Long Island Locals Fighting To Preserve Historical Community From Strip Malls, Big Box Stores

EASTPORT, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Long Island residents are fighting to perverse their historical community along the South Shore from strip malls and big box stores.

CBS2's Jennifer McLogan reported Wednesday locals are not happy after their land, a five-mile stretch from Moriches to Eastport, is currently zoned to allow for more than 500,000 square feet of commercial development.

"We're not nimbys [not in my backyard], I want to stress that. It's not that we don't want progress out here or have people come out here for housing, but we just don't want the box stores here," Suzanne McKeon, of Moriches Chamber of Commerce, said.

Residents are reaching out to elected officials to preserve their small town way of life.

"We want to keep the flavor of the community. It is a beautiful little town, sort of the gateway to the Hamptons," Gerry Sapanaro, a Moriches realtor, said.

Kari Hanley, who works at the Eastport Luncheonette, said the mom-and-pop establishment would get hurt by the competition.

"It would hurt us here. We wouldn't be able to provide our service and compete with these other stores," Hanley said.

Brookhaven Councilman Dan Panico said making zoning changes will be one of the most worthwhile and critical votes the town will ever take.

"We want to push the development to the existing downtowns and preserve the way of life, the vistas, the historic buildings," Panico said.

Developers are tantalized by the Hamlets, which is home to multiple historic districts and landmarks.

"The recognition of a historic district in a community is a powerful thing and helps define our sense of place," Bert Seides, of the Moriches Bay Historic Society, said.

The proposed would allow for more mixed use of retail and commercial space in existing downtowns of the Hamlets.

A public hearing on the rezoning plan will be held soon.