Politics & Government
Mineola Residents React to Proposed 7-Eleven Store
Residents cite increase noise and traffic as opposition to convenience store.
While a along Jericho Turnpike in Mineola may be convenient for motorists, it is drawing the ire of numerous residents in the neighborhood surrounding the location.
“I think the proposal devalues the neighborhood,” said Bill Plunket, one of the 70-plus residents to pack the village hall during the October 12 meeting of the . “I think the proposal is inappropriate for the neighborhood; it threatens the quality of life in the neighborhood and its a hazard with the children.”
The proposal put forth by 7-Eleven is to construct a 2,500 sq. ft. convenience store on the empty lot at 400 East Jericho Turnpike on the northeast corner of the Jay Court intersection.
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Numerous residents paraded in front of the microphone to voice their concern and complaints about the impact such a store would have on the local quality of life, among them heavier amounts of traffic and what they termed unsavory characters since the store will be open 24 hours a day.
“The traffic, the noise, we could never leave our windows open,” said Bernadette Mendes, who recalled when the site was home to an Amoco gas station. “I just don’t think its safe to have a 24-hour 7-Eleven,” she said. “There’s a lot of traffic.”
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The gas station was also the site of a “substantial” spill in which the village successfully sued Amoco for environmental damages as well as remediation, aeration and monitoring wells to test soil and make sure no pollutants migrated toward the pump station. A monitoring well still exists on the site. 7-Eleven Attorney Alfred Amato stated that the tanks had been removed and the property had been fully cleaned.
Julie Matthews Callaghan cited several dangers she perceived, including an increase in rodent activity with the addition of another food business and safety. “Our house was broken into twice,” she said. “We’re going to have people who are not nice people coming there at two o’clock in the morning to buy beers or whatever.”
One of residents’ biggest concerns is the amount of traffic the store would bring, not only for customers but for deliveries, which are anticipated to be as many as 25 times a week or three times per day via boxtrucks.
“We have enough food there,” Callaghan said of the location. “We have the trucks coming and they come through the back there as it is scraping against the fences.”
Resident Roger Silva said that there is “no logic” in having a box truck pull in to a designated space beside the building as it unloads from rear. 7-Eleven representatives stated that merchandise would be brought through the front door.
Sal Morello raised the issue that cars on Jericho Turnpike would turn across the median to go to the store and also onto Jay Court when exiting, causing severe backups. “If you have a truck there, you are not going to be able to make a right hand turn and cars are going to queue up six, seven deep,” he said, citing another location one-quarter mile away on Glen Cove Road and Westbury Avenue. “We just don’t need anther 7-Eleven.”
Rex Court resident Brian Digrazia echoed Morello, citing the numerous along Jericho Turnpike. “I find it to be obnoxious to have another location that close,” he said.
One resident added that instead of making illegal turn across median, cars would simply make the U-turn near the Northern State Parkway.
During the meeting Amato said that 7-Eleven has policies in place to maintain the cleanup of the site and would be amenable to adding features to the location such as curbing to help induce a set traffic pattern.
“I’m not so sure how we can enforce these promises,” Charles Healy said.
7-Eleven representatives asked to keep the record open for 30 days while they amend the plans for the location.
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