Public Hearing Set for Nov. 7 on Drive-Thru Bank Proposal

A public hearing on a proposed bank drive-through for the CVS building on Montauk Highway in West Islip will be held by the Islip Town Planning board on November 7.

The project was initially slated for an October hearing date but was postponed due to a glitch in notifying nearby parties, according to town officials.

Kabro Associates, which owns the Sequams Shopping Center on Montauk Highway, is hoping to lease part of the CVS building to a financial institution and says the drive-through aspect is key to such a rent deal.

Islip Town officials told Patch that a submitted site plan reveals a proposed bank being built within the easternmost building (the current CVS), using 4,000 square feet of the existing 12,000 square-foot building.  

The proposed drive-through window would be adjacent to Eaton Lane. 

Kabro Associates needs a special permit for the window as well as a parking relaxation.

Managing Partner Neal Kaplan had told Patch in September that the CVS lease is up "shortly" and he's hoping to avoid to have an empty storefront in the shopping center.

"We're in talks to have part of that store location be leased to a financial institution and as part of that the drive-through aspect is necessary," he told Patch.

He declined to state when the CVS lease will expire.

"I have to plan as if it [CVS re-location] will happen. I can't have 12,000 square feet of empty space there."

CVS has proposed opening a new location further east on Montauk Highway and the project has been hotly debated and controversial with nearby residents who are concerned about truck traffic, noise from loading docks and the hours of operation.