Rockland Enforcement Office Finds 19 Violations At 2 Businesses

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — The county's new, temporary Office of Buildings and Codes is investigating more than 19 violations stemming from illegal construction at adjacent businesses on Commerce Street in Spring Valley.

35 Commerce St. is owned by Elegant Party Rental LLC, and 37 Commerce St. is owned by 37-39 Commerce LLC, county officials said.

Both are in the village where Rockland launched its temporary enforcement operation Feb. 14, after the New York State Department basically deputized the county to handle code inspections and enforcement for a building department widely reputed to be lax and corrupt.

In the Commerce Street case, the OBC responded to a complaint about two sheds built at the back of the two properties.

An investigation found that the massive structures were constructed without permits, had unapproved electrical connections, and had other violations of the Uniform State Building Code as well as the local zoning code.

Both front-end commercial businesses were also discovered to have completed illegal interior construction without permits.

Also, inspectors learned 37 Commerce Street was not connected to Rockland County Sheriff’s Office 44-Control Fire Dispatch, a required emergency alarm system for commercial buildings.

“I’m angry that just weeks into taking over the Building Department in the Village of Spring Valley, we found a commercial property not connected to 44-control, our County’s Emergency Dispatch. It’s negligence like this that puts lives at risk, and I commend our new Office of Buildings and Codes for responding to this complaint quickly,” said County Executive Ed Day. “Our message to the people of Rockland is clear and unambiguous, we will hold property owners like this accountable.”

Following the inspection, 37 Commerce has since been connected to 44-Control, county officials said.

Other areas being investigated include Violation of Use, Violation of Occupancy and Unlawful Structure.

As for the illegally-constructed sheds, they are in violation and cannot be used or occupied. The property owners must apply to the village's Zoning Board of Appeals for a variance.

If a variance is approved, the owner would need to re-apply for building permits at the County Office of Buildings and Codes and then have the structures inspected to ensure they fully comply with the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention, Building, and Energy Codes.

“As I said before, we are operating this department with a zero-tolerance policy for code violations that pose an imminent threat to life, health, and safety of residents, visitors and first responders. I applaud the community members who are notifying my Office of Buildings and Codes of these hazardous conditions and urge them to continue to do so,” said Office of Buildings and Codes Director Ed Markunas.

This is the enforcement agency's second announcement. Its first was about a house that had been illegally used as a multi-family dwelling. The Office of Buildings and Codes was citing the now-vacant property for at least 17 hazardous violations. SEE: Rockland Reports 24 Living In Squalid, Hazardous House.

The state order, the first of its kind in New York, came after the head of Spring Valley's building department and one of its inspectors were indicted in the investigation into the 2021 fatal fire at the Evergreen Court Home for Adults. The converted 1903 hotel was destroyed in a massive blaze a year ago that killed firefighter Jared Lloyd and 79-year-old resident Oliver Hueston and injured about a dozen people. More than 100 people had to be saved. Lloyd, 35, was rescuing residents. He sent out a Mayday call from an upper floor, but he could not be reached before it collapsed.

The village has long been known for its lack of oversight and enforcement of building and safety codes. A state monitor was actually in place at the time of the fire and the village had been required to file reports with the state on code inspections and compliance actions. SEE: Village Hall Raided In Investigation Of Fatal Fire.

"The true bad apples of the Village Building Department which are under indictment, have not and will not be part of this process," Day said in January.

There are more than 800 overdue inspections. While county officials wouldn't get specific, they did point out that under state law places of public assembly are required to be inspected every year and certain kinds of local dwellings are inspectable every three years.

The Office of Buildings and Codes is in the Robert Yeager Health Complex in Pomona. It will also have a small satellite office at Spring Valley Village Hall for residents who can't easily get to Pomona. The satellite office will be staffed by a clerk and certified code inspector to provide forms and answer questions but will not issue permits.

There is a 30-day window to correct violations before fines would be considered. Administrative Court would be the venue when and if fines are issued.

Markunas requests that the public submit complaints regarding violations in Spring Valley to 845-364-3700 or by email to BuildingsAndCodes@co.rockland.ny.us.

Spring Valley's now non-functioning building inspection operation is overseen by Raymond Canario, who in addition to being indicted connected to the Evergreen Court fire is now accused of providing false information on applications he filed seeking jobs with Rockland County. SEE: Building Inspector Accused Of Lying On County Job Applications