At a public hearing at Village Hall on Wednesday, the village board will review an application and listen to public input on a plan to erect a CVS store on Jericho Turnpike, at the current location of Reese Buick.

The plan calls for the structures located at 410 Jericho Turnpike to be demolished and a new CVS pharmacy to be put in its place. Residents of Andrews and Emory Road are most likely to be affected by the project since the CVS will be built between those two roads.

Thomas Pantelis, attorney for CVS, sent letters notifying residents in the area of the hearing. In the letter, he states, "Approximately 15 months ago, several meetings were held with residents who lived near the Reese automotive dealership, which you may have attended. Presentations were made regarding the proposal to redevelop the property with a CVS pharmacy and retail store. For various business reasons, the project stalled. However, an application has been filed with the village board of trustees for approvals to construct the CVS."

Although representatives from CVS may have met with residents 15 months ago, the plan never went before the board of trustees for a hearing. This past Thursday, CVS representatives again met with residents in the area between Jericho Turnpike and Wilson Boulevard on Andrews, Emory and Latham Roads at Village Hall. The purpose of the meeting was to gather public concerns so that they may be addressed during Wednesday's hearing. Latham was included in the meeting since it is possible traffic created by the project would affect the road.

If the plan goes through, the structures on the property, which were used for the Reese Buick dealership but are not currently in use, will be torn down, and the new CVS structure, based on the CVS prototype, will be built toward the rear of the property. The parking for the premises would be in the front of the structure, on Jericho Turnpike. By having the building constructed in the rear of the property, a buffer is created between the traffic on Jericho Turnpike coupled with parking for the premises and the residential area, according to John Spellman, attorney for the Village of Mineola.

Spellman acknowledged that there are conflicting feelings concerning the proposed project. Some feel the current location is a blight on the area and prefer to have a business come in and take care of the property. Others feel the community doesn't need another store that will generate more traffic since traffic on Jericho Turnpike is already classified as a problem in the community.

The goal, Spellman said, is for the business to operate with minimal impact to the residential community. Some of the ways that is accomplished is by paying careful attention to how the business will affect traffic conditions. The parking lot, therefore, will be situated in the front of the property so traffic will have minimal interference with the residential area in back of the structure. "They could build the building in the front and have the parking in the back but then you have all the headlights and door slamming and alarms going off right next to people's homes. We have found out over the years you are better off building the building to the rear," Spellman said. "We're always looking to put in a good buffer for the residential communities so that they are not going to get a lot of noise. A guy gets home from work and the last thing he needs is 50 or 60 cars coming in and out every hour."

There is another CVS located in Mineola, which is similarly situated to the Reese Buick location. Spellman said he hasn't heard of any problems around that location nor has he heard of any problems near the Walgreens, located on the opposite side of Jericho Turnpike on the corner of Roslyn Road.

One of the issues that will come up at the hearing is whether the CVS should be allowed to have a drive through pickup for prescriptions. The hearing will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at Mineola Village Hall, 155 Washington Avenue.