The owner of a Willis Avenue property in Albertson that hosts a BP gas station and Milk ‘N’ Things convenience store is seeking to divide the parcel in two but not make any immediate physical changes.
Subdividing the parcel would allow the owner to keep one part of the property and sell the other if desired, said Kevin O’Brien, an attorney representing the applicant before the Town of North Hempstead Board.
“The prior property owner operated both businesses – he operated the dairy barn and the service station,” O’Brien said. “Then he sold to my client who really was in the gas business and isn’t in the other business.”
The matter requires town approval because lessening the size of land a gas station occupies is subject to a special use permit, Planning Commissioner Michael Levine said. Upon town approval, the matter would move to the Nassau County Planning Commission, O’Brien said.
“If this was a Milk ‘N’ Things and a shoe store we wouldn’t be here, but because one of the uses is gas and service station, anything that touches a gas and service station, even though we’re not really doing anything, still has to come before the Town Board,” he said.
The board unanimously approved the application last Tuesday. One resident spoke in opposition before the board voted.
Though the property owner is not currently asking to make changes to the property, this could lead to something in the future, Roslyn Heights resident William Alper said. Should there be a new business there, it would worsen an already bad traffic situation, he said.
“How much more traffic can Willis Avenue handle without more accidents?” Alper asked the board.
“We certainly want there to be an open dialogue,” Councilman Peter Zuckerman said.
The current owner bought the parcel about five years ago, O’Brien said.
