Letters

Featured Letter: You’re protesting a bowling sign?

The proposed sign at The All-Star, which would have featured a large bowling ball and pin on top.
The proposed sign at The All-Star, which would have featured a large bowling ball and pin on top.

To the Editor:

I read in total disbelief in the News-Review the problems the owners of The All-Star bowling center are having over a sign including a bowling ball and pin. Their planned sign is one foot over the 15-foot limit? The square footage is more than allowed, including the air space when the town boxed in the sign? Are you kidding me? Here is a business that is giving the residents of our area wholesome recreational activity in a bright, clean, new and exciting environment.

Some members of the Riverhead Neighborhood Preservation Coalition are urging the Zoning Board of Appeals not to approve the variance for this sign, and their vice president, Phil Barbato, stated that this area is “becoming Jericho Turnpike all over again. It is creeping east.” Where in the heck has he been? It has already crept east years ago. Starting with the late Joe Janoski and right up until Sean Walter, each supervisor has made sure that all the variances and zoning changes that these major shopping centers needed were approved.

The nature and peacefulness of Riverhead has been desecrated already. I had the opportunity to be in the Foxwood Village community several weeks ago and I was totally appalled at the view between the homes in the community to the clear-cut land behind them for Walmart and whatever else is going in there. Not one tree left standing. I did see this before, but from the view of Route 58, and I was actually sickened by the leveling of the land. Did any one of these developers need a variance? Of course all you have to do is look across the street and see more land cleared for more stores. Of course there also is the clear-cutting of the northeast corner of Northville Turnpike and Route 58 for an office building. Will this ruination ever end?

Several weeks ago in the News-Review, Mr. Walter said something to the effect that going forward the town will make a big effort to leave trees when these projects are developed. I cannot believe that there is anymore land available to develop or many trees left to save.

For heaven’s sake, give the bowling alley the variance it needs for a bowling ball and pin. Or are they easier to push around compared to Costco and Walmart? Compared to all that has gone on for over two decades, what the bowling alley is asking for is minutia.

Marsha Kipperman, Riverhead