Town board votes 6-0 on resolution
On Tuesday, Feb. 7, Town of Oyster Bay board members voted down a proposal for Costco to open a store in Hicksville on 555 W. John Street.
The board voted 6-0, with one board member absent, to deny the application, but voted 6-0 to accept the environmental study associated with Costco’s application. The store, had the special-use permit been granted, would have measured more than 150,000 square feet and included parking lot space.
“Generally, they just felt it was not an appropriate use in that area and that the fallout with the traffic and everything else was not what was needed in that neighborhood. For most of the residents, traffic was the overriding concern – that would be a huge store with a lot of parking spaces,” a Town of Oyster Bay spokesperson said.
Hicksville resident and West John Street Recovery Project member Greg Yatzyshyn thanked the town board for rejecting the application, citing traffic concerns as well.
“The fact that the application has been denied is a clear signal that the posture of the town is to support development that encourages a suburban lifestyle which we have learned to expect and deny any application that would otherwise deteriorate our community by excessive traffic or any other means,” said Yatzyshyn.
“The town board has again demonstrated that their focus is on the quality of life of its residents and that development must be considered on its own merit and its impact on the community,” Yatzyshyn added.
At this point, Costco can accept the decision or file an Article 78, according to the town, to fight the decision in court.
In 2003, TOB officials also voted down a similar application from Costco, which also operates a wholesale store at 1250 Old Country Road in Westbury.
