Readers Write: Wrong place for Mineola gas station

The Island Now

In response to the Oct. 25 Williston Times editorial, “Gas Station Protest Runs Out of Gas.” There were many parts of the editorial that were inaccurate and/or incomplete. Here are some of the points I would like to make.

The property in question was, in the past, a Getty gasoline station, which also did auto repairs. It was never opened past 8 p.m. and was generally closed on Sundays. The signs and the property’s lighting were turned off when the business was closed. 

The proposed new occupancy is to be a 24 hours a day, seven days a week operation, which will include a mega convenience store plus a high volume gasoline sales operation. Lights will be on all hours of the day and night, and traffic will be heavy all day and all night. 

Delivery trucks will be in and out at all hours. People will be lining up to buy gas on Sundays, when Bolla Market sells gas six cents cheaper than everyone else.  

This is an area with several similar 24-hour businesses. But all of them are on major intersections, such as Herricks Road and Jericho Turnpike, Roslyn Road and Jericho Turnpike, Mineola Boulevard and Jericho Turnpike. 

None of these businesses are in such close proximity to residential homes as this new proposed occupancy is. The residents never opposed a gas station that would operate as the previous one did, but they do oppose a station and store that will be open 24 hours a day, seven days week.

There were many intelligent comments made by residents but you chose to report the one about Jericho Turnpike being renamed Kamikaze Turnpike. Why not quote the gentleman who spoke about property value declining or the residents that are concerned about safety and the traffic issues that will impact our roads.

It was suggested by a resident that a 24 hour traffic study of other high volume Bolla Markets be conducted to see how many cars would be coming and going in and out of this business. One only has to sit for one hour at any of the other Bolla Markets to understand the high volume of traffic that they generate, or ride by at night to see how brightly lit the Bolla Markets are.

Traffic and safety are a major issue as well. The cars will line up on Jericho Turnpike waiting to get into the station. Although they are planning on installing curbs and signs so the cars will only be able to turn north to Jericho Turnpike, in reality, we all know that cars will ignore the signs and use Latham and White Roads as an alternate route.

The people at this west end of Mineola do not want a 24-hour operation for many valid reasons. We are entitled to express our opinion on this matter. 

When a 24-hour 7 Eleven was proposed at the east end of Jericho Turnpike last year the residents fought it because of safety issues, and the village board turned 7 Eleven down. We hope that the Mineola Village Board will hear the voices of the people and vote to deny Bolla Management permission to open a 24-hour business in such close proximity to Mineola homeowners and taxpayers.

All Mineola residents are entitled to some peace and quiet in the evenings and on weekends.

Stan Wojis

Mineola

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