WI Association to Town: "We Have a lot of Blighted Areas"

The West Islip Association held its monthly meeting on Wednesday evening and one of the issues that came up was whether the Town of Islip codes have made it too restrictive for new businesses to come into the area, preventing certain locations from being revitalized. 

West Islip Association board member Anthony Formica referred to the building that currently sits on the former location of True Value on Union Boulevard, adjacent to the West Islip Fire Department headquarters and across the street from the American Legion Hall. 

According to Formica, there has been several interested parties who would buy and/or lease portions of the 25,000 square-foot building.  However, according to the town's code, the building doesn't have adequate parking.  Anyone who moves in would most likely have to seek a variance. 

The town requires one parking space per 200 square feet of gross floor area, plus at least eight additional spots for professional offices and office buildings.  It is also required that there is one parking space per 150 square feet of gross floor area and at least five additional spots. 

According to Formica, the building would need 150 parking spaces and even if it was reduced to 15,000 square-feet, it would still need 100 parking spaces. Formica suggested that perhaps the town should strike a balance so that it doesn't come too prohibitive for businesses to come into the community. He said if it continues to be prohibitive, then West Islip is going to be left with a vacant building.

However, Town of Islip Councilman Gene Parrington warned against making exceptions to the code because then it sets precedent for developers and renters to demand similar concessions. Parrington said he prefers the town to stay looking the way it currently is. 

West Islip Association president Joe DeCarlo feels that while the association takes into account the residents in the neighborhood, it also doesn't want West Islip to become blighted with empty stores and buildings.

"We have a lot of blighted areas," DeCarlo said.  "They don't seem to be moving in the right direction. There's a lot of area in the town that are starting to look a little shabby."

Another area that can be considered blighted is the abandoned Getty Station on the corner of Udall Road and Muncey Road. There was a proposal to bring in a 7-11 to that location. However, those plans appear to be stalled at the moment.  The West Islip Association opposed that project because of the hours of operation, which are 24 hours a day, seven days a weeks. There were also issues the town raised with respect to traffic.

The topic of graffiti raised a discussion about an issue regarding murals on the sides of businesses. As reported in an earlier story by West Islip Patch, Marc Hartman, owner of Cafe Mojo on Higbie Lane, said he painted over a mural on the side of his restaurant to avoid dealing with ramifications from the town. 

The issue crept up after a complaint affirmed that the mural painted on the side of Home Town Heroes violated a town ordinance that prohibits businesses from having signs that are classified as "commercial signs" on their buildings without a permit. As reported by West Islip Patch, the owner has until the end of September to remove the mural.

News and Notes

• Suffolk County Legislator Tom Barraga, a West Islip resident and member of the West Islip Association, said he will introduce a bill in the legislature that would increase the age from 18 to 21 to sell jewelry at an establishment that buys jewelry. As background to the bill, Barraga said there is a concern that young people may be stealing their parents' jewelry and selling it as a way to get quick money to, in some instances, purchase drugs.

• The West Islip Association has gotten a $5,000 grant, which will use to buy benches for nine of the bus stops in West Islip.

• On August 14, the West Islip Fire Department will be hosting the Islip Town Fire Departments parade. The parade will start at 6 p.m. at Udall Road South and will proceed to Higbie Lane and then to Union Boulevard.  A block party will take place after the parade and everyone is invited. Among the streets being closed off are Udall Road at 5 p.m.; Prospect Avenue at 3 p.m.; Union Boulevard at 5 p.m.; Higbie Lane at 5 p.m.