After several months of debate, the board of trustees has amended Chapter 15 of the Roslyn Municipal Code. Those changes concern fence and pool construction. In addition, the BOT has finalized the approval of a new Parking Lot Trust Fund for the village.

The fence and pool changes in the village code complement those made concerning retaining walls and sign construction. For fences, the new code would, among other things, require a building permit for the construction of any new fence on a residential property. Constructed fences cannot exceed a height of more than four feet. In addition, an open wire constructed fence can be built to at least six feet in height. Constructed fences cannot be built closer than six inches to a property line. Finally, no constructed fence can be erected in the front yard of any residential property.

The pool amendments concern the size and depth of pools, plus rules regarding their maintenance. The Zoning Board of Appeals will become the body that determines if a pool, whether it be low-ground, semi-in-ground, or above-ground, can be constructed. It will look at public health, safety and general welfare issues when considering an application. The ZBA will maintain that pools will be used only as an accessory structure for a resident's family and guests. Pools to be used as an accessory to a nursery school or day camp for children will need prior approval by the Nassau County Department of Health. The ZBA will also determine that any new pool will not depreciate the value of property in the area or alter the essential character of the neighborhood.

Other features of the pool amendment include structures that include an efficiently operating filtering system, acceptable drainage systems, and water that meets the bacterial standards set by both the New York State and Nassau County Department of Health sanitary codes.

Appeals concerning fence policy can be made to the Historic District Board if the property is within the Historic District. The ZBA will handle all other appeals. Appeals on pool policy can be made to the State Supreme Court.

The parking trust fund represents the latest effort to deal with the village's parking situation. The purpose of the new law is to raise money for the village, money that would be used solely not only to acquire land and facilities to secure off-street parking usage, but also to upgrade existing parking spaces and purchase new equipment.

The law allows the Zoning Board of Appeals to grant parking variances to all future developers wishing to seek a building permit in the village. If a developer wants a variance from village codes, he must first make a contribution to the trust fund. The BOT has set the payment at $2,000 per parking space so waived or modified by the ZBA. All such monies will then be deposited into the trust fund for a variety of ways to improve the parking situation.

Copies of the parking law, plus those of the pool and fence amendments are available at Village Hall, 1200 Old Northern Blvd.