Homeowners Meet With Town Over Insignia's Parking

The homeowners on Brilner Drive are scheduled to meet with Smithtown’s Planning Director, Frank DeRubeis, on Wednesday afternoon.  The topic of discussion will be the plan derived by the Town’s planning department which seeks to address the parking situation at Insignia Restaurant (the site of the former Boulder Creek Restaurant). The restaurant is located on Nesconset Highway and Mt. Pleasant Road in Smithtown. At the Board meeting on March 22, homeowners presented the Town Board with petitions signed in opposition to the parking lot constructed without permits and without Town approval at the Insignia site.  At that meeting, homeowners complained about increased noise, lighting and drainage issues. 

The owner’s of Insignia constructed a parking lot on an area of property that provides a buffer between the restaurant and the homeowners.  At the Board meeting homeowners were clear that they were not expressing nimbyism.  They congratulated the owners of Insignia on the success of the restaurant but they were also clear that Insignia’s success could not be at the expense of their quality of life. 

The homeowners have produced a letter from the lawfirm of Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C. that explicitly prohibits the intrusion on the buffer that was created in 1998.  The letter states, “simply stated, this document commits the current owner (Barbato Family Circle) and all future owners of the 50’ buffer to a promise that no part of the scenic easement will be improved, built upon or otherwise altered without your express written consent or the consent of anyone who should own your property in the future.” 

Insignia is an upscale restaurant that has had tremendous success.  It offers valet parking but there is inadaquate space to provide the parking needed for its patrons. The owner’s are asking to have the back of the restaurant , currently protected by a covenant, made available to them for parking purposes.  The back of the restaurant’s property abuts homes on Brilner Drive.

In addition to the parking concerns the property lies in a high water table area. An original proposal to add spaces to the front of the property was rejected because of the high water table.