A gas station and mini mart long proposed for the southeast corner of Wilson Avenue and Middle Country Road was the subject of a TOB Planning Board hearing on Monday, November 8, 2021 at 4pm. MICA has supported this project since it was first introduced to us by Steve Losquadro, attorney for developer/owner Mustafa Akkaya. Mr. Akkaya owns a similar well-maintained and successful business in Oakdale. After reviewing Mr. Losquadro’s presentation, MICA submitted a letter of support for a change of zone application, which the Brookhaven Town Board approved in September 2017. There is only one other gas station on the east-bound, south side of Rt 25 in Middle Island, and it is located well east of the Rt 21 intersection. Throughout the application process, MICA has noted that this location serves as an unofficial gateway to the Gordon Heights community; signs advertising local community events are often posted on this property. For that reason, we have asked that the monument sign for the gas station include some sort of updatable panel, similar to the corner sign at Longwood Public Library, so that future events can still be advertised. We made this request as part of our testimony at the February 2020 Zoning Board of Appeals hearing, and reiterated it in our letter of continued support to the Planning Board in 2021. Immediately prior to the Planning Board Hearing, Mr. Losquadro confirmed that the signage would be so accommodating. MICA included this assurance in testimony favorable to the project. The site plan and associated variance were unanimously approved by the TOB Planning Board, 6-0, at the Nov 8th hearing.
