Residents Again Voice Opposition To 7-Eleven Proposal
Owners of property at Udall Rd. and Muncey Rd. hold meeting to get input on constructing convenience store.
Residents living near the vacant Getty gas station at the corner of Udall Rd. and Muncey Rd. were out Thursday night again voicing their opposition to a proposed 7-Eleven on the property.
The owners of the location — Jon Halperin, Peter Halperin and Stephen Halperin — and their attorney, West Islip resident Eliot Bloom, held the meeting to obtain community reaction and input about having a 24-hour convenience store on the parcel that now houses a shuttered auto repair station.
The meeting, held under two white banquet-style tents after sunset with a light mist falling, attracted approximately 75 residents, with most voicing their opposition to the idea of constructing a 7-Eleven on the property.
Thursday’s meeting was the second time the proposal was met with a great deal of resistance from local residents. In May 2009, the Halperins first proposed constructing a convenience store on the property that for years was home to a Getty gas station and auto repair shop.
Presented at a meeting of the Islip Town Zoning Board of Appeals, hundreds of West Islip residents living near the location packed the second floor public meeting room at Town Hall, with an overwhelming majority voicing their opposition.
At Thursday’s meeting, Maria Koprowski, a Norma Ave. resident, summed up the feeling for many who are opposed to the idea. “I don’t like the fact that the store would be open 24 hours a day,” she said. “I also feel the store would add more traffic to the area.”
Throughout the hour-long meeting, Bloom and the Halperins spoke with local residents in an attempt to address concerns and gauge what type of business they would welcome on the site.
In speaking to the crowd gathered, Bloom asked if having some-type of convenience store that was not open 24-hours would be acceptable. That idea received a mixed reaction.
While the Halperins did not address the crowd as a whole, they did present those in attendance with a letter outlining their position. The property has been vacant since the gas station and repair station closed in April 2010.
“Since we only own the property and don’t operate the business, we have been searching for a new tenant,” the letter said. “Needless to say, since [April 2010] we have had no income to pay the over $17,173 [a] year taxes on the property.”
Some residents also asked if the Halperins have thought of selling the property, but Bloom said that is not an option given the current depressed real estate market.
Following the meeting, it was not immediately clear what next step the Halperins would take with the property.
eileen
10:02 am on Friday, October 14, 2011
Anything but a business that's open 24/7 !!!! What part of that do they not understand? Why not have another gas station open up there? Is it because they would get less rent (to compensate for the $350,000 tank replacement) than they would get from 7-11? I feel they want to rent to 7-11 because they would pay a higher rent for the property and it's in THEIR best interest, NOT this community's best interest.
Ben
8:52 am on Saturday, October 15, 2011
The owners of this property are full of s--- ! I Have done some research and they are very wealthy individuals who own many gas stations and commercial properties throughout the island.Trying to play te card about how costly the taxes are is a nice try.The nice people that rented the gas station from them were shafted and lied to by them.There only intention is to sign a 99 lease with 711 and obviously not care for our neighborhood.If they care they should make the investment of installing new gas tanks and making it a conv store as they promise the prior tenants.As property owners we invest in our homes & so should you.FINAL OPTION " SELL "
Toniann Friscia
10:07 am on Friday, October 14, 2011
I'm a coffee lover...but NO!!.....No 7-11....we do not need a 24 hr establishment or the traffic....there are 2 on Bay Shore Rd.
GTG
11:02 am on Sunday, October 16, 2011
Yes On BS Rd. One in Bay Shore The other in North Babylon About 2.5 miles from Udall& Hunter/Muncey
jayvee
10:11 am on Friday, October 14, 2011
Were there any other options the people at the meeting offered besides another gas station?
jayvee
10:12 am on Friday, October 14, 2011
Were there any other options the people at the meeting offered besides another gas station? Selling the property would only be more of the same for the new owner and residents to deal with.
Marianne Bowden
10:18 am on Friday, October 14, 2011
It doesnt matter if everyone wanted a nice italian bakery (hint hint), 7-11 is the only offer they have. We can suggest any business but unless that business is willing to go there, it's not going to happen.
Irene
10:59 am on Friday, October 14, 2011
A nice Italian Bakery is what I was thinking too. After church go there for some delicious italian bread and pastries..
jayvee
11:07 am on Friday, October 14, 2011
A bakery would be a great idea. But for whatever reason, it seems any bakeries that have opened in the past in WI have not done very well.
Irene
11:29 am on Friday, October 14, 2011
I think parking has been an issue, location, location, location. lol...Consider the church being down the road. Consider the four corners, each section has something to offer.
The pizzaria is delicious, the bagel store is awesome, the hair salons are terrific, the chinese resturaunt is convenient, as well as the deli. So the only thing missing is a delicious bakery. I bet it would flourish there. That's my two cents worth.
Irene
11:57 am on Friday, October 14, 2011
America's Petroleum gas station on Montauk Highway? In West Islip? OK, where else?
What until I tell my friends about this. I am done! So done!
Jeana Schauer Inzirillo
12:58 pm on Friday, October 14, 2011
STARBUCKS!
VJM615
2:03 pm on Friday, October 14, 2011
Drive Thru Panera! .... LOL
Dom P.
8:07 am on Saturday, October 15, 2011
Coffee shop?
Ben
9:05 am on Saturday, October 15, 2011
The owners of this property are full of s--- ! I Have done some research and they are very wealthy individuals who own many gas stations and commercial properties throughout the island.Trying to play the card about how costly the taxes are is a nice try.The nice people that rented the gas station from them were shafted and lied to by them.There only intention is to sign a 99 lease with 711 and obviously not care for our neighborhood.If they care they should make the investment of installing new gas tanks and making it a conv store as they promise the prior tenants.As property owners we invest in our homes & so should you.FINAL OPTION " SELL "
Jim
9:21 am on Saturday, October 15, 2011
What's the property zoned for? What are the owner's of the properly legally able to do with the property? Does Islip Town zoning prohibit a 24/7 business? It may not be what people want, just simply what the owners are legally able to do.
Irene
9:45 am on Saturday, October 15, 2011
Maybe it would help if people knew who their counselor at law is.
Eddie
10:08 pm on Saturday, October 15, 2011
A coffe shop operating from about 5am X 10pm Mon x Sun sounds like a good idea.
AL
10:17 pm on Monday, October 17, 2011
Starbucks
Jacqueline Hartman
3:37 pm on Tuesday, October 18, 2011
How about dunkin donuts?