CVS, undaunted by recent drug store additions to the area, held the second in a series of public meetings in an attempt to design a neighborhood friendly store and a successful business to be established on Jericho Turnpike between Emory and Andrews Roads.

Presided over by Frank Quigley of Berkshire and Associates, interested parties met at the Portuguese American Hall.

There has been a concentration of meetings with the abutting homeowners, however due to the suggestions of those attending the last public forum, the range of notification for the second public forum spread over 110 homes.

Two versions of the plan were developed for public viewing, one in which the long side of the building ran parallel to Emory and Andrews and one in which the building was pushed to the back of the property and the long side ran parallel to Jericho Turnpike.

Quigley said that the CVS representatives had gathered that the second set of plans, with the building set to the back of the property, was the most acceptable proposal to the residents.

In these plans the building is approximately 9,500 square feet, slightly smaller than an average CVS, due to the size of the lot.

New details to the plans that were announced included the fact that the brick appearance would wrap around the entire building, all four sides, and completely paved access points would be on Emory but not Andrews Road.

It was the issue of access points that was the one real topic of discussion. CVS intends to draw its clientele off the stream of traffic that frequents Jericho Turnpike, according to Quigley and it can survive without vehicle access to the side streets, however, the representatives said they would prefer to draw customers from the residential area and these access points will make it more convenient for them.

However, the residents, demonstrating concern for the safety of their children as well as the quality of life, were adamant in their desire to have the traffic dissuaded from using their side streets.

The traffic issue was also explored in relation to the presence of tractor trailers. The CVS expects one tractor trailer a week filled with merchandise normally found in drugstores to make a 30 to 40 minute delivery in the front of the store.

Other items to be sold at CVS, such as milk or soda, will arrive in trucks from distributors and newspaper deliveries will be made once a day.

In a final item of interest, the CVS representatives stated that despite the recent addition of a Duane Reade to the corner of Hillside Avenue and Willis Avenue in neighboring Williston Park, there has been little to no effect on the Williston Park CVS which is located less than five blocks away.

With that in mind the CVS representatives said that they expect the store can be successful in Mineola, which has within its boundaries a Genovese, a Walgreen's and an already existing CVS.

As of that meeting there had still been no application filed with the village of Mineola, however Quigley expected that the application would be made in the upcoming weeks.

Quigley added that CVS is willing to submit in writing all that has been discussed in these public meetings.