The Village
TIMES HERALD Buying/Se
lling
Stony Brook • old Field • Strong’S neck • Setauket • eaSt Setauket • January 21, 2016
Volume 40, No. 47
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Celebrating Long Island’s nature Also: ‘In the Heights’ at the CMPAC; winter farmer’s market
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Full speed ahead Photo by Giselle Barkley
residents and Brookhaven officials will address ways to improve route 25a near the Stony Brook train station, above, in the first phase of the study.
Show us the money Senator supports schools’ call for end to state aid cuts
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Brookhaven moves forward with plans for land use study to reimagine Route 25A By giSelle Barkley
After decades of waiting, Brookhaven officials said they were taking legitimate steps toward giving Route 25A a face-lift — starting with Stony Brook. The town board approved a resolution on Thursday, Jan. 14, to conduct land use studies for Route 25A in Three Village and Port Jefferson Station. The town said it would be holding several meetings over the coming months at which residents can suggest ways to improve the de facto Main Street, especially near the Stony Brook Long Island Rail Road station and where Route 25A meets Nicolls Road. This three-phase study will start with the Smithtown line to
Nicolls Road. The two other phas- them to participate because a lot es, including the Port Jefferson of the work we’re going to comStation study, will follow. Route ment on are things [DOT has] to 25A near the Stony Brook train do, like additional sidewalks.” station is part of the first phase. Several civic leaders across Brookhaven Town Supervisor the Three Village and greater Ed Romaine (R) said the town North Shore community came will use money out in full supfrom a contingency port of the land use ‘There’s been a fund in its operstudy on Thursday ating and capital lot of false starts with hopes of spurbudgets to fund the with this area.’ ring the town board study. The town to expedite progress — Shawn nuzzo along 25A. hasn’t established dates, times and lo“The intersection cation, but Romaine said meet- of Nicolls Road and Route 25A is ings will begin once the weather really the gateway to the commugets warmer in March or April. nities of the Three Village com“It’s long overdue,” Romaine munity, and quite frankly it’s sort said about the study. “We will be of a hodge-podge of commercial sending letters to [the Depart- and retail buildings,” said George ment of Transportation] and ask Hoffman, vice president of the
Three Village Civic Association. “We also have a real problem with safety ... because the corridor is really lacking crosswalks and sidewalks.” The town also asked Stony Brook University to participate in this study. Similar land use studies and plans for Route 25A were conducted in 1963 and 1975 according to Robert de Zafra, former president of the Civic Association of the Setaukets and Stony Brook. A third study was conducted around 20 years ago. Current civic leaders like Shawn Nuzzo, president of the Civic Association of the Setaukets and Stony Brook, have tried kick-starting revitalization efforts for Route 25A near the ROUTE 25A continued on page A10