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DOT has ulterior motives in it decision on Stew Leonards 
The New York State Department of Transportation has made a determination against approving a curb cut along Route 110, just south of Conklin Avenue which would move forward the construction of a multi-million super store. The decision of the department is based on what officials said is a concern over too much traffic along Route 110. The state’s intractable position would be laughable if it did not have such serious ramifications on the developers, Babylon and its taxpayers. It has nearly killed the project as well as Babylon’s best hopes to bring new business and commerce and taxes to Babylon. And, it sets a roadblock in the Town’s plans to improve the appearance and financial viability of the Route 110 Corridor in the Town, which is the key to our future. Two curb cuts already exist on the site. In addition, there are 54 additional curb cuts for other businesses just south of the site to the Southern State Parkway. Some centers have two or more. On the east side of Route 110, from Southern State Parkway to Conklin Street, there are 24 curb cuts, not counting the entrance roads for the Multiplex Theater, Republic Airport, the Sayonara Motel and the site that formerly housed Polytech Institute. Is the state going to also deny a curb cut for the new Walmart store being planned there, or better yet, is it going to deny access to the new hotel that the state has approved for Republic Airport? 
We think not, and it is apparent from the state’s position on a number of issues involving this development, including its unsuccessful attempts to intimidate the Town of Babylon into holding up final building approvals on an easement claim, that the state is using the issue of curb cuts to kill this project—and Babylon’s future. It is no secret that the project has drawn the opposition of Republic Airport officials and its pilots association. The groups claim that the site poses a safety hazard, despite a determination from the FAA that the store meets all FAA safety requirements. Even after a challenge to that ruling was raised, the FAA stood its ground. Is the state now attempting to achieve what the airport and its pilots association has been unsuccessfully attempting to do—kill the Stu Leonard’s project—by arbitrarily denying approval of the existing curb cuts? It is apparent to us, and to many others who support this project, that the state has aligned itself with the airport and the pilots in this fight, despite its adamant denials. That is unfortunate because the Stu Leonard’s project is important to Babylon for many reasons, including the fact that it will likely restrict expansion of Republic Airport. What is even more unfortunate, however, has been the silence of our state officials in Nassau and Suffolk counties who have taken a hands off position in this fight, and who need to step up to the plate and be counted. If we cannot depend upon them to come to the aid of those residents in those two counties who are severely impacted by this issue, and to get the state to act responsibly and fairly on our behalf, we will continue to be used as pawns in a power struggle that goes to the highest levels in Albany. 
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