Permit fees, code changes on table in Brightwaters

An increase in building permit fees and changes to the village of Brightwaters’ demolition code are among the changes being proposed by the Brightwaters Planning Board.

Board members discussed the proposals, which are in the planning stages, with members of the village’s board of trustees on Tuesday night. Planning officials say a final proposal will be submitted to the trustees for review in the coming weeks. The trustees would have to vote to approve any changes.

Planning Board chairman Joe Paliseno said the board is finalizing changes to a range of fees for building permits, storage, Dumpster and alteration permits that could amount to doubling the current rates.

Paliseno, who said many of the fees hadn’t been increased in at least two decades, said the proposed increases would be “nothing outrageous” and “nothing that’s going to hurt anybody.”

Trustee John J. Riordan, who attended the meeting, said he’s unsure if fee increases are needed, but he’s willing to examine the issue. “I think there’s always a need to periodically review things like that,” said Riordan.

Additionally, the planning board is considering a proposal to update the village’s demolition code to require builders to adhere to current code when demolishing more than 75 percent of a building. Currently, builders can demolish an entire building and still follow previous regulations regarding property setbacks and electric system installation.

Riordan said the demo code changes “sound reasonable.”