When Kevin and Josephine Klein bought their waterfront home on Laurel Lake in Southold nearly three years ago, they envisioned spending their retirement years paddling on the tranquil fresh water and teaching their grandchildren about nature.

The couple sought permits to build a 50-foot dock, using untreated wood and open grates to minimize its impacts. In May, despite an approval from the state Department of Environmental Conservation, the Southold Trustees — a five-member elected body that oversees development on the shoreline — rejected their application, citing environmental concerns.

The Kleins filed an Article 78 lawsuit against the town, challenging the decision, last month. That comes as Southold lawmakers consider a series of changes to its wetland regulations that would, al

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