Residents Rally Against Proposed Restaurant

Mineola residents voiced their opposition to a proposed Chinese restaurant during the village board's hearing Wednesday night at village hall, saying that it would generate more traffic at an already overcrowded intersection and further interfere with residential areas.

Applicant Wei Ji Lin was seeking a special use permit for a proposed Chinese take-out restaurant at 48 East Old Country Road, located at the Northwest corner of Old Country Road and Geranium Road. According to Lin's attorney, Leonard Genova of Schroder & Strom, LLP, the restaurant would primarily cater to people coming from the nearby courts and surrounding area.

Barry Nelson, a certified New York State appraiser, noted that food-related business were located in the surrounding area and in his opinion, adding a restaurant would not generate more traffic than otherwise exists.

Traffic expert Steve Ferretti of Cashin Spinelli & Ferretti of Hauppogue estimated that the business will produce 11 additional vehicles during the peak hours of operation - during lunch and dinner.

Residents on Juniper Avenue and Geranium Avenue questioned how if the applicant's primary customers were the courts and other businesses, what happens "when those people go home?"

Complaints were also given about some cars being left for over one month in the parking lot behind the restaurant and blocking other vehicles inside.

Another woman voiced her objections to the odors she says already permeate the air from the nearby Papa Sorto's pizza parlor and Kemistry Lounge, describing a mixture of Portuguese and Italian food, saying "there shouldn't be a restaurant there." A wireless phone store previously existed at the location. Several residents suggested that the storefront at the Northeast corner of Roslyn Road and Second Street would make a better location since it already has a kitchen and is equally located near the courts.

Lin anticipates operating the restaurant daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., though closing may be an hour later on Friday and Saturday nights. Genova said his client would agree to vent any kitchen exhaust upwards and towards Old Country Road, away from the residential area.