Patchogue board approves revised plans for 36 Avenue Street pending building-inspector sign-off

The Patchogue Village Planning Board voted on Jan. 28, 2025, to advance revised plans for renovations at 36 Avenue Street to the Building Department for inspection, with final approval contingent on corrections and a return to the board for sign-off.

The project, presented for property owner Edwin Arrivello, covers alterations to a two-family dwelling including a proposed new bathroom, basement work and interior reconfiguration. Board members discussed multiple code and accessibility items that the applicants must correct before the chairman will sign the plans.

Board members identified several specific plan deficiencies during discussion. The board said an interior doorway in the front foyer must be a 36-inch clear opening (the plan showed a 32-inch door), a closet must be added to a second-floor bedroom that lacked one on the submitted drawing, and a new door is required at the top of the staircase or another code-compliant arrangement agreed with the Building Department to prevent unimpeded access between floors. The applicant also removed a rear bedroom door and added infill siding; the board required that the infill be finished and anchored so it appears permanent and cannot be removed after occupancy.

The board additionally directed the applicant to arrange a building-department inspection of the basement and the installed fire- or code-rated doors. The board made clear that the chairman would not sign off on the plans until the required plan revisions are submitted to the Building Department and the inspector confirms the work meets code.

In practice the board moved to send the revised plans to the Building Department for inspection and to return the item to the chairman for final approval after inspection and corrected plan submission. The motion passed unanimously by voice vote. Board members asked the applicant to provide four copies of the corrected plans and to schedule an inspection with Building Department staff (staff contact named in the meeting as Paul Robert/office staff).

Why it matters: the required changes concern basic habitability, egress and accessibility elements that affect occupant safety and the ability of first responders to operate on the property. The board’s condition that the Building Department inspect and sign off preserves the board’s oversight while deferring technical code determinations to building officials.

The board closed the item after confirming that the applicant would submit corrected plans and arrange the requested inspections; the applicant was told work permits will not be issued until the Building Department signs off on the revised documents and inspections are completed.