Proposed Drive-Through Starbucks Goes Before Board of Appeals

The vacant Rayco4 building on Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown was the topic of discussion at Wednesday’s Board of Appeals meeting. 

The owners are seeking a special exception to demolish the building and install a drive-through window in conjunction with the proposed Starbucks.

The new Starbucks would feature 20 parking spaces and the building would be much smaller than the current one, said lawyer William Bonesso, representing the building owner.

Bonesso said he believes the business would not create any “undue traffic.” He said this is based on data collected from traffic at peak hours and the levels of traffic at current drive-through stores nearby.

“If it was just a Starbucks without a drive-through, that traffic generation would have the same level as a drive-through,” he said.

Bonesso added that if the site didn’t have a drive-through, people would have to park, so the drive-through is much more efficient, he said.

Not everyone is on board with the plans, however. Michael Zampini, who lives on Loring Road, just west of the location, shared a petition from residents who live on the street.

“We are concerned with the overall level of volume of cars coming down the street,” he said. “We’re also concerned that people will take a right on Marginal Road to Loring, instead of going back west on Hempstead Turnpike, to avoid traffic." 

“Nothing against Starbucks, but I just think the volume is going to be unbelievable with a 24-hour drive-through,” said another resident.  

Another concern is noise from the drive-through speaker at night and bright lights from the store sign.

“It’s a residential block - you’re going to hear ‘Skinny Latte’ at any hour in the night," the resident said.

Bonesso said the company does have extensive site landscaping planned, which would run along the property lines and help block out the sound. He said they also are open to meeting with residents to discuss other issues or concerns they may have.

The Board of Appeals will now meet and make a decision on the case. If the special exception for the drive-through is approved, the company will submit construction drawings to be reviewed, a process that takes four to six weeks, according to Bonesso.

After building permits are approved, construction would start around that time with demolition happening around September. Once that is done, construction could start around October.

Current drive-through Starbucks nearby include 205 Stewart Avenue in Bethpage and 1114 Wantagh Avenue in Wantagh. Starbucks is aiming to open 1,500 more locations over the next five years, with 60 percent of them being drive-through, according to an article at DailyFinance.com.

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