Supervisor Lesko, Councilwoman Kepert and the Town Board have set a Change of Zone Public Hearing for proposed zone changes and special use permits for the major redesign, use and development of the former K-MART property in Middle Island....The Middle Country Road Land Use Plan requires the parcel to be developed and zoned for related recreational uses.  However, the town will now consider zone changes to permit 2 Big Box stores, 2/200 seat restuarants, additional smaller retail outlets and 2 ballfields and 1 soccer field. 

At the last Middle Island Civic Association meeting held on July 15th, residents identified as  members of  the  Longwood Youth Sports Association stated they considered the fields to be too small to be actually useful. It is not known at this time if  these residents spoke offiically for LYSA; nonetheless all speakers wore LYSA shirts and at the time no other residents or members of MICA's Board made any objection or correction to their comments. The developer's attorney, former town Supervisor John LaMura, noted the fields conformed to regulation size, but acknowledged there was little room for spectators in the field portion of the plan.

The new proposal  also calls for development along the south side of Middle Country Road at the shoreline of Artist Lake; a parcel not owned by Breslin; as well as a donation of  land along the northern and eastern border of the parcel adjacent to lands already preserved near the site as Open Space.  The site lies within the Compatible Growth Area of the Long Island Pine Barrens and the original footprint of the K-Mart store may be grandfathered as that project predates the Pine Barrens Act, however a review of the site plan seems to indicate that the existing store will be demolished, and two "Big Box" stores will be constructed midway in the parcel each facing a center walkway or promenade.

At the Town Board on July 20, 2010, Supervisor Mark Lesko, Councilwoman Connie Kepert, and a majority of the Town Board set an August 17th date for a public hearing on the requested zone and special use changes at the former K-Mart property in Middle Island. The applicant and the council will consider a proposal to change the zone from A residence 1 to J business 2 to allow for a greater range of uses at the site.  Many residents believe the range of uses were not originally envisioned by the community as adopted in the Middle Country Road Land Use Plan. The planned re-development, officially known as “Artist’s Lake Plaza,” will convert the vacant K-Mart parcel into "Big Box" stores, restaurants, other shopping, and some recreational amenities.

In announcing the apparent deviation from the adopted Middle Country Road Land Use Plan for this site the Town Supervisor stated, “This is a very positive step for this blighted property in Middle Island. Suburban blight has reached epidemic proportions on Long Island, but the irony is these blighted properties provide the best opportunity for redevelopment.”  Many residents of Middle Island do not believe that the K-Mart site constitutes true blight in so much as it is a vacant store presently without a tenant. ABCO understands that both the owner, Breslin, and the town have refused to consider other alternative use proposals that would have brought tenants into the vacant K-Mart site many months ago.

After months of inquiry and little real information regarding the actual content of the final plan for the site, the Supervisor stated in a recent Press release, “we have worked hand in hand with the developer from the very beginning to ensure this site is redeveloped in a way that makes sense for the community. This is the type of partnership that is needed to turn blight into light. I look forward to the developers’ presentation on August 17.”

It would appear that the Supervisor is well acquainted with the plans and assisted significantly in designing the plan with the developer.  Therefore perhaps he should consider abstaining from any vote on the zone changes this applicant has requested which would maximze development at the site. Apparently and unfortunately,  the "hand and hand" cooperation appears not to have included all residents, most area civic organizations or the many other interested communities that worked so hard to develop the Middle Country Road Land Use Plan as finally adopted in 2006. 

The Breslin K-Mart "Big Box" plan also seems contrary to the long stated position of Councilwoman Kepert which opposed the creation of additional "Big Box" stores along the Middle Country Road Corridor of her district.  Although this latest request for a change of zone is the 3rd zone change proposed along the 1.5 mile corridor of Middle Country Road.  The K-Mart site is believed to also lie fully within the Carmans River Watershed; and appears to singificantly deviate from the MCRLUP. 

Two other projects, the high density multi-family Sandy Hills Condominums and the Competiton Toyota applications were also COZ application requests that Suffolk County and many residents considered to be inconsistent with the adopted plan.  Some representatives believe adopted plans are mere guidelines, not requiring adherence; that is not the position of the Suffolk County Planning Commission in evaluating applications for change of zone within the boundaries delinated by the MCRLUP.  These requests if approved will require a super-majority vote by the Town Board.  The additional zone changes are supported by Councilwoman Kepert.

Councilwoman Connie Kepert stated, "This is an exciting time for the people who live along the Route 25 corridor, a corridor which was once forgotten by the town.”; “Supervisor Lesko and I are committed to transforming an entire corridor, from one characterized by haphazard strip development to one characterized by vibrant mixed use pedestrian oriented development. The Breslin application located on the old K-Mart site is an important step in this process, and includes shopping, restaurants, ballfields, and pedestrian promenades. This application will be built with the environment in mind using energy efficient designs and porous landscaped parking areas," continued Kepert.

After the public hearing, the Town Board must vote on whether to allow the change of zone. Following the vote, the applicant submits a site plan to the Planning Board for their review. Building permits are issued upon approval of the site plan. The owners of property are Breslin Realty Associates LLC, Colin Realty Co., LLC, and Poly Jaz Realty LLC.

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