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Town of Babylon board reserves decision on accessory-apartment permit after allegations of puppy sales and unsupervised dogs
Summary
The board placed Charmaine Lavelle’s accessory-apartment permit under reserve after the town raised concerns about multiple dogs, prior fines and claims of puppy sales; the board asked for continued compliance and scheduled further investigation.
The Town of Babylon board placed Charmaine Lavelle’s accessory-apartment permit under reserve after hearing testimony and new information from town investigators that prompted questions about possible commercial dog sales and unsupervised animals on the property.
During the hearing, Lavelle testified that several of her adult children had visited and that a litter of puppies had been on the property while family members stayed with her. Lavelle said she did not run a business and that her son paid a $1,400 fine connected to dogs at the property; she said some puppies were given to other organizations and that her children, not she, were responsible for actions that led to the fine. Lavelle told the board she currently keeps three of her own dogs and that a downstairs tenant has one dog, totaling four animals on the property.
Town board members reiterated that accessory-apartment permits require owner-occupancy and that the town code limits the number of dogs and prohibits operating a business from a residential property. The chair emphasized the seriousness of complaints about unsupervised dogs, public-nuisance claims and allegations of a puppy-selling operation. The board voted to put Lavelle’s application on reserve to allow for further investigation and follow-up inspections.
Why it matters: The board’s action prevents an immediate permit decision while staff verify compliance with town code on animal limits, business activity and nuisance complaints. If violations are confirmed, the permit could be revoked.
Key details from the hearing: - Lavelle acknowledged that her son and others had been visiting and that puppies had been present; she said one puppy—reported to have a congenital leg problem—was transferred to North Shore Animal League for care. - Lavelle said a $1,400 fine was paid related to the dogs and described the circumstances as a family matter; she denied running a puppy-selling business from the property. - Lavelle confirmed there are currently four dogs associated with the property: three she owns plus one belonging to a tenant. - The board and town investigators cited concerns about unsupervised dogs in the yard and possible public-nuisance complaints.
Board action and next steps: The board voted to reserve its decision, asking the town to undertake further inspections and for Lavelle to provide any documentation she can (licenses, receipts, or other records). The board warned Lavelle she faced substantial risk of permit revocation if the inspection and follow-up show ongoing violations.
The reserve decision was announced by the chair after a motion to place the application on reserve carried by voice vote. The board will revisit the matter after investigators report back.
