Plus: Nesconset expanding Verizon Wireless towers
Smithtown, NY (SmithtownRadio.com) – All items on the agenda of Tuesday’s Smithtown Town Board meeting Tuesday were unanimously approved, including two construction plans that met some opposition.
The first of which, a plan for Verizon Wireless to replace nine existing cell phone antennas at an existing wireless communication facility in Nesconset with 12 new ones, was received with some concern over potential health risks.
“They are more powerful and have more of a health effect,” said Jeff Bartels, a Huntington resident who attended, citing similar installations of new antennae in his area.
Town Councilman Robert Creighton said claims of health effects had been addressed by the federal government and were found not to be true.
“There is no such concern,” Creighton said.
Watch: Video of the 10/2 meeting
The second plan was the construction of a Bahama Breeze, a Caribbean-inspired restaurant chain, in the Smith Haven Mall area.
Camille Johnson, a Nesconset resident for 50 years, stated that she was “especially concerned with the construction of all these restaurants in the Smith Haven Mall area.”
Johnson accused the Town of rushing to construct businesses without consideration of their effects on the community.
“I know there is going to be increased traffic and accidents,” Johnson said. “Reconsider what you’re doing to our community.”
Frank DuRubeis, Director of the Smithtown Planning and Community Development Department, stated in response to Johnson’s comments the town had previously taken into consideration increased traffic in the area during earlier public hearings on the matter. While Smithtown approved the construction of the restaurant, it is still not a guarantee to happen because half of the project requires approval from the Village of Lake Grove along with the Suffolk County Department of Health.
“There is a connection that goes to Lake Grove, to a sewage treatment plant on the other side of the road,” said Councilman Creighton. “If the plan fits as drawn up under the Department of Health, then it will become a reality.”
Watch: Archived Smithtown Town Board meetings
Other construction plans discussed at the meeting included an Acer’s Garden Center and the expansion of Cosentino Commerce Center, both in Commack. Both went unopposed.
The meeting also brought resolution to the controversy of what to do with the abandoned Fairview Holding Corporation Property, located near the Smithtown train station. The building, which has been abandoned for over 15 years according to Creighton, has accumulated garbage and graffiti.
With the plans approved, the Town will clean-up the property and bill Fairview for the work. It will then move to have the building demolished at a future date.
The next meeting of the Smithtown Town Board will be Thursday, October 25 at 7p to discuss the proposed town budget. The meeting will be held at the Smithtown Senior Citizen Center, located at 420 Middle Country Road in St. James
