Concerned Citizens Association of Farmingdale, a civic association that has addressed the issues affecting our community for almost four years, wishes to clarify a few points made in the Nov. 26 article on the Town of Oyster Bay Public Hearing on Nov. 16.

The traffic expert from RMS Engineering, Wayne Muller, was hired and paid by Stop & Shop. There was evidence presented during public participation that the two-way left-hand turning lane advocated by Mr. Muller as a mitigation method for Motor Avenue, is typically used on five-lane roadways. Motor Avenue is a three-lane roadway. CCAF submitted four engineering studies regarding this issue which show that two-way left-hand turning lanes would be inappropriate for Motor Avenue.

Nancy Stenger spoke on behalf of Citizens for a New Liberty, an association of citizens who supported the proposal. However, according to its own website, the organization was formed by Stop & Shop itself. Although it is true that the Citizens for a New Liberty submitted 1,084 signatures on behalf of Stop & Shop's proposal, the article completely ignored the 1,189 signatures submitted by CCAF opposing the construction advanced by Stop & Shop.

We have polled our membership twice on this matter and both times the majority of our voting members overwhelmingly opposed the building of this Supermarket. CCAF members are not opposed to Stop & Shop, but are opposed to a proposal of this magnitude, including the fueling station, being erected on this property. We are also in opposition to this building proposal based upon numerous safety and quality of life issues that would be impacted with the granting of this special use permit. The current zoning ordinances regulating the property permit development that would provide more lucrative employment opportunities and generate increased real estate tax revenues while maintaining the quality of life in our neighborhood.

We thank you for allowing us to clarify a few points and are indebted to the Farmingdale Observer for keeping the community informed.

Congratulations to the Farmingdale community for finally standing up against the school board and overwhelmingly voting no to a $49 million bond issue for reconstruction and repairs. It's time the school board realizes that the community has had enough of the increases in school taxes. Farmingdale is closely becoming unaffordable. A large majority of the taxes we pay are school taxes. We are constantly threatened that our children will suffer if we do not pay the raises. Well, now it's time that we all learn a lesson from this and take Farmingdale back. We are house rich and cash poor; we work very had to make ends meet; our spouses are working full-time and the quality of life, family life, is deteriorating. Something must be done; we cannot continue to live in a community that is becoming unaffordable to middle-class families. Imagine the burden on low-income families. Let's tighten our belts, be fiscally responsible and develop a workable maintenance plan that is spread out over the years so that it does not overburden an already overburdened community.