On August 2nd, 2006, members of Lake Ronkonkoma
Civic Organization, its Executive Board, and local
residents appeared before the Town of Brookhaven
Board of Zoning Appeals to oppose the granting of a
variance requested Commerce Bank, for the property
located on the south side of Portion Road, east of
Sullivan Street. Commerce Bank has proposed
building a new bank on the property. During the
Portion Road Visioning, in October of 2004, the
community had identified this property as a
desirable location for a memorial park.
The property consists of a heavily wooded knoll and is one of the highest points along Portion Road. From the top there are breathtaking views of the natural valley into which Portion Road was constructed as it winds its way down toward Lake Ronkonkoma. Because of the verdant condition of the site and the accompanying vistas, the community naturally foresaw this property as a place of contemplation and remembrance. The Town of Brookhaven also recognized the importance of this property to the community and, utilizing its funds to purchase open space, attempted to purchase the site from the property owner. Unfortunately the Town was not successful because of the pending sale to Commerce Bank.
The Civic has no objection to Commerce Bank opening a branch and providing its services in our area, this is not a case of “not-in-my-backyard,” we only object to the proposed location. When the Civic’s Executive Board previously met with representatives of Commerce Bank, we described the Visioning process, explained the importance of the property to the community, and proposed some suitable alternate sites in the area. Unfortunately the Executive Board was not successful in convincing Commerce Bank that their proposed building, which would flatten the site and irretrievably deny the community the possibility of making their Vision of a memorial park a reality, would do more harm than good. However, the Civic will continue to offer its assistance to Commerce Bank in investigating the many other suitable locations in the area, such as the Skee Oil property on the southeast corner of Hawkins Avenue and the L.I.E. South Service Road, the many empty storefronts in downtown, or the old lumber yard on the north side of Portion Road, which recently became available.
The Civic requested that the Board of Zoning Appeals deny Commerce Bank the proposed variance. The availability of other properties within the area that are suitable for the proposed use make it clear that there is no hardship that makes a variance necessary, and, in fact, the granting of the variance creates a hardship for the community by denying us the opportunity to create a place of far more significant value.
The property consists of a heavily wooded knoll and is one of the highest points along Portion Road. From the top there are breathtaking views of the natural valley into which Portion Road was constructed as it winds its way down toward Lake Ronkonkoma. Because of the verdant condition of the site and the accompanying vistas, the community naturally foresaw this property as a place of contemplation and remembrance. The Town of Brookhaven also recognized the importance of this property to the community and, utilizing its funds to purchase open space, attempted to purchase the site from the property owner. Unfortunately the Town was not successful because of the pending sale to Commerce Bank.
The Civic has no objection to Commerce Bank opening a branch and providing its services in our area, this is not a case of “not-in-my-backyard,” we only object to the proposed location. When the Civic’s Executive Board previously met with representatives of Commerce Bank, we described the Visioning process, explained the importance of the property to the community, and proposed some suitable alternate sites in the area. Unfortunately the Executive Board was not successful in convincing Commerce Bank that their proposed building, which would flatten the site and irretrievably deny the community the possibility of making their Vision of a memorial park a reality, would do more harm than good. However, the Civic will continue to offer its assistance to Commerce Bank in investigating the many other suitable locations in the area, such as the Skee Oil property on the southeast corner of Hawkins Avenue and the L.I.E. South Service Road, the many empty storefronts in downtown, or the old lumber yard on the north side of Portion Road, which recently became available.
The Civic requested that the Board of Zoning Appeals deny Commerce Bank the proposed variance. The availability of other properties within the area that are suitable for the proposed use make it clear that there is no hardship that makes a variance necessary, and, in fact, the granting of the variance creates a hardship for the community by denying us the opportunity to create a place of far more significant value.
