Sunrise Hess, Residents at Odds Over 'Buffer'

A handful of residents of Oceanside Road and surrounding streets spoke out last week in opposition of removing a “buffer” between the Hess at Sunrise Highway and Oceanside Road and nearby homes.

The gas station lobbied the village to rezone a small piece of its property, near the southwest corner, from residential to business so it may reconfigure its pump islands and build a convenience store. There are currently tanks under the ground in that area.

“No one is ever going to use this property for a single family dwelling,” said Kevin J. O'Brien, an attorney for Hess. “We’re not changing the footprint of the property.”

But residents said the strip acts as a buffer and mitigates some of the issues they have with the gas station, including fumes, noise and garbage.

The residents expressed concerns about traffic backup on Oceanside Road, which they say is exacerbated by people making right turns into and left turns out of Hess from Oceanside Road.

They also complained of late night garbage pickups and deliveries, which is against village code. O’Brien said he’d work to alleviate those concerns.

The board closed the hearing and said a decision could come at its Oct. 3 meeting. It may decide to add on provisions for Hess if it grants its request.