Residents also said they are also concerned that the new building could push cars onto Petit Place, an already narrow road. More parking on the street, they said, could make it difficult for emergency vehicles to get down the road.

According to Vitale, the main entrance and exit for the shopping center would not be on Petit Place. Access to the center would be from Austin Boulevard.

But there are worries among residents about the impact that a shopping center would have on their community, and they plan to raise their concerns to the Board of Zoning Appeals at the next meeting at which the King Kullen could be on the agenda, either Aug. 11 or 18.

Vitale insisted that the shopping center would be beneficial to Island Park. "The whole area is going to be nicer than before," he said.

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