Planning Board Hears Proposal for Three‑Story Mixed‑Use Building at 425 Oak Street; Residents Raise Parking, Traffic Concerns

The Town of Babylon Planning Board on an evening hearing considered an application to demolish an existing building at 425 Oak Street and replace it with a three‑story mixed‑use building that would include retail space, a leasing/manager office and 15 apartments.

Kelly Bennett, a registered expediter representing property owner Frank Millet, described the proposal as a 3,732‑square‑foot footprint on a 0.44‑acre parcel. Bennett said the project would include one retail unit on the first floor, a 743‑square‑foot manager/leasing office on the second floor and 15 apartments across three floors (two studios, nine one‑bedroom units and four two‑bedroom units). She said the design includes accessible units and handicap parking, automatic fire sprinklers, 776 square feet of tenant storage and a 16‑by‑16 dumpster enclosure with a six‑foot brick wall.

Bennett told the board the application provides 22 parking spaces and is short on lot width by about six inches; she said no parking variance is required for this application and that the client agrees with conditions and covenants listed in an Oct. 23 memo from Planning Commissioner Denise Graziano. "He did have a chance to review them, and he does agree with all of the conditions and covenants and restrictions," Bennett said.

A nearby resident, identifying himself as "Bridal Vasor," urged the board to consider the cumulative impacts of recent downtown housing projects, saying the community had seen 11 apartment developments since 2018. He described recurring overflow parking that spills into nearby shopping centers and side streets and said traffic congestion had worsened during rush hours. "Only one car can pass for the most part," Bridal Vasor said of the immediate neighborhood streets, and he urged the board to consider more enforcement of parking rules and traffic controls such as restrictions on left turns or one‑way conversions.

Board members asked follow‑up questions about the façade materials, sidewalk and landscaping plans, and the location of gas lines and the gas meter; Bennett said she would confirm details about mechanical equipment and follow up with the board. Planning staff had prepared a memo with conditions, and Bennett confirmed the applicant accepts that guidance.

After public comment, the board voted to close the hearing and reserve decision to allow review of the evening's feedback and unresolved site‑plan issues. The motion to close the hearing and reserve decision was moved by Juan Leon and seconded by Edward Winn; the board voted in favor. The record is being kept open for written comments; the planning department said application documents are available for inspection during regular business hours and provided a phone number and email (planningcomments at townofbabylon.com) for submissions.

The board did not take a final vote on the application during the hearing. Next steps are administrative review of written comments and site‑plan issues before the board issues a decision.