Residents Seek to Dethrone Proposed Burger King

A Burger King on Route 347 in Port Jefferson Station is meeting with some resistance from local residents who own homes bordering the property.

“This Burger King site literally backs to our backyard,” said Cindy Hartnagel whose home on Garden Court in Port Jefferson Station is behind Route 347 and the site. “It’s 100 feet from our fences.”

Hartnagel says that she and some other residents are hearing about the proposal for the first time and are not happy about it. They have more than a few gripes about the fast food restaurant being located right in their backyard.

Hartnagel said that Timothy Shea, the attorney who represents the builders of the Burger King, told residents at a recent Port Jefferson Station Civic Association meeting that in addition to an existing 25 foot buffer they will add another 25 feet and a white PVC fence. She says that’s not enough to prevent other intrusions.

The first isues they have is the potential for noise pollution with cars and customers coming and going through the property all hours of the day and night. Second, they are complaining that lighting in the parking lot and building will be on 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Then there’s the smell. Hartnagel said that a constant smell will blow into the neighborhood from the restaurant.

“What about fumes?” she said. “We’re going to smell their burgers.”

Worst of all says Hartnagel, who is licensed real estate broker, is the fear that her property value will go down because of the restaurant. She estimated that the five or six homes directly impacted by the restaurant will lose about $50,000 in value.

“Who the heck would want to buy a house that backs to a Burger King?” Hartnagel said.

Despite the fact that other fast food restaurants line Route 347, Hartnagel says the Ramp Ford site is too close for comfort.

“I took a tour of Nesconset Highway,” she said “There is not one fast food restaurant that backs a residential neighborhood.”

Hartnagel noted that across the highway in Port Jefferson Station competing fast food chain McDonalds is backed by acres of wooded property.

“Wendy’s is right there but it doesn’t impact us because it backs to small building and parking lot,” she said. “This is abutting our property.”

Hartnagel said that she and her neighbors want to get a petition going.

“I hope we have enough time to do this,” she said.

An email and phone call to the attorney representing the builders of the Burger King were not immediately returned.