Proposed Sayville Starbucks Drive-Thru Faces Community Pushback

WEST SAYVILLE, NY — The closure and relocation of a popular Starbucks in Sayville has spurred confusion and concern among some community members.

A spokesperson confirmed with Patch via email that the Starbucks located at 59 Main St. in West Sayville officially closed on Dec. 24 and will be relocated to 90 Main St., the site of a former Chase bank.

"We look forward to opening our new location," the spokesperson wrote. "In the meantime, we will continue to serve customers at our nearby store in Bayport."

Many residents took to social media, saying they were unaware of the establishment's relocation, and surprised to find it closed.

The confirmation came two weeks after a Dec. 16 Islip Town change of zone meeting where the town board motioned to postpone a decision on 90 Main St.'s rezoning application.

J. Nazarro Partnership LP initially submitted an application for a town board special permit to Islip town officials in January 2020, to renovate the 90 Main St. location as a fast food establishment, and change the area's zoning regulations, according to documents obtained by Patch.

The change was then approved by the Town of Islip planning board on Dec. 2.

To grant the change of zone, final approval is needed by the Islip town board.

According to the Town of Islip, 90 Main St. is currently zoned as Business District 1 (B1), which only permits pharmacies or banks to operate drive-through services, with the lot having a minimum of 35,000 square feet.

J. Nazarro Partnership LP requested the regulation be changed to Business 3 (B3) zone, which would permit a drive-through to a fast food restaurant.

The owner of both locations, J. Nazarro Partnership LP was represented by attorney Steven P. Bertolino, who presented the application on their behalf.

“The Starbucks will be a great addition to the West Sayville community and a tremendous improvement of the parcel which has been dormant for almost a decade,” Bertolino said in a statement to Patch. “I am hopeful that the town board will approve the application and allow this vacant building on a prominent corner of West Sayville to be brought back into a productive use for the community.”

Numerous community members spoke in opposition of the zone change, claiming that while the cafe itself was fine, a drive-through would increase traffic on an already accident-prone street.

The establishment is located at an intersection between Cherry Avenue, Atlantic Avenue and Tyler Avenue and borders West Sayville Fire Department. It is also adjacent to a CVS drive-through pharmacy and Sayville High School, and is passed by a public bus route.

At the Dec. 16 meeting, Bertolino stated that Starbucks anticipates a 10-to-12 car queue at the drive-thru, and that the average wait per car was anticipated to be 3.5 minutes. He also said that the intended hours of operation would be 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., and therefore, the establishment would not attract traffic at late hours.

“We remain committed to working with our landlord, city officials, neighbors and community members to address the community’s concerns,” a Starbucks spokesperson said.

Residents said that since the establishment is directly located on Montauk Parkway and does not have a center-turn lane, cars will be prone to make unsafe, left-hand turns.

However, according to a November 2021 traffic and parking review obtained by Patch, consulting engineer and surveyor company Louis K. McLean and Associates PC stated that Nazarro's application eliminated a left-turn option.

And while the drive-through may have "greater impact on the adjacent roadway network," the surveyor company said that it can be "accommodated on the adjacent roadway network" and are not expected to result "in unsafe operation."

Still, since the area is in close proximity to Sayville High School, many residents are concerned for the safety of students. In letters obtained by Patch, the Sayville Board of Education and Assistant Superintendent Sam Gergis stated that increased traffic will affect the school's 13 walkers and 296 bus riders whose routes go past 90 Main St.

"We currently have a crossing guard stationed at Cherry Avenue and Montauk Highway," the board of education wrote. "This intersection is an existing danger only having one lane in each direction, a public bus stop, CVS and firehouse."

Eileen Tyznar, the president of Sayville Chamber of Commerce, said that she and other residents are not "anti-Starbucks," and welcome the chain — as long as it's safe for the area.

“We feel it's safest without the drive-thru. The community’s safety is first, not a cup of coffee," Tyznar said. "We can all have coffee. But you can’t get a life back.”