Babylon rental board denies permit for Deer Park property after neighbors report overcrowding, traffic and maintenance problems

The Town of Babylon Rental Board denied a rental permit for 3939 Arcadia Drive in Deer Park on a motion the board approved after several neighbors described repeated parking, trash and safety concerns tied to the property.

Neighbors told the board the house has generated sustained traffic, multiple out-of-state vehicles and behavior they described as resembling a commercial car-repair or short-term turnover operation rather than ordinary family rental activity. Ovidio Adam, who said he lives on the same street, told the board, “They start to park the cars against the traffic on the wrong side … it's very dangerous.” Tricia Dunston, who lives directly across the street, said “it's non stop” and that “there's police activity” and a pattern of people coming and going that has curtailed children’s outdoor play.

The board heard from several neighbors during the hearing, including Olga Calbee and Kurt Hector, who echoed concerns that multiple vehicles and frequent visitors made the cul-de-sac unsafe for children and impaired residents’ quality of life. Benjamin Hampton, who lives across from the property, said, “They tend to park all along the side … They park in front of my mailbox, leave it there all night.” Multiple speakers described seeing as many as eight or nine cars at the property on busy nights.

Applicant Dhruva Visas told the board he lives in Queens and did not have a local Suffolk County property manager on file; the board said a local contact is required. Visas acknowledged previous occupants had been renting rooms but told the board the tenants had moved out “already a month ago.” The applicant also acknowledged some items raised by the board inspection: questions about a gazebo permit and large areas of pavers in the rear yard.

Board member Marie Adesi moved to deny the permit application; the motion was seconded and the board approved the motion, denying the application. The board explained the denial by citing the volume of neighbor complaints, absence of a local property manager, and unresolved exterior and safety issues. The board instructed the applicant to address a set of exterior corrections — including removing excess paving or obtaining proper permits, addressing debris and trash, resolving any unpermitted structures and ensuring a local property manager is listed — before reapplying.

Board chair Sal Mangano and other members told the applicant they expected the property owner or a Suffolk County property manager to be reachable by neighbors and town inspectors if problems recur. Mangano warned that if the board later found the owner had returned to the prior pattern of occupancy, “you won't ever get a permit.” The board did not record individual roll-call votes in the public portion of the transcript; the motion carried by voice vote.

The denial is an enforcement action under the town's rental-permit terms and conditions; the board advised neighbors to contact Town of Babylon Citizen Services to report future problems so inspectors can follow up. The applicant was given no specific rehearing date and was told to resolve the items cited by inspectors before submitting another application.