Walmart debate continues in E. Patchogue

Jobs versus increased traffic. Affordable shopping versus independent retail.

For years, residents of East Patchogue and nearby communities have debated a proposed Walmart store on the northeast corner of Hospital Road and Sunrise Highway.

Last week, supporters and opponents had yet another forum to air their arguments, during a "scoping" hearing held by the Brookhaven Planning Department at Town Hall in Farmingville. The hearing Thursday was required before submission of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s draft environmental impact statement.

Both sides came out in force, filling the room and toting signs. One hundred people signed up to speak about the proposed 98,000-square-foot store on about 16 acres owned by La Bonne Vie Associates, which also owns a nearby senior community. Wal-Mart will buy the site once the site plan is approved by the town.

Eileen Klett, a 23-year East Patchogue homeowner, called on the town to stop the development. "It is not the role of government to ensure we have discount shopping in our neighborhood," she said to applause.

Many opponents pointed to the site's location near Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center as a safety concern if increased traffic snarls passage on Hospital Road. Some said the draft environmental impact statement relied on old traffic studies and outdated planning.

Support for the store came from construction workers who look forward to jobs, and residents who said they wanted affordable shopping in the area.

"This Walmart will help provide funds for us and our families," said William Kogi, a carpenter from Farmingville.

It's the message Wal-Mart is trying to send. "The proposed Walmart store has been significantly reduced in size to under 100,000 square feet in order to address the concerns of the community and reduce traffic impacts," the company said in a statement. "The most pressing issue for residents in Brookhaven is creating new jobs (including union construction jobs), and providing convenient access to low-cost goods and fresh produce."

Wal-Mart has said with some improvements the road infrastructure could accommodate anticipated customer traffic for a store in East Patchogue, and that the development will also fund a much-needed renovation of the Hospital Road bridge from a one-lane road to two lanes in each direction.

The town will accept written comments on the draft environmental impact statement until July 5.