Bayport auto shop believed to have been operating without permit appears to have closed after gas tank explosion

The apparent closure comes after News 12’s coverage of a compressed natural gas tank that propelled across two Bayport properties and into a car on Glenmore Lane.

Cecilia Dowd

Jul 31, 2024, 10:39 PM

Updated 129 days ago

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Some residents in Bayport are breathing sighs of relief now that they say an auto business believed to have been operating without a proper permit out of an adjacent backyard appears to have closed up shop.
The apparent closure comes after News 12’s coverage of a compressed natural gas tank that propelled across two Bayport properties and into a car on Glenmore Lane.
Neighbors said that the gas tank originated from that apparent auto business being run out of a backyard garage behind a home on Montauk Highway.
On Wednesday, the site was empty. All vehicles and tools and automotive parts appeared to have been cleared out.
James Krumholz said, "It's immaculate back there, it’s been cleaned out, it’s a ghost town.”
News 12 tried to talk to a man on the property in question, but he closed the gate when we approached.
Krumholz said he is "cautiously optimistic" moving forward but is frustrated with the Town of Islip.
He said he first reached out to the town about the Montauk Highway property in March, but a town spokesperson says they didn't receive the complaint until May.
The Town of Islip says it received the complaint May 9, it was investigated May 15 and "continuously checked on" for a handful more days before a notice of violation was issued July 10 for an unlicensed vehicle.
The town says that was resolved the next day. But Krumholz says the person or people operating the apparent business had moved a bunch of cars off the property beforehand and then afterward, brought cars back onto the property and kept on operating despite everything.
He and neighbors told News 12 they feel lucky they weren't injured Monday night and said it never should have come to this.
The town said violations were "identified" following Monday's incident, but this is an active investigation and can't comment further.