Town Councilwoman: Residents Oppose Proposed LIE Rest Stop In Dix Hills
DIX HILLS, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A fight is brewing over a proposed rest stop being constructed off the Long Island Expressway in Dix Hills.
This week, crews cleared out nearly all of the trees near Exit 51 on the LIE in preparation for a proposed 9,000-square-foot rest stop that will feature 200 parking spaces, WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reported.
But Huntington Town Councilwoman Susan Berland said residents are outraged.
"Right on the other side of the service road, that's where all the homes begin, and there's an elementary school there as well. Very close to this facility and it's going to change their quality of life forever," she said.
Berland said residents have been fighting against the rest stop for decades.
"It's just an inappropriate location," she said.
Berland suggested the rest stop would be better at Exit 67, where there is more space.
But some drivers who spoke with Hall said the rest stop at Exit 51 is a great idea considering there are no facilities for drivers right now on the LIE.
In a statement from Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office, the state said "Discussions regarding a Taste NY store on the Long Island Expressway are preliminary, and we look forward to a robust dialogue with our local partners and stakeholders moving forward."