Letter: Brightside Avenue bus yard a major blight for some residents
Last year our school district moved the buses from NMS to rented space on Brightside Avenue. This particular lot(s) has the least restrictive zoning in all of Huntington Township.
I was told by Robert Howard on the business staff of our schools that it was a temporary move only for the 2020-2021 school year, as he stated to me that they may be closing two schools for the following year and that the buses would then be moved to that property.
He assured me there would be no maintenance done on the site and that the buses would have gas cards to fill up at whatever location they use. Was I against this parking location? Oh, yes I was. My concerns were that the buses were not parked on a hard surface.
Should a bus have some type of leak such as gas and oil including antifreeze, etc., that would pollute the ground. Just over the railroad tracks that border this property on the north side is the SWCA watershed that supplies the drinking water to our neighborhood. SCWA had to place a filter at this location many years ago. Buses entering this lot do not have a large turning radius. Nor is there a shoulder protection.
Across the street on the south side of Brightside Avenue is Kew Avenue Park and a TOH Municipal Parking Lot. The TOH has yet to paint a crosswalk from the municipal lot to the north side of the street for safety. The bus storage rented by the district has done nothing to enhance the landscaping around this property.
A permit was issued #002977 on 06-10-1958 allowing the installation of a 20,000-gallon fuel oil tank on these adjoining lots, all the same owner. I could not find a record of abandonment.
Is it still there sitting under the ground? Or will it be inspected and the district will re-use it? I have no clue.
Why didn't our district purchase the Baumann Bus Company property in East Northport? This property had everything we needed. Well, I'll tell you why after my conversation with Mr. Howard. They were afraid to ask for a referendum on last year’s budget vote due to the LIPA upheaval and tax increases. They didn't believe anyone would support it. If I remember correctly the asking price was one million dollars. That money could have been taken out of the reserve fund.
I realize the district buses had to be moved off the property from NMS. My opinion is the school board should have given us the choice.
Take a look at the 2021-2022 Budget Overview, Transportation Section, pages 10-12 (“Includes $136,000 increase for Bus Parking Lease and Equipment to repair vehicles with District Staff”).
Karen Steinhaus, East Northport
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