Town of Babylon panel approves accessory-apartment permits, grants one parking waiver with conditions

The Town of Babylon Accessory Apartment Review Board approved three individual accessory-apartment applications and a batch of 28 renewals at a public hearing, and granted a conditional one-vehicle parking waiver for one applicant.

The board approved the applications for Cosmo Lorino, Rose Delochez and Marynel Chikas and accepted a list of 28 renewals by affidavit. The board granted Chikas a one-space parking waiver because she told the panel she is undergoing financial hardship related to a divorce and cannot replace her driveway now; the waiver is not transferable and may be revoked if there are substantiated residential complaints.

The approvals matter because accessory-apartment permits regulate how property owners may rent secondary units in single-family homes and because the parking waiver imposes a conditional limit on vehicle parking tied to property maintenance and neighborhood complaints.

At the start of his hearing, applicant Cosmo Lorino told the board the accessory apartment is on the top floor of his house and that it contains two bedrooms. The board approved his application; the record notes an inspection was completed Nov. 6, 2024, and the board set the permit renewal cycle at three years. "Your application has been approved," the chair told Lorino after a voice vote; the board said he would receive his certificate in a couple of weeks.

Rose Delochez told the board her accessory apartment is a one-bedroom on the first floor. The board approved her application by voice vote; the board similarly told her the permit would be issued in a couple of weeks and renewed in three years.

During Marynel Chikas's hearing, staff told the board an inspection had been performed and that Chikas had requested a one-space parking waiver because she could not afford to replace a gravel driveway at this time. Chikas said the accessory unit is a two-bedroom basement apartment and that there are three vehicles in the household: two for the tenant and one for herself. Chikas said she intends to replace the driveway when she is able, and told the board she is "going through a divorce," which she described as the reason for the current hardship. The board approved the application and the requested parking waiver with conditions: the waiver applies to the current owner and tenancy only, is not transferable to a new owner, and may be revoked if the board receives substantiated residential complaints. The board also said that if Chikas improves the driveway and notifies staff, conditions could be removed.

The board accepted a list of renewals by affidavit for 28 properties presented at the hearing. The renewals were approved by voice vote; the board repeatedly announced that permit issuance would follow in a couple of weeks and that renewal terms are three years.

All three individual applications and the renewals were approved by voice vote; the record does not include a roll-call tally. The board closed the hearing and adjourned at the end of the session.

Votes at a glance

- Cosmo Lorino — Application to allow a two-bedroom accessory apartment (top floor). Motion to approve: Lamont Wilson; second: Carolyn (unspecified). Outcome: approved by voice vote; permit renewal every 3 years; inspection dated Nov. 6, 2024.

- Rose Delochez — Application to allow a one-bedroom accessory apartment (first floor). Motion to approve: Keith Hayward; second: Peter DeNeggers. Outcome: approved by voice vote; permit renewal every 3 years; inspection dated Nov. 20, 2024.

- Marynel Chikas — Application to allow a two-bedroom basement accessory apartment; requested a one-space parking waiver. Motion to approve (with waiver and conditions): Keith Hayward; second: Saba Mccabuzzi. Outcome: approved by voice vote; waiver limited to current owner/tenancy, nontransferable, revocable on substantiated complaints; permit renewal every 3 years; inspection dated Nov. 22, 2024.

- Renewals by affidavit — 28 listed applicants (names and addresses recorded in the meeting minutes). Motion to approve renewals: motions recorded across the renewals (movers and seconders varied). Outcome: all renewals approved by voice vote; permit issuance to follow; renewal term: three years.

Board members and staff who spoke during the hearing included Sandra Thomas (secretary), Lamont Wilson (board member), Carolyn Begona (board member), Peter DeNeggers (board member), Stephanie Harris (board member), Carolyn Basilew (board member), Harold Wade (board member), Saba Mccabuzzi (board member), Keith Hayward (board member), and Dave Bishop (counsel to the board). Applicants who addressed the board were Cosmo Lorino, Rose Delochez and Marynel Chikas.

The board noted procedural conditions: parking waivers may be revoked if the board receives substantiated resident complaints, and waivers do not transfer to new owners or new tenancies. Permits and renewal notices were said to be issued in a couple of weeks following the hearing.