Concerns Over Walmart Proposal Resurface

Concerns about the construction of a Walmart store in East Patchogue were raised again by some local residents who attended a meeting on the issue Thursday night at the in Patchogue.

About 40 residents attended the meeting where Brookhaven Town Councilman Tim Mazzei provided information on where the permit process currently stands with the town.

At a Brookhaven Town planning meeting on May 9, a traffic study done by Walmart regarding the perspective of the impact the store would bring to the area was accepted but not approved by the planning board, said Mazzei.

Mazzei said that the town, Suffolk County and New York State will each have to create their own reports as well.

"I think the town study will find that the Hospital road bridge is not good," Mazzei said.

The town’s Planning Committee will be holding a public meeting June 6 at Town Hall. Mazzei said anyone wishing to comment on the Walmart proposal would be able to do so at that meeting.

The issue surrounding the new Walmart store was last presented in June 2010, when the Town of Brookhaven that would have allowed for the construction of a 108,000 square foot store at the intersection of Hospital Road and Sunrise Highway. The zoning change permits the construction of a smaller 98,000 square foot store.

The land for a proposed Walmart is owned by AW Realty, who owns the nearby La Bonne Vie property. An official from the company said that the owner has planned to put a retail store in vicinity of its residential property for more than 35 years.

Even after zoning was rescinded, officials with realty company that owns the land said at a May 2010 town board meeting they would still plan to build a 98,000 square foot facility instead of the originally planned 108,000 square foot.

"Ultimately there are more people are in favor of the Walmart store than are opposed," said an AW Realty official.

While Mazzei is against the project, he mentioned afterward that some residents of La Bonne Vie are in favor of its construction.

However, some business owners have been vocal in their opposition to the Walmart store.

"How could it not have an effect on the small business," said Harry Janson, the owner of an upcoming Patchogue Shop Rite.

Dan Wirship, an organizer of the Thursday meeting, said plans are being made to protest the Walmart proposal at the June 6 Planning Committee meeting.