Being a Good Neighbor

Here you’ll find general information and a set of guidelines to living in the Terraces.  It covers a variety of topics and responses to frequently asked questions related to our community.  It does not replace the Covenants and Restrictions, By-Laws, or the Rules & Regulations.

Attending Annual Meetings

It is important to attend the Annual Meeting usually scheduled for the first weekend in August. Your participation and voting are required to insure our process as a property owners association. Projects, initiatives and the financial state of our community are discussed at the meeting.

Beach Access/Swimming

Beach rights and use of the beach ramp/steps are reserved for Terraces property owners in good standing and their guests.

Invited guests should be accompanied by a Terraces property owner at all times and made aware of all beach rules. Fishing is not permitted in Terraces community bathing areas. Please respect our neighboring beaches 

Use the ramp and stairs to access the beach.  Do not use the sand cliff.  It is not only unsafe, but causes destruction and erosion to the bluff.

There is no lifeguard on duty.  Swimming is at your own risk.  For safety, children should be supervised by an adult. 

Designated Parking areas at the Plaza are available to residents of the Terraces, for beach access. 

Residents and their guests are asked to clean up after themselves.  Place trash from beach outings in the receptacle at the entrance to the ramp or take it home to be disposed of properly with household refuse.  

The ramp and stairs to the beach are generally open from mid-May through fall.  When the ramp is closed, the beach is closed for the season.  Please do not attempt to reach the beach via the dunes.

Beach equipment, chairs and watercraft items should not be left on the beach after season end. The beach is not storage for personal items. 

Lost Beach Cards

Send an email to sean.b@terracesonthesound.org and one of the
Board members will contact you. There is a $20.00 fee for each lost/damaged card. Only 2 beach cards allowed per property.

Covenants & Restrictions

As a property owner in the Terraces on the Sound, you are subjected to the rules in the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions.  The Covenants and Restrictions describe the requirements and limitations of what you can do with your property, such as limitations regarding tree removal and fences. The goal of the Covenants and Restrictions is to preserve the natural appearance and character of the community as the original founder intended.

Covenants and Restrictions are available for each dwelling and on file with Suffolk County Clerk’s Office.  It is your responsibility to obtain and read your Covenants and Restrictions. Contact Suffolk County for instructions on how to obtain your copy.

Criminal Activity

If you suspect criminal activity or witness a crime, call the police at 911 or (631) 852-8700.  Do not call a Board member; they are not law enforcement. However, DO notify the Board of any criminal activity that may need to be shared with the community such as car break-ins, or suspicious person/s in neighborhood.

Noise Control, Nuisance Factor

The Town of Brookhaven’s noise ordinance is found at https://ecode360.com/8593708

If you are experiencing a noise/nuisance issue, please contact the Town of Brookhaven or 911.  Please do not call a Board member; they are unable to enforce Town ordinances.

One Family Residences

The Terraces is situated in a B-1 Residential Zone of the Town of Brookhaven.  By ordinance, occupancy is limited to one family in each residence.  It is your responsibility to read your Certificate of Occupancy issued by the Town of Brookhaven Building Department. All building plans must also be approved by the Terraces Board of Directors. (Please read the Rules and Regulations Construction Section for any new construction, permits and building regulations on your property.)

Pets 

In observance of Town law, dogs and cats are not permitted to run free. Dog must be on a leash in the Terraces, and you are expected to pick up your pet’s waste.

If you are having an issue with an unleashed dog/cat or any other issue with a neighbor’s pet(s), please contact the Town of Brookhaven Animal Control at (631) 451-6950.  Do not contact a board member; they are unable to enforce any Town laws.

Property Value, Maintenance and Responsibilities

All property in the Terraces is owned either by individual homeowners or by the corporation. 

Property owned by the corporation (e.g., beach, ramp, Plaza and roads) is maintained at the community’s expense.

The value of homeowners’ property in the Terraces is directly related to the appearance of our homes and lawns.  Maintaining the exterior of houses and keeping lawns and shrubs trimmed is your responsibility–whether the home is occupied by you or your tenant. Residents are asked to clean debris from the sides of streets and the bottom of the roads to keep our storm drains clear.

Refuse and Recycling

The Town of Brookhaven provides garbage and recycling collection for the Terraces. Yard waste is scheduled for specific weeks during the month.  To obtain a copy of their schedule and details about specific garbage removal and recycling call Brookhaven Town at 631-451-8696 or visit their website, https://www.brookhavenny.gov/411/Trash-and-Recycling.

If you are experiencing issues with waste collection, please contact the Town of Brookhaven. Please do not contact a Board member; they do not have any jurisdiction over waste management issues.

Road Maintenance

As a private community, the Terraces receives only a few services from the Town of Brookhaven, as they do not provide public services on private property.  As a result, the community:

• Provides its own road and sign maintenance; 

• Keeps the ramps and beach access in good condition; 

• Provides snow plowing, etc.

To facilitate the maintenance of community-owned property, all homeowners are expected to keep the roadside adjacent to their properties trimmed and cleared of leaves and refuse.

Safety

Safety in our community is everyone’s responsibility.  Speeding on Terraces roads is unwise and dangerous.  Please observe the posted speed limit of 25 miles per hour on Longview Avenue.  Lower speeds are recommended on side roads.

Be alert to potential hazards.  Notify a board member immediately if you see any road issues that could cause a problem. Inform the Board of weak or broken steps and railings on the Beach stairs, as well as damage caused by vandalism. Please notify the Board if you observe anything that could be a safety concern such as dangerous tree limbs. (Again, if issues involve criminal activity or you witness a crime, call the police not the Board.)

If electric wires or downed cable or water issues occur on your property, please contact the utilities (PSEG or SCWA) or companies that will fix these problems, not the Board.  However, DO notify the Board if these problems concern the safety of the community and need to be repaired.

Each property owner must make sure that his or her house number is visible to emergency vehicles.

Snow Removal

Terraces roads are plowed during snowfalls.  As a property owner, you can help make the job easier if you:

1. Trim or remove trees and shrubs that front the road on your property.  Many of our side roads are narrow, and overgrown trees and shrubs reduce the efficiency and mobility of the snow plow.  It is recommended that roadsides be cleared three feet back from the pavement and eight feet vertically.

2. Do not park on the road.  The job of plowing and sanding is made more difficult and less effective when parked cars are in the way.

3. Clear snow from your driveway and around your mailboxes.  The community’s snow removal contractor is not responsible for clearing snow from your driveway or around your mailbox.

4.    Do not put snow back on the road upon clearing; this creates an added inconvenience for your neighbors and defeats the purpose of plowing and sanding.

Volunteering

As a small community with limited resources, we rely on the helping hands of residents to keep our neighborhood clean and operating.  This includes serving on the Board of Directors, improving the appearance of our community, and organizing community events.

Upcoming volunteer activities and events are published on our website, announced in email notifications and may be posted on the community bulletin board by the front entrance.

Gardening Committee

Behind the beautiful gardens around the plaza and at the community entrances is a dedicated team of volunteers willing to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty (literally).  They are committed to planning, planting, and maintaining the Terraces’ gardens.  They meet sporadically throughout the year and new members are always welcome.

Community Events

Throughout the year, volunteers organize several events including a pot luck dinner, Lobsterfest, community yard sale, Halloween parade, and beach games. Notices about these activities will be posted on our website and community billboard. Flyers are also distributed.

Have an idea for an event?  You don’t have to be a board member to organize it.

Volunteering is a great way to meet your neighbors, have some fun, and make a difference in your neighborhood. Get involved!