Planning Board - Regular Meeting

Uh we're going to begin the um since we have a public camera, we're going to begin the meeting with the pledge of allegiance. Uh Julian, could you lead us to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Um could you take the role? Julian, I'm sorry. Robert Manacusco, present. Edwin, present. Juan Leon, present. Dan Chosian, present. Frank Santos, present. Matt Espazito, present. Greg Axiola, and Rich Casey, do we have a quorum? Yes, we do. All right, you call the first thing.

Item A is a public hearing. site plan review gas station convenience store car wash job HPLN-2325-22 AN global Montello Group Corp proposes to make site alterations to an existing gasoline service station with a convenience store

and since this is a public hearing I have to read this into the statement the planning board shall have the right to rely on any information that is pres uh presented by the applicant if any such information is later found to be inaccurate or incorrect the planning board may determine that any approvals, building permits, or other actions previously granted in connection with the application are null and void. Who's here for the applicant? Good evening. Uh on behalf of the applicant, Matthew Ing from the law firm of Sir Tilman, Balon, Adler, and Heyman, 90 Merrick Avenue, 9th floor, East Meadow, New York. Uh with me this evening is the project engineer who's sitting behind me. It's uh Mr. Larry O'Brien Brian from High Point Engineering. So this uh

before you get started, have you received the memo from uh the planning commissioner dated March 10th, 2026 with all the uh conditions, covenant and restrictions? Yes, we have. Are there any issues, concerns or anything that your client has? There is one issue on proposed covenant number five which when based off my conversation with the plan examiner today, uh my concern will be removed in the in the final version. Okay. Okay. Great. Okay, proceed.

So, uh, this evening, the applicant requests approval, uh, to add new landscaping along the side yards and rear yard as well as make drainage, curbing, and parking area improvements. Uh, in addition, improvements are proposed to the existing trash enclo enclosure to meet current town standards. No modifications are proposed to the gasoline station or to the convenience store. Uh, prior to today's hearing, our office submitted the following documents, all prepared by High Point Engineering, which help show the proposed landscaping and site improvements. We have a there's an aerial plan dated February 10th of 2026, a color site plan rendering last dated December 1st of 2025, as well as a copy of the landscape plan, also dated uh December 1st of 2025. So, the subject property is located at 1160 Straight Path in West Babylon and based on our review of records, it has been used as a gasoline station since at least 1985. The current the site is currently improved with a gas station that includes four fueling positions and a 1,295T building that is used as a convenience store. as will be could be more discussed by the project engineer. The proposed applications uh seek minor minor modifications to the previously approved 2000 site plan which was granted on August 7th of 20 of 2000 by resolution 2000-112. Um as previously noted um no modifications are proposed to the gas station, convenience store, fuel pumps or the fuel canopy. Um, so as more fully depicted on the color site plan rendering, the applicant will be providing a continuous row of alternating green juniper and e emerald arborvite along the southerntherly

sideyard property line which when which will will then extend along the rear curb line behind the the convenience store and then extend along the westerly sideyard. Um the rear yard already includes a ve a vegetated buffer area primarily of uh of grass area and mature trees. Um this application will supplement the rear yard buffer by adding an additional four trees which will include two golden rain trees and two Japanese lilac trees. Um, an additional three trees will be planted along the uh the westerly side of the convenience store to help further screen um the convenience store from the abuing residential property. Uh, in regard to site access, um, no changes are there no changes. There's two existing uh, curb cuts on straight path and one uh, driveway on Little East Neck Road. Um both of the all all three driveways will remain. Um so with that um we have our project engineer who's available to uh answer any questions that the board or public may have.

Okay. Sure. Hi. Good evening. Good evening. Can can you uh talk a little bit about the um covenant and restriction number five?

Sure. So, as the um there's a a a line in covenant number five talking about the applicant and or the property owner or applicant being responsible to maintain an automatic fire uh sprinkler system. That is not required for this project um because we're not proposing any changes to the existing convenience store. Um just for the record that this Different versions of that covenant were included in prior planning department uh memos. Um it was previously removed and this just this was one remaining hold over. So we wanted that that portion of that covenant to be removed to avoid any confusion in the future.

Um parking uh as far as what's allowable and what you have. Sure. Um let me see. We have 12 stalls are proposed and the town code requires uh seven stalls are required. 12 are proposed. Thank you. And then in the um information we received, there's been some prior issues with uh overnight parking in the vehicles.

Correct. So um I could have the engineer talk more about the site layout to help prevent that. Um, but the additional landscaping um and fences that are going to be located uh behind the convenience store will help uh prevent that in the future. Okay, great. Excuse me. Sure. You had the opportunity, sir, to go over the commissioner's memo dated March 10th and went over all the conditions and covenants and restrictions, I assume. Uh, yes. And

that's great. and including um covenant number 18 that there should be no storage or other vehicles that are not permitted tires equipment. Correct. We have no objection. Are you um requesting any kind of variances of any kind? No. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Thanks. Um, is there anyone from the public that would like to present or ask questions regarding this application? Right. Seeing none, I'm going to need a motion.

We'll need a motion to um close a hearing. Reserve. Motion by Motion to close the hearing. Yep. Second by Ed. Second. All in favor? Hi. Hi. All right. Okay.

Uh I have to read this in a statement. Um this public hearing has now been closed. The decision has been reserved in order for us to review the feedback we have received this evening and any open site plan issues. The record will remain open for written comment. The follow to follow up on the status of this application or submit additional written comments. You can contact the planning department in either of the following methods. In person planning is located in the west wing of town hall. Applications, documents, and plans are available for inspection between the hours of 9:00 am and 4 pm via telephone at 631-9573103 or via email at planning comments town of Babylon new york.gov. Okay.

