Current Building Proposals Have West Islip Association Members on Their Toes

With limited ways to expand the tax base, redevelopment projects in communities like West Islip become extremely important to residents who are seeking to ensure such projects fit in with the character of their neighborhood. Two current projects that have captured the attention of the community are the redevelopment of the Ford property on Montauk Highway and the Moose Lodge property on Union Boulevard.  And one local group keeping a keen eye on these projects is the West Islip Association. 

According to the Town of Islip's Department of Planning and Development, TD Bank has received a site work permit and are close to gaining building permits to begin construction on the old Ford dealership property.  In fact, work on the site may start as early as next week.

Also being constructed on the Ford property is the new Pace office building.  According to a West Islip Association member, the three-story, 27,000 square foot office building will be constructed in a sharp, federal-style design (which is a form colonial).

Plans for the redevelopment of the former Moose Lodge property call for new residential property and another office building.  Zoning has been approved for the 3, 000 square foot office project, but the building application has yet to be submitted.  A building permit has been issued for the residential plans and the construction is moving forward, a town spokesperson said.

These aren't the first two projects the West Islip Association has been involved with. The association began with the help of Suffolk County Legislator Tom Barraga in response to an effort to save the La Grange Inn. With the La Grange Inn - a popular landmark located in the center of West Islip- sitting empty, a proposal was put forth to change the site into a Walgreen's.  However, concerned residents thought the community would be better served by preserving the inn. Eventually, the proposal was not approved and new ownership bought La Grange and opened it as a catering hall.

"It was a home run and a good thing to build upon," said Joe DeCarlo, chairman of the West Islip Association about the La Grange, which reopened this past spring.  "Our charge is to improve the character of the neighborhood. We just want to help as best we can."

Following the effort to preserve the La Grange Inn, the West Islip Association got involved with the new Stop & Shop at 400 Union Boulevard.  The association worked very closely with representatives from Stop & Shop to get a colonial-style building.  According to a member of the West Islip Association, the developers even redrew their plans, incorporating suggestions from the association.

DeCarlo says that the association will support development only when it makes sense for West Islip, something they don't believe the proposed 7-11 store on the southwest corner of Udall Road and Muncey Avenue does. 

According to a spokesperson for the Town of Islip, it was determined that there were numerous traffic issues associated with the 7-11 proposal, and so a traffic impact study was commissioned. The issues were sent to the Traffic Safety Division of the Town of Islip's Department of Public Works. The Traffic Safety Division had numerous comments and recommendations, which were forwarded to the applicant. At this juncture, no progress has been made by the applicant to address the traffic safety issues, the town spokesperson said.

DeCarlo also said the association works well with the town's elected officials.  So if there are any concerns amongst the residents of West Islip, the association can act as a liaison to the local government.

"The closer the government is to you, the more you can work as a team to achieve your goals," DeCarlo said.

The West Islip Association meets monthly in the West Islip Library. The next meeting is July 21 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Anyone interested in learning more about the association or joining the group is invited to attend.