Business & Tech

Proposed Route 347 Gas Station Owners Seek Town Approval

Gas Station would demolish and replace blighted United Auto Repair building on Route 347 and Route 111 intersection.

Plans to transform a blighted Hauppauge intersection into a new gas station are awaiting Smithtown Town Board's approval. 

Bolla Operating, a Melville-based group, requested a change of zone from R-10 residential to neighborhood business to build a new gas station on the northwest corner of Route. 347 and Route 111 at Smithtown Town Board's April 25 meeting. 

Bolla is proposing demolish the abandoned United Auto Repair garage and neighboring two-story residential home to build a 8-pump gas station and a 1,200-square-foot convenience store with small offices and a storage area.

"I would point out the town's own comprehensive plan supports the need for this.  It should be noted the station will serve drivers heading south on Route 111 an West on Route 347 offering a price-competitive option to obtaining fuel," said an attorney representing Bolla. 

Bolla said the owners of the residential home have tried unsuccessfully to sell or lease the residential home for several years without success, given it's close proximity to  a major intersection. 

The proposed gas station plans were recommended for approval by the Smithtown Planning Department in February, despite initial concerns the gas station could increase traffic at the Route 347 intersection. 

David Flynn, a senior planner for the Town of Smithtown, said Smithtown's Planning Department had concerns about the construction of a new gas station on the "heavily traveled and complex designed" intersection.

"If this site is to be developed on Route 347 and Route 111, it would have to prohibit left turns and other turns as well to reduce the potential for traffic congestion and crashes," Flynn said at the Jan. 16 planning department hearing. 

Bolla Operating's proposed plans for a Route 347 gas station will feature two driveways, one each on Route 111 and Route 347. From Route 111, passing motorists would be able to enter the gas station from either direction, but only exit by making a right-hand turn onto Route 111 southbound. The gas station would have a second driveway on the north side of Route 347 which would be right-turn in, right-turn out only.

Smithtown Town Board closed the public hearing on this proposal, and will vote on it at a later date. 


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