Town of Babylon accessory-apartment board approves multiple permits, grants parking waiver and delays revocation hearing

The Town of Babylon Accessory Apartment Review Board approved multiple accessory-apartment permits and a parking waiver and placed two items on reserve after questions about property details and an outstanding code-enforcement affidavit.

At the start of the meeting the board swore in applicants and took up individual applications. Kevin Palavan (39 Goshen Street, Deer Park) told the board his accessory apartment is on the first floor with one bedroom; the board moved to approve his application and he was told to expect his permit in a couple of weeks, with renewal due in three years.

The board then approved the applications of Rayneil (recorded also as “Rainel”) Alvarez (93 Buena Vista Boulevard, Lyndhurst) and Queen Dong (address listed in the record as 431/52 Lincoln Road). Both applicants confirmed the location and occupancy of their accessory units, provided identification and utility documentation, and had their permits approved on motions from board members.

The board placed the application of Pablo Bruno (8 Central Avenue, North Babylon) on reserve after members raised questions about a second property Bruno owns (59 Comack/Comac Road) and inconsistent utility/address information. The chair said the matter will be investigated further before a final decision; the motion to put the application on reserve was moved by Carolyn and seconded by Harold and carried.

Applicant Matthew Zapia (33 Charleston Drive, Amity Harbor) requested and received a parking waiver, which the board approved with conditions recorded on the permit (the waiver is nontransferable and the board reserved the right to revoke the permit if substantiated residential complaints arise). The board then approved Zapia’s accessory-apartment application; the applicant said the waiver was sought because his wife is not driving and the household currently has one vehicle.

Janet Santo (83 East Lido Promenade) faced questions from neighbor Neil Peterson, who said he believed the upstairs layout had been altered — specifically, that a bedroom had been converted into a kitchen — and raised concerns about off-street parking and emergency access. Peterson said he had seen vehicles parked in ways that could be problematic for emergency response. Santo described the house’s layout and said she can accommodate vehicles on the driveway; the board approved her permit but noted the town would revisit the application if formal complaints were received.

A revocation hearing for an accessory-apartment permit for a property on Gene Street in North Babylon (affidavit and tax-map reference included in the record) was opened after the board reviewed an affidavit from code enforcement reporting a fire and stating that more than one family was occupying the premises and that the owner may not live at the property. Defense counsel (Lisa Williams, of counsel) asked for time to review the investigative report and secure the applicant’s primary counsel. The board voted to place the revocation hearing on reserve and adjourn to the next scheduled meeting on Oct. 22 to allow counsel time to see all evidence; the vote to adjourn/put the matter on reserve was recorded with six members in favor and two opposed.

On the consent calendar the board approved a long list of renewals by affidavit for existing accessory-apartment permits; one renewal was pulled from the renewal process and removed from the calendar. The board also approved the minutes from its Sept. 24, 2024 meeting and adjourned.

The board instructed applicants to expect permits to arrive by mail in the coming weeks and reminded the public that permits are subject to revocation if substantiated complaints are received. The revocation hearing that was placed on reserve will resume at the board’s next meeting scheduled for Oct. 22, at which counsel and any additional evidence may be presented.