Thank you. Give him a second. You can call the next one. Item B, public hearing site plan review change of zone job HPLN-342-05 AE NJC scrap metal recycling of Lynen Hurst proposes to legalize existing buildings and proposes associated site work for a change of use to a scrap metal processing facility. Who's here on behalf of the applicant? Good evening. Uh Jr. Dissio with the law firm of Greenberg Charig, 900 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, New York, 11530. Great. Have you uh received the um memo from the commissioner?

Yes, we have. Are there any objections or concerns with any of the covenants restrictions or anything? No. Okay, proceed.

I also I should introduce I have Rob Shioone here with me. He's the project engineer from IMEG Engineering. And I also have uh my clients in the back over there. Okay, great. So, tonight we're seeking u site plan approval for the property located at one Bahama Street in Lindenhurst for use as a scrap metal processing facility. Um our client is uh the contract vendee of the property. They don't occupy the site yet. Um the subject property is zone G industry and is situated within an established industrial park um just north of Railroad Avenue and just west of uh Great East Neck Road. The property measures approximately 1.3 acres and has frontage along uh three streets, Bahama Street to the south, Henry Street to the uh east, and Thorborn Avenue to the north. In uh November of 2025, the town board took the initiative on its own motion um to include the subject property into the RMM area 3 overlay district. So, as a result, um we're no longer seeking a change of zone to H industry, but obviously we do still require a site plan approval from this board as well as a special exception from the zoning board of appeals. Um, at present the site is improved with a 2400 square f foot one-story building as well as two uh open air structures. Uh, each of them are about 1,900 square ft. So, our application seeks to legalize the existing structures on the site um and more importantly bring the site into uh into compliance with um with town standards um through some muchneeded

site improvements. Uh, as you can see from the proposed site plan, we will be adding curbing and striping, drainage, um, a landscape buffer around the perimeter of the property, uh, dark sky compliant lighting, new driveways at each entrance, um, and ADA ramps at the corners of Henry Street and Bahama Street and Henry Street. Uh well, Thorborn Avenue and Henry Street and Henry Street and Bahama a and Bahama Street. Um so the application in in our opinion um represents a significant investment into the property and we believe that the improvements will uh enhance the surrounding area. So with that, I'd be happy to answer any questions the board may have and you know, Mr. Shioone is also available to answer any site plan specific questions. Good evening. Can can you describe to the board the hours of operation?

Um, we agreed to 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday is in the conditions. Hold on one second. Monday through Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm. Other questions for the board. Yes. Go ahead. Can you just talk a little bit about what you're going to do there? Um the operation.

Sure. So, it's a a scrap metal processing facility. Um customers will will come in in their, you know, personal vehicles. They'll enter the site. They'll get on the scale. They'll um you know weigh their product. They will offload it. They will then exit the site. Um and then we'll use uh 20ft rolloff containers to remove the product from the site.

Okay. And um so any type of spills, oil or anything else, how will that be and will that be um how will that be handled if there's any problems with anything like that? Any type of spill when they're dropping? Um, yeah, we'll we'll clean it up. We have uh what what do we have? Yeah, we have, you know, we have an environmental plan in place. Um, they operate other facilities, so if there's any, you know, any sorts of spills will all be cleaned up to town and DEC standards. Thank you.

Question. Go ahead. Um I I just want to um make sure that you are aware that one of the covenants and uh uh restrictions is no idling. Is are you are you aware of that in your client? Yeah. Um which covenant are you referring to? Uh number 10. I just wanted to reiterate that that's one of the uh covenants and restrictions and there's no issue with that. Correct. No issue. Okay. Very good. You mentioned that you guys aren't currently the owner or operator of this site. Correct. We're the contract vendee. Yes. Okay. And how many employees are you anticipating on currently having or six?

Okay. And we do have, you know, 25 parking stalls, which is compliant to town standards. And what's the anticipation of or anticipated uh flow of traffic that you're going to be actually having people cycled through the site? I I know there's multiple options here, but are you going to be closing off something and directing them in one direction since there's two ways throughout the site? Talk about the site circulation. Yeah, we we have a site circulation plan, but you know, Rob can address that.

Hi, I'm Rob Shaw. I'm from IMEG. I'm a site civil engineer. Can you say your address for the record? Uh, it's 177 Crossways Park Drive in Woodbury. And then do you sort of tell the whole truth? Nothing but the truth? Yes, I do. Go ahead.

All right. So, there's going to be the vehicles will enter on the south side of the site on Bahama Street. Um, there will be no cues. There's no anticipated cues on site. Um, the general uh circulation. I believe we have that on here. Yeah. From behind. Um, I have the pro approximately five passenger vehicles will visit per hour. So there's pretty much no queue on site. Um that gives people ample time to circulate the site and exit while also uh removing their material from their vehicles and they'll most likely be exiting from Henry Street I assume.

So most of the vehicles on site will be uh small vehicles either person passenger vehicles or SUVs or uh single unit trucks. they can uh circulate in internally using the circulation lanes that we have striped on the plan. Okay. Thank you. Is there anyone from the public who would like to come up and talk about this application? Going once, going twice. All right. Seeing none, um can I have a motion to close the public hearing and reserve decision by Julianne? Motion to close the hearing. Second by Juan. Second. All in favor? I

uh the public hearing is now closed. The decision has been reserved in order for us to review the feedback we have received this evening uh and any open site plan issues. The record will remain open for written comment. The uh to follow up on the status of the application or submit additional written comments, you can contact the planning department in either of the following methods. In person, planning is located in the west wing of the town hall. Application documents and plans are available for inspection between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4 p.m. via telephone at 631-9573103 or via email at planning comments at townofablon neww york.gov. Thank you. Have a good evening.

You too. Uh and with that, that concludes our live stream portion and public hearings of