A hearing was held at the recent meeting of the Town of Oyster Bay Board to consider the application of Woodbury Automotive Inc., lessee, Motiva Enterprises, LLC, fee owner, for a change of zone from a NB District (Neighborhood Business) to a "GB" District (General Business) and a special use permit to allow the premises to be used for motor vehicle fuel sales and service with a convenience store on premises located at 8225 Jericho Turnpike in Woodbury.

The Texaco station, which measures 29,457 square feet with four pumps, is currently operating with gas pumps and a service station. The applicant, Jeff Bakshi, lessee of the property, plans to refurbish the exterior of the facade and add a convenience store.

Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto instructed Bakshi that the town has a list of certain items that can and can't be sold in a convenience store. He will issue that to Bakshi.

Wayne Miller conducted a traffic study on the area, which is located on the corner of Woodbury Road and Jericho Turnpike. Miller calculated that there would be a 20 percent increase in traffic by adding a convenience store on the premises. "In my opinion, this will in no way create any traffic congestion on the site," said Miller, who explained that the traffic generated would be from pass-by traffic - cars that are already on the road and driving past the area.

Town of Oyster Bay Councilwoman Bonnie Eisler researched the application and the other properties owned by Bakshi. He also operates the Aamco station on Jericho Turnpike in Woodbury, diagonal to the Texaco Station. According to the research that Eisler did, Bakshi had previously been running illegal operations using the Aamco property to sell cars and to display limousines for the company across the street. Bakshi has appeared in court, was fined for these illegal operations and paid all fines he was issued.

"No vehicles are stored overnight," said Bakshi. "I don't store the vehicles there and I didn't know that I couldn't do that. I thought it was just not overnight. The Coachmen Limousines service is located across the street and sometimes they leave there cars there, fill up with gas, run across the street and get their directions for their job."

Eisler went to the Aamco station undercover to inquire about the cars on the property. She asked if the cars with no registration were for sale and an Aamco employee told her that they were and he gave her a phone number to call for more information. Then she inquired about the limousines and the same employee gave her the phone number to rent the limousines. This employee, according to Eisler, told her that the cars were not there for repairs, as Bakshi claimed. These are all illegal operations for the zoning that Bakshi has on the property.

"I don't share my business with people who work for me and pump gas," said Bakshi.

The town board heard the rest of the application and spoke to Bakshi and his lawyer about the reservations they have concerning this business.

"Something has to be done here," said Eisler. "By thinking you're going to comply we would just add problems to the neighborhood. You are responsible to know the law. You have to know what it is and what you can and can't do. We take the law very seriously here and it is your responsibility."

Supervisor Venditto explained to Bakshi that the town board will review the information submitted in his application. "We need to impose some very rigid restrictions to ensure this does not continue with your business," said Venditto.

The decision of the board was reserved and the record will remain open for 30 days. Anyone wishing to comment on this application should write to the Town of Oyster Bay Board at 54 Audrey Avenue; Oyster Bay, NY 11771.