GRI Sunset Plaza LLC asked the Town of Babylon Planning Board Sept. 8 for site-plan approval of interior alterations and special-use permits for two restaurants and other tenant changes at Sunset Plaza shopping center. Attorney Jason Stern represented the applicant and introduced traffic engineer Joshua Hermann, property manager Jeffrey Ricchio and ownership representative Daniel Weicker.

The applications cover four vacant units: Unit 7 (4,222 square feet, proposed 100-seat restaurant), Unit 10 (3,450 square feet, proposed physical-therapy office), Unit 13 (2,630 square feet, proposed catering storefront for Uncle Giuseppe’s), and Unit 26 (2,027 square feet, proposed 40-seat Just Salad). Stern said several units have been vacant for more than five years and the owner seeks restaurant authorizations to make spaces more marketable to prospective tenants.

Traffic engineer Joshua Hermann summarized a parking and traffic analysis the applicant provided, saying “the project would not significantly impact traffic operations and there's ample parking on the site to support the proposed uses.” Hermann told the board the ITE-based peak-hour generation from the proposed uses is about 52 vehicle trips spread across seven existing driveways, and that comprehensive counts showed the site’s 1,109 current parking spaces (reduced to 1,107 to add ADA stalls) would be about 51% utilized at peak with roughly 547 spaces remaining available.

Stern acknowledged the application will require a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals because the town’s calculation showed a higher required parking total (the transcript references 1,479 required stalls under applicable calculations) than the 1,107 proposed after modifications. The applicant characterized the variance request as manageable given the observed parking utilization and multiple access driveways.

Board members asked operational questions: how grease traps would be managed for the larger restaurant units and how employee parking and customer circulation would be handled. Property manager Jeffrey Ricchio said grease-trap maintenance is overseen by the Suffolk County Department of Public Works and frequency of pumping depends on the tenant’s operation; he said typical maintenance can range from biannual for low-use establishments to monthly for very busy restaurants and that the county inspects compliance. Ricchio also said property management typically directs employees to park at the rear to leave closer-in spaces for customers.

No members of the public spoke at the hearing. After questions and discussion, the board closed the public hearing and reserved decision to allow staff to reconcile outstanding plan details and the planning memorandum dated Sept. 2. The record remains open for written comments; application materials are available at Town Hall or via the planning department contact email.