Smithtown Town Board tackles motel's playground

Residents who live behind a Smithtown motel won a victory when the Town Board voted down a request by the owner to keep a playground at the rear of the property.

The board on Thursday night voted unanimously to reject the request for a special exemption that would have kept the children's playground at the Smithtown Inn. Formerly the Townhouse Inn, the motel is at 880 Jericho Tpke. Suffolk County houses 15 to 20 homeless families in the building at the rear of the property, behind a new structure used as a motel.

Neighbors near the Smithtown Inn's rear property line have complained about noise coming from the motel. They also say children and adults jump over fences into their yards and throw charcoal briquettes and rocks over the fences.

On the original site plan submitted by the Smithtown Inn's owners, Townhouse Development Llc, and approved by the town, the playground was to be placed between the two buildings, but during construction it was relocated to the rear. The owners applied for an exemption permit to allow the playground to remain there, near the doors of the building that houses homeless families.

"The residents had bona fide complaints," said Councilman Robert Creighton. "They think it should be in the original spot, and we agree."

One nearby resident, Deborah Serani, said she has had two attempted home invasions, most recently two months ago, although she is not certain the culprits came from the motel. She said moving the playground won't solve all the problems but will help.

"I'm happy they will move the playground because it will reduce the noise and some of the other criminal activities," she said. "It's not the homeless families at fault, but the type of criminal acts that sometime come with this population."

The attorney for Townhouse Development, Vincent Trimarco Sr. of Smithtown, said the owners will consider their options.

Social Services Commissioner Gregory Blass has said that the hotel is one of the county's better-run facilities for homeless families and the owners have been very responsive to complaints.