Controversial Sayville Drive-Thru Approved By Town Board

WEST SAYVILLE, NY — West Sayville will continue to have to a Starbucks location — but now, with a drive-thru.

After a 4-1 vote on Thursday, the Islip Town Board is approving a controversial rezoning proposal for the cafe, to be located at 90 Main Street.

The location, a former Chase bank on Montauk Highway, was previous zoned as a Business District 1 (B1), which only permits pharmacies or banks to operate drive-through services, the lot having a minimum of 35,000 square feet.

The approval allows the site to be a Business 3 District (B3) zone, which permits a drive-through to a fast food restaurant.

In recent months the proposal angered residents, who said that a drive-thru would endanger pedestrians and drivers. The site is in close proximity to West Sayville Fire Department, a CVS drive-through pharmacy, Sayville High School, and a public bus route.

Eileen Tyznar, Sayville Chamber of Commerce President, told Patch that Supervisor Angie Carpenter and the Islip Town Board have "greatly" let the "West Sayville community down."

More than 2,300 people have signed a Change.org petition, Tyznar said, titled" West Sayville/Sayville Petition Against Fast Food Business Re-Zoning," in concern of the drive-thru.

Tyznar also claims that the board changed the meeting agenda without notice, stating that the vote was originally the last scheduled item, and unexpectedly moved to be first.

While this occurred, Tyznar said that "50 plus people could not even get into the already packed room where the meeting was held, without public access, visual or sound capabilities."

At Thursday's meeting, the Planning Board stated that the town reviewed the potential traffic impact of the drive-thru. The results were "satisfied by both the town's traffic consultant and Suffolk County."

The Planning Board also stated that there is now a turning lane in front of the building, in response to residents' concerns of cars making unsafe left turns.

"Anyone who wishes to go northbound or westbound would navigate around the building, come to Atlantic Avenue, and they will wait at the signalized intersection to safely get onto Montauk Highway," they said.

But Tyznar said that after requesting recent town files under the Freedom of Information Law, documents do "not show documented examination or additional review" of the intersection.

"The glaring lack of follow through on the town board's stated concerns just shows the hypocrisy that is so rank of the Town of Islip," she said.

Tyznar said that Sayville residents are "immediately" exploring options of appeal at this time.

The cafe is expected house a 10 to 12 car queue at the drive-thru, with the average wait per car being 3.5 minutes.

The Starbucks formerly operated at 59 Main Street in West Sayville, but closed in December. The address is to be operated by Sayville Bean this summer.