patio, fencing, sprinkler system, concrete steps and play set.

The owner must move the fence to the true property line and restore the park area by planting and seeding. The owner also has to legalize a basement conversion at the residential structure on the property. The owner also will pay a $2,500 penalty.

"The town is pleased this matter is being resolved and that the property that belongs to the town is being restored to its previous state," said town spokesman A.J. Carter.