Wal-Mart East Patchogue Update: Town Board Meeting Tomorrow Night to Stop Wal-Mart!

In September, Wal-Mart announced their plans to build a new, 120,000 square foot store in East Patchogue on Hospital Road. The community has been viciously opposed to this plan, which will decimate downtown vitality, destroy wooded land, and disrupt a residential area. It has been called "the death knell for downtown revitalization projects." There are currently 5 Wal-Marts within a 15-mile radius of the proposed site.

Now, it looks like the community’s work has paid off with this small victory: it seems as though the proposed site may have been illegally rezoned in 1996, and that is why Wal-Mart is now allowed to build there.

Councilwoman Connie Kepert will be presenting a resolution at the Town Board meeting TOMORROW NIGHT (Tuesday, March 10th) that will set a public hearing to revoke the illegal zoning change and return it to residential. Councilman Tim Mazzei also supports the resolution. The community must show up to the Town Board meeting to show the Town that residents support this resolution and oppose building a Wal-Mart in their community.

Make sure to show up and support the resolution!

Tuesday, March 10th
5pm (resolution expected to be heard at 6:30pm; it is ok to show up late)
Brookhaven Town Hall
1 Independence Hill
Farmingville, NY

Please RSVP to the East Patchogue Wal-Mart Free Coalition so they have an idea of how many people will be showing up: epwalmartfree@aol.com

Informational community meetings about the Wal-Mart proposal are ongoing, so be sure to check out walmartli.org to stay up-to-date with meeting dates and learn more about how to stop Wal-Mart. Additionally, Stop Wal-Mart lawn signs are available for $5 (covers the cost of printing). Email epwalmartfree@aol.com to get your sign. You can also write letters to the local press. Sample letters and contact info are available on www.walmartli.org. Don't let Wal-Mart destroy downtown Patchogue!

SMART GROWTH NEWS

Newsletter Editor: Michelle Dutchen, Communications Director
Contributors: Eric Alexander, Executive Director; Tara Klein, Planning Coordinator;
Tawaun Weber, Director of Special Projects; Juliana Roberts Dubovsky, Planning Consultant

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