(MyLITV.com has posted this VIDEO of some press conference highlights)
More than 30 people attended a press conference held on July 22 at the West Islip Library and listened as members of the La Grange Inn Task Force spoke. This 17-member team has met weekly for the last 2 months, gathering information from local politicians, community leaders and local entrepeneurs in an attempt to develop viable suggestions for alternative uses of the La Grange Inn site.
The conference opened with these remarks:
Good Afternoon
I am Joe DeCarlo resident of West Islip and Chairman of the Special Task Force on the LaGrange Inn.
The LaGrange Task Force consists of seventeen members whose single purpose is to recommend proposals for development of the La Grange Inn site that will be in harmony with the needs of the West Islip community and will be in the best interests of the current owners. I would like to thank the Task Force members very much for their tireless energy and dedication on this very special effort for the residents of our hamlet.
The mission of the Special Task Force is very straightforward - to research, develop and recommend alternative plans for the future of the site where the historic La Grange Inn is currently located.
The Task Force held a series of eight weekly meetings over a period of approximately three months. As part of the process the Task Force invited key individuals both in the public and private sectors to attend and participate in the meetings. We are grateful for the input the Task Force received from Islip Town Supervisor Philip Nolan, Town of Islip Department of Planning and Development Commissioner Eugene Murphy, the Director of Economic Development for the Town of Islip William Mannix, and Town Historian Rob Finnegan. In addition the Task Force wishes to thank the former owner of the La Grange Inn Uwe Paulsen and real estate broker Jamie Winkler for their valuable input. We would also like to thank the extraordinary effort of West Islip’s own - Suffolk County Legislator Tom Barraga who provided us with insight and access to key individuals noted above.
We here in West Islip view the LaGrange Inn as our village centerpiece and want to preserve and protect its history. Too many times in the past, historical landmarks throughout the region have been destroyed in the name of progress. We do not want to see this happen to the LaGrange Inn which can be found on Islip Town maps as early as 1776. Just look a mile or so east of here on Montauk Highway where a local developer restored another West Islip historical site – The Arnold Mansion – and created a beautiful vista for the hamlet.
The Task Force has come up with some alternatives for the site that would preserve its heritage and hopefully will create synergy with the properties that bound the LaGrange Inn. We are prepared to work with the current owners and Islip Town to assist in any way with the alternatives we have come up with as a group.
1) Catering Facility- the highest and best use of the property would be the continuation of the site as a catering facility.
2) Restaurant - a Milleridge Inn type use that utilizes the original La Grange Inn as the center-piece with retail shops along the perimeter of the property.
3) Multi Use Housing Option- multi story units where young people would live above shops with the original La Grange Inn continuing as a restaurant and centerpiece.
4) Mini Village - the merging of all four parcels to form a mini village consisting of a variety of restaurants, retail shops and apartments. The four parcels would consist of the La Grange Inn site, the Babylon Ford site, the small real estate building and the property of the former Ukrainian Catholic Church. The four current owners would have to agree to merge the properties and seek permission from the Town of Islip to form a Planned Development District.
5) Culinary Institute - a facility that would have the ability to attract people from all over Long Island.
6) Hospital Building - the original La Grange Inn coupled with an architectural compatible design would be used to facilitate and enhance the expansion of either Good Samaritan or Southside Hospitals.
7) Professional Office Building- original La Grange Inn with appropriate architectural construction would be used for professional office space which is common along that particular segment of Montauk Highway.
8) Planned Landmark Protection District- the Task Force recommends that Regardless of what is developed on the La Grange Inn site the owner should seek Planned Landmark Development status which would give them greater flexibility in construction and may well afford them the opportunity to receive local and even federal tax advantages.
A PDF version of the report is available here
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Planning department does not support parcel plans
This article is posted with the permission of the Islip Bulletin.
Story By: JEFFREY BESSEN, Editor
10 July 2008
The proposed plans by Walgreens to construct a pharmacy on the western portion of the landmark LaGrange site at the intersection of Higbie Lane and Montauk Highway is appearing ill.
In addition to at least a few hundred residents opposing the idea, the hard-hitting opposition of County Legislator Tom Barraga (R-West Islip), and the formation of the LaGrange Inn Task Force, the Islip Town Planning Department is now taking its shots at the plans.
