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VOL. 17, ISSUE 39
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015
24 PAGES
MELVILLE
By Chris Mellides cmellides@longislandergroup.com
The Huntington Zoning Board of Appeals last week put off deciding on an application by the Islamic Center of Melville, which is seeking to build a new multi-million dollar mosque, amid pushback from local residents. The Islamic Center’s proposal calls for replacing two residential structures that have been used as houses of worship with a single mosque that would cost between $6 million and $8 million. The plans would require a parking variance to more than double to the number of the center’s current 70 spaces to 150. Additionally, the center is seeking relief for the size of the buffer required from the parking area to the street in order to keep
parking in the front of the building. Many of the site’s visitors park their cars on the shoulder of the roadway network on Old East Neck Road in Melville when there is no available parking at the Islamic Center, and cross the service road to attend events at the center, which is unsafe, according to Wayne Muller, of RMS Engineering, who was at the hearing offering expert testimony on behalf of the center. Muller said that there would be two access points to the proposed mosque that would make traveling there easier and safer. The first access point would be on Old East Neck Road, located on the southwestern side of the property, with the second access point located along the south service road of the Long Island Expressway on the (Continued on page A22)
Long Islander News Photo/Chris Mellides
ZBA Delays Mosque Plan After Residents Complain
The Islamic Center of Melville located at 118 Old East Neck Road is the subject of controversy as plans to level two buildings in order to erect a mosque and extend parking on the property was met with opposition from neighbors.
WHEATLEY HEIGHTS
SPOTLIGHT
Allen Stone Bringing The Soul To Village A11
Mom Charged Under Leandra’s Law By Carl Corry ccorry@longislandergroup.com
A Dix Hills woman was arrested Saturday night for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol with her 3-year-old son in her vehicle following a car crash in Wheatley Heights. Police say Cristi Rivas was driving a 2007 Mercedes Benz GL450 southbound on Straight Path when her vehicle rear-ended a 2013 Honda Odyssey, driven by Khizar Kharam, at about 6 p.m. Rivas’ son was in the vehicle and was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip for evaluation but did not ap-
pear injured, poing the welfare of a lice said. Kharam, child. She pleaded not 63, and Rivas, 38, guilty Sunday at First were both transDistrict Court in Central ported to Good Islip and is scheduled to Samaritan Hospiappear back in court total with minor inmorrow. Her defense atjuries. torney could not be Rivas was arreached. rested near The child was reStraight Path and leased to a family memBurr’s Lane in ber. Wheatley Heights Rivas’ vehicle was imand charged under pounded and the investiCristi Rivas Leandra’s Law gation is continuing. Dewith aggravated driving while in- tectives are asking anyone with toxicated with a child passenger information about this crash to 15 years old or younger, driving call the First Squad at 631-854while intoxicated and endanger- 8152.
Exhibit Gives Peek Into Civil War Era A8-9