Venetian Shores residents press Babylon Town Board over park concession, noise, parking and safety

Venetian Shores residents told the Babylon Town Board on Sept. 10 that a concession operating at Venetian Shores Park has become a late‑night, alcohol‑centered venue and is straining neighborhood streets, safety and quality of life.

The board heard repeated public comments asking for transparency on the concession’s contract terms and for enforcement of earlier commitments that the facility remain family‑oriented.

Why it matters: Speakers said the concession’s advertising and events draw large nonresident crowds, creating parking congestion, loud music that carries into homes, and unsafe conditions for pedestrians and emergency vehicles. Several residents asked the town to hold the tenant accountable or to revisit contract terms.

Joy Brooks, secretary of the Shore Gables Civic Association, said Venetian Shores used to be a quiet, family‑oriented facility and that promises made during a revitalization — including “no bar at this facility, and no loud music” — have not been kept. Brooks said the town temporarily restricted access to residents only on Aug. 18 and installed barricades to check IDs.

Multiple residents described clogged streets, blocked driveways and moments when emergency vehicles would have difficulty passing. William Biscardi, who lives on Venetian Boulevard, warned that parked cars and U‑turns are making the streets “a very wide street” dangerous and predicted a serious accident if conditions continue.

Melissa Clinton, a long‑time Venetian Shores resident, reviewed commitments from a 2005 revitalization letter she said came from then‑Supervisor Steve Malone: a family‑friendly park, no bar, and safety measures including a daytime constable and an overnight public‑safety officer. Clinton said the current operations are “not a family concession stand” but rather “a nightclub on our shoreline,” and that additional parking will simply attract more nonresidents into the neighborhood.

Supporters and a business defense: Alexandra Pesante, manager of South Swell (Bergen Bay Docks), told the board South Swell provides local seasonal events, claims to have managed parking and noise controls and presented a petition she said exceeded 1,000 signatures supporting that business’s community role. Claire McKeehan and others urged accountability of the concession tenant, identified in the record as operating as CATCH and referenced by residents as Barefoot Puddles Hospitality LLC.

Discussion vs. decision: Speakers said the town had taken temporary measures (restricted access and barricades) and discussed proposed adjustments to parking rules. The transcript records no formal board action to terminate or alter the concession contract at the Sept. 10 meeting. Supervisor Schaffer and town staff said they would follow up with residents; no timetable was recorded in the transcript.

What residents want next: Transparency about the concession contract and planned changes for 2026; enforcement of noise and parking promises; and confirmation that the town will prioritize resident safety over expanded private entertainment use of the municipal park.

The transcript contains multiple first‑hand reports from residents about noise, crowding and traffic; the board did not announce any final enforcement action during the meeting.