On Wednesday, Aug. 10, the Town of Islip planning board held their meeting at Islip Town Hall West. The board held a public hearing for an application from Bolla Operating L.I. The site is located at 3289 Veterans Memorial Highway and Washington Avenue on the northwest corner of Veterans Memorial Highway Ronkonkoma.

The applicant requested two planning board special permits for a fast-food restaurant switch drive-through and a retail fuel service station with a convenience market component, in the industrial corridor district. The applicant also requested permission to be located less than a quarter mile from an existing fuel service station. Site-plan modifications are also requested as part of this application.

David Altman, of Brown, Altman and DiLeo, LLP, was representing the applicant. The site is currently vacant with the applicant hoping to put in six fuel pumps with 12 fueling positions. The drive-through would be able to accommodate 17 queuing cars.

The planning department noted that the traffic consultant recommended this approval will be contingent on the proposed roadway and traffic signal improvements to both Veterans Memorial Highway and Remington Boulevard. The board voted to approve the application subject to the conditions brought forth by the board, and subject to the state’s approval of the current site planning. In addition, the board included the condition that the applicant can have up to 10 seats in the site if they choose to add seating to the application.

The board also held a public hearing for an application from Hionas Enterprises LLC for a site located at 1352 Montauk Highway in Oakdale on the southwest corner of Montauk Highway and Lincoln Drive. The applicant requested two planning board special permits for a restaurant and outdoor seating as an accessory use to a restaurant, in the business 1 district. Site-plan modifications are also requested as part of this application.

A representative for the applicant said the site is a pre-existing pizzeria/restaurant with 90 seats and the applicant is asking for 88 seats, 60 inside and 28 outside. The site was formerly Mama’s Italian Restaurant. 

During the public comment section, five individuals spoke against the applicant, including the president of the Oakdale Civic Association. Many residents who live near or next to the site spoke, stating that they do not like the idea of so much outdoor seating right near their backyards and that the site is currently in disrepair and has not been maintained.

The planning board staff recommended granting the application, but after hearing input from the community about the site, the board chose to reserve a decision while the applicant addresses the community’s concerns and works with planning staff on the site.