By:Laura Lane
The plan, however, is now mired in controversy, and civic leaders are saying they aren't sure it makes sense for the community.
According to Derek Donnelly, president of the Merrick Gables Civic Association, Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin Robbins plan to build a new shop at the site, and then seek a variance for a drive-through there. Donnelly's concerned that traffic from the shop could back up on Sunrise Highway, causing potentially hazardous driving conditions at an already dangerous corner. He worries that children on their way to school or commuters headed for the Merrick train station could get hit by a car.
Donnelly and Barry Fox, who is president of the Merrick Park Home Owners Association, met with Dunkin' Donuts representatives this past winter. Both had requested to see blueprints of the planned construction for the two stores, which were not available at the time. At the meetings, Fox and Donnelly explained their concerns about a drive-through. Donnelly and Fox said they were told their concerns would be considered in plans for the new shop, and they would be granted a meeting at a later time to review blueprints for it.
After Donnelly didn't get a return call for months, he recently reached out to Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin Robbins. He was told the company's former representative who attended meetings with Fox and Donnelly was no longer involved in plannng for the new shop.
Richard Bivone, owner of RMB Drafting Services, Inc. in East Meadow and president of the Nassau County Council of Chambers of Commerce, would represent the company. Donnelly said, "Richard Bivone said at first that he would send the plans to us, but then said there was no need. He said Dunkin' Donuts was going to go ahead and file a building permit to build and then will get a variance later to put the drive-through in."
Bivone declined comment and suggested that the Herald call QSR Navigation, the public relations firm for Dunkin' Donuts. A QSR represenative was called twice, but could not be reached.
Donnelly and Fox are particularly concerned because they believe communication with Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin Robbins has broken down.
"Dunkin' Donuts is acting in bad faith by not meeting with us," said Donnelly. "You'd think they'd try to come back to the table with some sort of compromise."
Fox said, "They have the right to erect the building, but don't have the right to build a drive-through. This huge franchise thinks they can erect a building and then get the variance later because they think they have enough political clout to do so."
In the past, the fast-food chain Checkers had tried to build an eatery at the site, but homeowners engaged the Town of Hempstead in a zoning battle against the company over a drive-through. Ultimately, the town and Merrick homeowners won out.
"The community needs to be aware of what's going on," said Donnelly. "We defeated Checkers before, and we'll win with these guys
too, but we shouldn't have to.
"We will boycott Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin Robbins and picket the store," Donnelly said. "We're going to be sure the neighbors know how bad of a neighbor Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin Robbins are."
