High Point Engineering architects appeared before the Village of Old Westbury’s board of trustees Monday on behalf of Bolla Operating L.I. Corp. to review changes made to their plans to renovate the Exxon-Mobil location at 3 Jericho Turnpike in a continuing effort to have their special-use permit amended.
Chris Tartaglia, the project’s primary architect, said the new plans “reduce the intensity of our application,” which had previously been questioned in depth by Village of Old Westbury Mayor Fred Carillo and Trustee Michael Wolf at a public hearing March 18.
“The plans are much better this time around,” Carillo said. “Much, much better.”
Tartaglia said plans for the size of the gas station’s convenience store has decreased, from 2,600 square feet in March to 2,100 square feet.
Tartaglia said previously, the property had applied for use of 19.6 percent of the lot, an increase from its original 1999 application request of 18 percent though still within the village’s 20 percent maximum.
One of the biggest changes to the plan, Tartaglia said, was a decrease in the total number of fueling islands, from eight – which would have allowed for 16 pumps – to six.
On March 20, Carillo expressed concern that more pumps on the premises would make for more traffic congestion in the area.
A traffic study had been conducted on the property prior to the March 18 by Stonefield Engineer and Design, but the plans at the time called for 16 pumps and Village Planning Consultant John Ellsworth suggested another study be conducted to reflect the changes.
Carillo suggested a future study should also take into account the exit-only ramp onto Jericho Turnpike near the exit to the Northern State Parkway, which he said he considers a dangerous area.
To comply with county road regulations, Tartaglia said a drainage system to support a five-inch rainfall would still need to be designed.
Tartaglia also described the contents of the Bolla Market’s deli, which would include a variety of cold sandwiches as well as prepared hot foods for customers to “grab on the go,” with an estimated transaction time of 1-2 minutes.
“The chicken francese and the meatballs didn’t go over well the last time,” Carillo said. “Could you imagine trying to eat that while you’re driving?”
