Mattituck residents say they are concerned about a plan that would bring a Brinkmann Hardware store along what is considered by town officials to be one of Southold's most dangerous intersections.
The project plans involve three buildings – a hardware store, a storage building and a paint store – totaling 20,000 square feet. It would also include an 80-car parking lot.
Brinkmann's owners say the parking lot size is a town requirement and not a reflection on projected volume.
The proposed site is at the intersection of Main Road and New Suffolk Avenue, where civic leaders say blind curves and a heavy volume of people will make it unsafe for pedestrians.
Residents say something needs to be done about the intersection, whether or not the project moves forward. Ben Brinkmann says his company can be part of a solution.
"We'll put in nice, wide sidewalks, which will not only provide pedestrian access, but also improve the site lines greatly and in that corner," Brinkmann told News 12. "We'd be happy to work with the town and use some of our land to create a right-hand turning lane."
Town of Southold Supervisor Scott Russel says he is waiting for an engineering report to develop potential solutions to traffic in the area. Civic leaders say that report does not account for a large retail store along that road.