by Carolyn James

While she said she recognizes the need for senior citizen housing in the Town and supports the construction of new sites, Babylon Town Councilwoman Ellen McVeety criticized a proposal voted on by the Town Board last week, saying the site was inadequate and inappropriate. Her vote was the only one opposing the project for Berkshire-Great South Bay Villas on Railroad Avenue in West Babylon, and the plan is now moving forward.

"This is an L-shaped lot that surrounds the CVS Drug Store and there were valid concerns raised by residents about the traffic and congestion at that location," said McVeety following the vote on Tuesday night. "I don’t want to come across as anti-development, or against senior housing, but I believe that developers have to be more concerned about the issues raised by neighbors and about their potential tenants." Some of the units will face the back of CVS, which McVeety said was not in keeping with the kind of facilities the town had in mind when it put its senior housing code in place. The code requires at least two acres, though in some circumstances developers have received variances to build on smaller sites.

The project calls for the construction of 44, upscale apartment units, which will rent for approximately $1,500. It calls for construction of the apartments on the west and south side of the CVS Drug Store, located on the southwest corner of Railroad Avenue and Great East Neck Road. The developer is Robert Curcio.

"Right now it seems that developers are only interested in building senior housing and the reason is that it provides them with a large profit margin," said McVeety. "As a public official, I have to consider other things, such as the appropriateness of the location and I don’t think this is appropriate."

Under the Town’s code, developers can build four to five housing units on a two acre parcel. The senior citizen code allows up to 25 units.

The site raised the objections of residents, as well as from the West Babylon Taxpayers Association and the Greek Orthodox Church which is adjacent to the site.

Echoing the comments of McVeety, Bill Hill, president of the West Babylon Taxpayers Association said his organization does not oppose senior housing but believes the Town has abandoned its responsibility for controlling it.

"I don’t blame the developers for making these proposals; that’s how they make a living," said Hill. "But I do blame the Town for its lack of planning."

Hill said he believes the project at Railroad Avenue and Great East Neck Road will set a precedent since it allows for the mixed use of residence and commercial zoning, and that we will see a proliferation of this type of development until the Town takes a stand or until there is a glut in the senior housing market. "And the Town does not seem willing to assume that responsibility," he said.

The approval from E business to senior citizen multiple residence was made by the board subject to restrictions including:

•approval by the Town’s Zoning Board of Appeals of all necessary variances. A date for that meeting has not been set.

•compliance with traffic mitigation measures contained in the traffic report of the site dated September 28, 2001.

In addition, all lighting must be contained on site and the owner/developer is responsible for maintaining site improvements including drainage, curbs and landscaping.

The proposal goes back to the Town’s Planning Board for another review and a final okay. The applicant must then apply to the Zoning Board of Appeals for relief from setback requirements. A date for that public hearing has not been set.

In a similar vote, the Town Board approved a senior housing project by Petrelli Associates for Feustal Street and Badger Lane, just south of the First Precinct, West Babylon. The resolution approving the rezoning passed 4-1, with Councilwoman Francine Brown opposing.

In other business, the board:

•authorized litigation against Autoland Service, Inc., at 580 Oak St., Copiague. The Town alleges that the business, in a G-Industry District, and within 500 feet of residences, is being used as a public garage, despite having denied a special exception in July to the owner Mladen Malissa. The owner has been issued summonses for violations for having debris and unregistered motor vehicles and barking dogs on the property; •authorized the clean up of unsafe structures at 795 Bayview Ave., Amityville; 6 Jerome Pl., Amityville, 9 Levey Blvd., Wyandanch; 110 Lake Dr., Wyandanch, 78 Sword St., West Babylon, and 588 Mount Ave., West Babylon;

•authorized issuance of a building permit to Alfonse Pagano for Lots 31 and 31A, Gilgo Beach, 31 Boardwalk for a 12-foot by 17-foot deck on the roof of the house;

•authorized a building permit to Edward Mooney, Lots 238A and 239A, Oak Beach to demolish the existing building and put up a 78-foot by 61-foot by 8-inch irregular one-family, two story dwelling and mezzanine with a two-car attached garage, multi-level decks, stairs, fireplace and elevator.