The Town of Babylon Zoning Board of Appeals met on Oct. 31 and considered a full calendar of variance and special-permit requests, approving three applications and reserving decision on several that require plan revisions or Suffolk County review.

The board approved application 25-188 for 16 Delaware Road in West Babylon, allowing an existing outside basement entrance with a 15-foot rear-yard setback where 40 feet is required, provided the basement remain storage-only and contain no bathroom or sleeping quarters. Michael Laredo, the applicant, said the entrance is needed because the basement is unfinished and state code requires two means of egress. Board member Shepherd moved to approve with the stated conditions; the motion carried on a voice vote.

The board also approved application 25-189 for a second-story deck connected to a recently permitted dormer at a home in North Amityville, on the condition the deck remain unenclosed above and below. Elaine Watson McGee, one of the applicants, said the deck is intended for private family use and not for an accessory apartment. Mavis Douglas spoke in support. Board member (speaker 9) made the motion, which passed on a voice vote.

Near the end of the evening the board voted to approve application 25-167 for Raymond and Samantha Burke, granting reduced side-yard setbacks to permit a basement egress window and a second-floor cantilever. Richard Branchek of JL Drafting said the changes would align the house with neighborhood character and cited comparable nearby properties.

Other matters: the board reserved decision and left records open for several residential applications while requiring revised plans or additional documentation. Those items include a proposed garage-reduction plan for an application in Deer Park (applicant Mohammed Khaled) and multiple cases where applicants were asked to re-submit plot plans, provide additional landscaping/screening for egress windows, or await Suffolk County planning memos before the board acts.

The board reviewed a commercial tenant change (application 25-186) for a Farmingdale property seeking to convert a former retail space into a bank that would use interactive teller machines (ITMs). Applicant Richard Musch described short customer transaction times and three on-site employees; the board held the item pending Suffolk County planning referral.

Public comments included support from neighbors on several residential applications and a complaint from a neighboring business owner who said an adjacent tenant was operating without proper permits; that enforcement issue will be handled separately by town staff.

Votes at a glance: 25-188 (16 Delaware Road) — approved with conditions (basement storage-only; no bathroom or sleeping quarters). 25-189 (North Amityville dormer/deck) — approved with condition (deck must not be enclosed). 25-167 (Raymond & Samantha Burke) — approved (setback relief for egress window and cantilever). Several other applications were closed for public comment and reserved for decision pending revised plans or county referrals.

The board kept the record open on multiple files to allow applicants to submit revised plans or additional documentation and adjourned one item (Cosmo Service Center, application 25184) to Nov. 13 because no representative appeared. Decisions will be mailed to applicants once finalized.

Who spoke (selected): Chair (speaker 1); procedural officer (speaker 2); applicants Mohammed Khaled, Michael Laredo, Elaine Watson McGee, Roseanne Hodder and others; applicant representatives and consultants who provided surveys and planning memos; and several neighbors and supporters who testified during public comment.

What’s next: Several matters remain pending plan revisions or Suffolk County planning referrals; the board indicated it expects to revisit some items at its Nov. 13 meeting once county responses and updated plans are received.