Planning department officials informed Walgreens that they do not support this petition and noted such concerns as the plans not meshing with the recommendations of the West Islip Hamlet Study.
This specific parcel is outside the hamlet’s center, located at Higbie Lane and Union Boulevard, and new commercial development outside this existing hamlet center contradicts the hamlet study’s stated goals.
“It is the hope of the Task Force that this decision by the Islip Town Planning Department, coupled with the overwhelming opposition to the construction of a retail pharmacy on the LaGrange Inn site, will create a much better opportunity for the owner,” Task Force Chair Joseph DeCarlo said in a prepared release.
In a letter to West Islip-based attorney, Lisa Pace, who represents Walgreens in this matter, Assistant Town Planning Director Jeanmarie Brennan wrote: “In addition to the fundamental issues of compatibility with the Comprehensive Plan and the existing zoning, there are a number of site design issues as well.”
“The plan, as currently proposed, does not meet the minimum parking requirements or queuing requirements for the drive-though, indicating that even if the property had the correct zoning for the uses requested, the proposed development is too intense for the site,” Brennan noted.
A call for comment was not returned by Pace by press time. Present zoning for the site is Residence B and Business I and Walgreens seeks a rezone to Business 3.
Plans for a Walgreens pharmacy on the LaGrange Inn property were brought to light by the Islip Bulletin (Oct. 18, 2007) and in March, a meeting in the ballroom of LaGrange was attended by a few hundred community members (IB, March 22) who raked over Walgreens representatives for seeking to build a 13,650-square foot store on the 2.47-acre property.
However, Walgreens is seeking to turn back the clock on LaGrange and help restore the place where George Washington supposedly slept before becoming president.
Plans are to chop off the additions made over the year to the Inn and return LaGrange to the size it was, when it served as a stop for travelers between Jamaica, Queens and Patchogue. It has also served as a summer resort by wealthy New Yorkers.
Having received a letter from Barraga and Assemblyman Phil Boyle (R-Bay Shore), Town Supervisor Phil Nolan met with Task Force members. The Task Force was established to “develop, research and recommend alternative plans” for the Inn.
Nolan told the Task Force that if the change of zone application appears before the town board, he would hold the hearing in West Islip. The supervisor also noted that if the application came before the planning board that he has already discussed with Planning Board Chair Frank Tantone the idea of holding the hearing in the hamlet.
“This is consistent with my neighborhood chats and if we can do it, we should,” Nolan said. “It was something requested by two electeds and it is the most transparent setting possible. The application will rise and fall on its merits.”
Tantone noted that precedent for such an event was set by the planning board previously when applications have come in front of the board that are “significant enough to have a separate night just for that application,” as in the case of Pilgrim State that was also heard at the town annex located at 401 Main Street.
“We have done it before,” Tantone said. “The motivation is to have a public hearing that residents can more easily attend and not inconvenience others who are interested in other [agenda] items.”
Story By: JEFFREY BESSEN, Editor
10 July 2008
The proposed plans by Walgreens to construct a pharmacy on the western portion of the landmark LaGrange site at the intersection of Higbie Lane and Montauk Highway is appearing ill.
In addition to at least a few hundred residents opposing the idea, the hard-hitting opposition of County Legislator Tom Barraga (R-West Islip), and the formation of the LaGrange Inn Task Force, the Islip Town Planning Department is now taking its shots at the plans.
Planning department officials informed Walgreens that they do not support this petition and noted such concerns as the plans not meshing with the recommendations of the West Islip Hamlet Study.
This specific parcel is outside the hamlet’s center, located at Higbie Lane and Union Boulevard, and new commercial development outside this existing hamlet center contradicts the hamlet study’s stated goals.
“It is the hope of the Task Force that this decision by the Islip Town Planning Department, coupled with the overwhelming opposition to the construction of a retail pharmacy on the LaGrange Inn site, will create a much better opportunity for the owner,” Task Force Chair Joseph DeCarlo said in a prepared release.
In a letter to West Islip-based attorney, Lisa Pace, who represents Walgreens in this matter, Assistant Town Planning Director Jeanmarie Brennan wrote: “In addition to the fundamental issues of compatibility with the Comprehensive Plan and the existing zoning, there are a number of site design issues as well.”
