Blue Point civic discusses development for Main Street

The Blue Point Civic Association held its May meeting on Thursday, May 13. As with the previous meetings of 2021, the May gathering was held on Zoom for COVID restrictions. Guest speaker for the meeting was Presiding Officer for Suffolk County Legislature, Robert Calarco.

As part of the regular Civic Association initiatives, the following updates were provided:

• Construction at former Capital One bank at southwest corner of Montauk Highway & Blue Point Ave:
• Dunkin Donuts will take over the property and plans include using two of the current three drive through lanes;
• An application requires a special permit to be granted from Town of  Brookhaven with current zoning (albeit a full zoning change is not being requested)
• A public hearing for the proposed zone amendment is scheduled for June 10th at 5:30pm
• Current land development plans are posted to the Civic’s Facebook page which currently include a “community focal point” and “monument sign” in the design.
• Application for County funds for Main Street Grant
• In conjunction with the  Bayport Blue Point Chamber of Commerce, the Civic Association is submitting an application for continuation of pedestrian lighting along Montauk Highway (east to Atlantic Avenue, from Nicolls Road)
• The Civic Association met with officials from Suffolk County to review the previous application submitted identify areas of improvement.
• The Civic Association is currently modifying their next approach by indicating that this funding would help to generate a Main Street by attracting business to several vacant parcels along this stretch, as previous feedback indicated the area submitted for “isn’t a main street.”
• Project to restore Five-Mile Look
• Working in conjunction with BBP Heritage Association, the Civic Association obtained letter of support from NYS Senator Alexis Weik for the project; the letter was forwarded by the Senator’s office to the NYS DEC
• The Civic Association will meet with the NYS DEC to determine permit requirements.
• It is the intention of the Civic Association that the Five-Mile Look restoration take place in conjunction with the BP Dock Renovation later this year.

Calarco provided COVID updates on current infection rates, vaccination rates, and discussed contract tracing saying that the “county is in vaccination mode” with vaccination locations now in Brentwood, Selden, Riverhead, and Hauppauge.

A traffic study conducted by the County for Middle Road and Corey Avenue in 2019 had concluded no stop sign was warranted on the intersection and Calarco discussed possible options including: temporary speed bumps to be placed seasonally, temporary speed signs/caution signs, and temporary lighting and/or additional painted lines in the road.

Calarco also stated that funding needed to be re-examined for Roe Park as monies from the state had decreased.