Politics & Government

Residents Push Planning Board to Reject 7-Eleven

Community opponents worry the new convenience store would be unsafe and noisy.

Residents of the neighborhood near a proposed 7-Eleven are claiming traffic safety and noise levels will worsen if the Huntington Planning Board gives the green light to the convenience store.

A community protest rally was held Saturday afternoon at the corner of Livingston Street and Route 110 in Huntington Station, where 7-Eleven hopes to locate a new store on the former site of a Pearle Vision retail shop.

However, a traffic accident occurs every two weeks at that intersection, according to a report attached to this article from the Suffolk County Police Department.

"A traffic study was completed for the town by 7-Eleven," said rally organizer Kathy Lau, whose property adjoins that of the proposed 7-Eleven. "Its conclusion was a 7-Eleven store will have no impact on traffic on this corner. That conclusion is absurd. The average 7-Eleven store, according to the 7-Eleven website, has 1,000 customers a day. One thousand cars and trucks a day pulling in and out of our street will certainly impact the traffic in this neighborhood."

The residents are also concerned about issues such as the noise that will come with a store open 24 hours, mounting garbage and a possible decline in property values, Lau said.

According to the 7-Eleven website, there are currently six 7-Eleven stores within two miles of this location.

Lau has set up a website at http://www.saveneighborhood.com.

A public hearing on the application is scheduled for Wednesday, May 19, at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall.


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