“The plan, as currently proposed, does not meet the minimum parking requirements or queuing requirements for the drive-though, indicating that even if the property had the correct zoning for the uses requested, the proposed development is too intense for the site,” Brennan noted.
A call for comment was not returned by Pace by press time. Present zoning for the site is Residence B and Business I and Walgreens seeks a rezone to Business 3.
Plans for a Walgreens pharmacy on the LaGrange Inn property were brought to light by the Islip Bulletin (Oct. 18, 2007) and in March, a meeting in the ballroom of LaGrange was attended by a few hundred community members (IB, March 22) who raked over Walgreens representatives for seeking to build a 13,650-square foot store on the 2.47-acre property.
However, Walgreens is seeking to turn back the clock on LaGrange and help restore the place where George Washington supposedly slept before becoming president.
Plans are to chop off the additions made over the year to the Inn and return LaGrange to the size it was, when it served as a stop for travelers between Jamaica, Queens and Patchogue. It has also served as a summer resort by wealthy New Yorkers.
Having received a letter from Barraga and Assemblyman Phil Boyle (R-Bay Shore), Town Supervisor Phil Nolan met with Task Force members. The Task Force was established to “develop, research and recommend alternative plans” for the Inn.
Nolan told the Task Force that if the change of zone application appears before the town board, he would hold the hearing in West Islip. The supervisor also noted that if the application came before the planning board that he has already discussed with Planning Board Chair Frank Tantone the idea of holding the hearing in the hamlet.
“This is consistent with my neighborhood chats and if we can do it, we should,” Nolan said. “It was something requested by two electeds and it is the most transparent setting possible. The application will rise and fall on its merits.”
Tantone noted that precedent for such an event was set by the planning board previously when applications have come in front of the board that are “significant enough to have a separate night just for that application,” as in the case of Pilgrim State that was also heard at the town annex located at 401 Main Street.
“We have done it before,” Tantone said. “The motivation is to have a public hearing that residents can more easily attend and not inconvenience others who are interested in other [agenda] items.”
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Islip Planning Board says NO to Walgreens....
In a written letter the Islip Town Planning Department has notified the applicant that the Planning Department does not support the application for construction of a Walgreen Pharmacy on the La Grange Inn site in West Islip.
The Planning Department indicated a number of concerns. The proposal is not in keeping with the recommendations of the West Islip Hamlet Study. This property is well outside West Islip’s hamlet center on Higbie Lane and Union Boulevard. It would allow new commercial development outside the existing hamlet center on land that could not be developed commercially otherwise, which contradicts the stated goals of the West Islip Hamlet Study.
In addition to the fundamental issues of compatibility with the Comprehensive Plan and the existing zoning, there are a number of site design issues as well. The plan as currently proposed does not meet the minimum parking requirements or queuing requirements for the drive through, indicating that even if the property had the correct zoning for the uses requested, the proposed development is too intense for the site.
Legislator Barraga applauded the Islip Planning Department decision. “ It is my hope that the owners of the La Grange Inn site will join the La Grange Inn Task Force and help develop an alternative for the development of the site that will be in the best interest of the residents of West Islip and the current owner ”- said Barraga.
The Planning Department indicated a number of concerns. The proposal is not in keeping with the recommendations of the West Islip Hamlet Study. This property is well outside West Islip’s hamlet center on Higbie Lane and Union Boulevard. It would allow new commercial development outside the existing hamlet center on land that could not be developed commercially otherwise, which contradicts the stated goals of the West Islip Hamlet Study.
In addition to the fundamental issues of compatibility with the Comprehensive Plan and the existing zoning, there are a number of site design issues as well. The plan as currently proposed does not meet the minimum parking requirements or queuing requirements for the drive through, indicating that even if the property had the correct zoning for the uses requested, the proposed development is too intense for the site.
Legislator Barraga applauded the Islip Planning Department decision. “ It is my hope that the owners of the La Grange Inn site will join the La Grange Inn Task Force and help develop an alternative for the development of the site that will be in the best interest of the residents of West Islip and the current owner ”- said Barraga.
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