Mendelson: Supermarket Proposal 'Stymied Again'

Last Wednesday night, developer Andrew Mendelson was ready to participate in a discussion on the village's master plan, which would relate directly to his proposal to bring a new supermarket to Old Riverhead Road in Westhampton Beach. However, that discussion never happened.

Shortly, before the April 17 meeting was due to begin, Mendelson was informed by village officials that the discussion would be held over. The reason — Kyle Collins, the village's planner, needed "more time to review the master plan."

The reason given, confused and surprised Mendelson, who has been asking for over a year for a meeting, which was finally promised at the village's March meeting.

"The Master Plan is seven years old, I don't understand why the planner needs to review it," Mendelson said. "Stymied again."

Mendelson has been told by the village's attorney Richard Haefeli that to build a 40,000-square-foot supermarket on his 4.2-acre property, his property must be rezoned, which would trigger a master plan update.

His property, which sits in the village's B-3 and industrial zones, does not currently allow for supermarkets.

Mendelson has submitted a petition asking for the change, however, Haefeli, said the village board is not required by law to entertain it.

At last week's meeting, village board members could not say when or if they would set a new discussion date.