Community Corner

Civic Association Opposes New Walmart Sign

Corporation has proposed signage changes on its property.

A proposal for a large new sign at  in East Setauket has drawn the attention of the , which decided on Monday to draft a letter to the town formally opposing it.

The proposal would require the Town of Brookhaven's Board of Zoning Appeals to grant multiple variances, including one which would allow a sign with a height of 25 feet, eight inches, measuring 298 square feet in area, located at the northwest corner of Route 347 and Arrowhead Lane. Town code typically permits signs up to 18 feet tall measuring 80 square feet in area. The proposal also calls for nine exterior wall signs, whereas town code currently permits one.

Brisbane South Setauket LLC, which manages that property, will make its case Dec. 15 at a 2 p.m. meeting.

Find out what's happening in Three Villagewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Bob de Zafra, archivist for the Civic Association, called the sign unnecessary.

"I think everybody knows that Walmart store has been there roughly 10 years, and I don't think anybody has any problems finding it or shopping there," he said. "The question is, why now?"

Find out what's happening in Three Villagewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Residents agreed, voicing concerns that BJ's and other big stores along Route 347 would soon follow suit if Walmart were to get approval for its new signage, and a decision was made to draft a letter to the Board of Zoning Appeals urging it to deny the corporation's request.

At its November meeting, the  between local businesses and municipalities to establish better guidelines for safer, more effective, and more appealing signage.

During that meeting, Civic Association president Kara Hahn said, "We want to look to preserve, maybe in some places recapture, our sense of place with signs that respect and establish our very distinct character."

A manager at Walmart said a previously requested variance for new signage had been denied, which left the recently remodeled Walmart store with an outdated sign after the company updated its branding.

Walmart's media relations department did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here