By Dana Klosner
Site of proposed Dunkin Donuts in Nesconset (photo google maps)There is a 24 hour Dunkin Donuts with a 9 car queue drive-thru proposed to the zoning commission to be located in the former Prestano’s Bakery location at 223 Smithtown Boulevard in Nesconset. The idea of a 24 hour business has neighbors on the adjoining Lancaster Avenue up in arms.
“We’re not against Dunkin Donuts running their business,” said Dawn Gary who has been circulating petitions in the neighborhood as well as on Change.org. “We are against the traffic this business will produce.”
The stores currently in this location are “Mom and Pop” stores and are not open past 8pm with Ralph’s Italian Ices and Maria’s Restaurant staying open a little later on the weekends, Gary said.
“With a 24 hour operation there will be increased lighting, increased traffic, increased noise and increased patronage,” Gary said. “Currently my block is quiet after hours. [With this new business] there will be people and cars at all hours of the night. Smithtown Boulevard is already congested at all hours of the day, especially rush hour. Rush hour is prime time for Dunkin Donuts business.”
Gary also expressed concern that there is a Smithtown Central School District bus stop at the corner of Lancaster Avenue and Leydon Street about 200 feet from the proposed business. She said cars would enter and exit from Smithtown Boulevard, come down Lancaster Avenue to make a right onto Smithtown Boulevard and be right at the bus stop when the kids are there.
Gary also is concerned about headlights beaming into the homes of her neighbors.
“There is not a proper buffer proposed between Dunkin Donuts and the house directly north of the property. The home shares a back fence line with the site. It is proposed that there would be just grass between the home and the business. No shrubbery or fencing. A customer can come into the property with their lights on, shining directly into the living room and bedroom of this home. There is no code to prevent the lights cascading off the property.”
“Not only are we concerned about headlights and brake lights beaming in our windows, we’re concerned about the car exhaust and the speaker we’re going to hear because it will be directly across from our house, “ said Emily O’Bray, owner of the home directly north of the site.
O’Bray said she has a 9-year-old son and she is concerned for his safety.
“This will bring more traffic on a street that is already congested. I won’t be confident sending him out in the front yard by himself because of all the new traffic,” she said.
Dunkin Donuts will also have large signs that will be illuminated 24 hours a day, O’Bray said. She is concerned about the brightness.
She also expressed concern about increased garbage.
“There are dumpsters across from our property [for the businesses that are currently there]. We already get wrappers from Ralphs and the bakery blown onto our lawn. I’m concerned about rodents from the increased garbage,” she said.
“This is a nice community about to be taken over by a 24 hour business,” O’Bray said. “People say, ‘You knew there were businesses across the street when you bought your house.’ But those businesses close at 5. Ralph’s [Italian Ices] is seasonal and has foot traffic. This will be a constant flow of people, noise, lights and cars. It affects our property values. Who would buy across from a Dunkin Donuts? There’s going to be a lot of sleepless nights.”
Lynda Carty, also a resident on Lancaster Avenue, grew up in Nesconset and has lived in the town 43 years.
“I’m not against improvement,” she said. “And it’s not a matter of ‘Not in my Backyard.’ It shouldn’t be in anyone’s backyard. It should be like the one on 347 surrounded by commercial property.”
Carty along with O’Bray said there is already a cesspool problem in the building.
“The cesspool overflows down into the street into the water drain,” Carty said. “Over Labor Day weekend it ran for 36 hours. It happens all the time. They come pump it out, and one week later it happens again. The cesspool can’t handle the businesses that are there, Dunkin Donuts will make it even worse.”
The neighbors want to stress the safety concern that the traffic brings up.
“People already speed down our street,” Carty said. “There is a stop sign and people run through it. Add a Dunkin Donuts with people rushing to work. I worry about my neighbors’ kids. My cat already got hit by a car. It’s a concern for everybody here.”
“We have eight to ten children from the ages of twelve on down,” said Ed Gary, Dawn Gary’s husband. “Our primary focus is the amount of traffic coming down Lancaster Avenue and the safety of those children.”
“We feel [the proposed Dunkin Donuts] would diminish the quality of life for our residents,” Dawn Gary said.
There will be a zoning board hearing on Case #17192 on Tuesday, September 9 at 7pm at the Senior Citizen’s Center, 420 Middle Country Road, Smithtown.
Dawn Gary’s petition DENY Case# 17192 for Dunkin Donuts at 223 Smithtown Blvd, Nesconset