

The owner of a Willis Avenue property in Albertson that hosts a BP gas station and Milk āNā 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 OāBrien, an attorney representing the applicant before the Town of North Hempstead Board.
āThe prior property owner operated both businesses ā he operated the dairy barn and the service station,ā OāBrien said. āThen he sold to my client who really was in the gas business and isnāt in the other business.ā
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, OāBrien said.
āIf this was a Milk āNā Things and a shoe store we wouldnāt be here, but because one of the uses is gas and service station, anything that touches a gas and service station, even though weāre not really doing anything, still has to come before the Town Board,ā 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.
āHow much more traffic can Willis Avenue handle without more accidents?ā Alper asked the board.
āWe certainly want there to be an open dialogue,ā Councilman Peter Zuckerman said.
The current owner bought the parcel about five years ago, OāBrien said.