New Babylon Beach House Sign Riles Residents

A small group of residents raised concerns about placement of a new sign and additions to the Babylon Beach House at Tuesday's Babylon Village Board meeting.

They claim recent additions to the building that include a new sign and façade violate village building codes.

"There were no notices sent on this anywhere either on the construction or the billboard," said Lisa Palazzolo, who lives across from Babylon Beach House at 28 Yacht Club Road. "Other businesses blend in...no other business has signs above the roof."

Palazzolo listed off several village building codes she feels are in violation, including Village Code 290 – Signs. The code includes the following and were referred to by Palazzolo:

• Avoid unsightly proliferation of unnecessary signs;
• Providing for adequate signs for the business community to communicate its availability to the public;
• Maintaining the essential residential character of the community;
• Preventing the depreciation of property values in resident and commercial areas.

Palazzolo also mentioned Code 290-11, which states "no sign shall be erected or maintained on any roof or setback of a building," as she noted the sign's located was rooftop.

Some businesses, such as Fancy Lee, have had approval in the past to place signage on the roof, Mayor Ralph Scordino noted.

"It's not a billboard, and it's not on the roof," he said.

The relocated sign, which had been closer to the ground with the original structure, was relocated onto a reconstructed facade near the top of the building. The additions to the facade were nearly equal height with the existing chimney on the building.

Scordino noted the Village Board does not approve additions or construction on buildings, as those responsibilities fall to the Architectural Review Board and Planning Board.

"There were no permits or variances," Palazzolo said. "It was never brought to the Architectural Review Board."

However, according to documents and meeting minutes provided at Babylon Village Hall, both the Architectural Review Board and Planning Board did oversee plans for additions to the building at public board meetings back in October 2012, before Hurricane Sandy struck the area.

The village lists its public board meetings and items on the docket for those meetings in the Public Notices section of the Babylon Beacon newspaper.

According to the October 4, 2012, Architectural Review Board minutes, the board reserved decision on the proposed additions to Babylon Beach House, represented by owner Scott Lockwood, but later approved his proposed changes to the foyer and doors of the building, contingent upon the Planning Board's approval. The minutes also included a wide array of construction plans and layouts to the building.

According to the October 25, 2012, Planning Board minutes, the board approved Lockwood's plans, including subdued lighting on the facade of the building. The Planning Board sent a second approval letter, which mentions the enlarged front entrance of the building and blocking the lighting on the building, on November 18, 2012.

Construction was delayed, however, because of Hurricane Sandy. The October storm forced the senior home to relocate its residents prior to the storm making landfall. The building has since undergone significant reconstruction to repair damage from Sandy.

Palazzolo, who had also started an online petition against the sign, told the board she wanted some sort of action taken during the evening's meeting, but Scordino said the Village Board would need to look into the matter.

"We have to review everything," he said, noting the process the Village Board must take before making a decision. "We'll get back to you on it, but we are going to look into it."