Target Sets Sights on Sayville Flea Market Building

Brand name retailer Target aims to open a new location at the current site of the Attias Flea Market, on the corner of Broadway Avenue and Sunrise Highway in Sayville, within the next year.

A public hearing before the Islip Town Planning Board last Thursday night drew local homeowners who expressed concerns about traffic issues, according to Planning Commissioner Dave Genaway, who said the project will likely get the green light once all the reviews and departmental requirements are met.

The board reserved decision following the hearing, and Genaway stated the planning department will make a recommendation to allow the use.

“There was no opposition to the store coming in, but there were concerns about traffic flow and volume,” Genaway told Patch in a phone interview.

Target, which plans to demolish the current flea market building, doesn’t require a change of zone given the current B3 zoning allows retail use.

“If this did require a change of zone the issue of impact to local business would be reviewed. But this is not about creating more retail zoning,” explained Genaway.

Target has submitted a traffic impact study that planning officials are reviewing. It's likely that a new traffic light will be installed at the current entrance off Broadway Avenue to handle vehicle flow, said the planning chief.

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The project does require some variances and will also be the subject of a zoning board of appeals public hearing, added Genaway.

At this point no future public hearings have yet been scheduled.

The Greater Sayville of Chamber of Commerce is not happy about the new store moving into town.

“We’re in a tough spot [to oppose the store] as they don’t require a change of zone,” President Bill Etts told Patch in a phone interview.

“This is another big box store that will drain business from Sayville’s business district which is already hurting terribly from the economic recession. More retail in Sayville is the last thing we need as this will hurt the little shops,” he said.