I’m thinking Arby’s...the fast food restaurant specializing in roast beef sandwiches, may be coming to Bellmore soon. 

At a hearing before the Town of Hempstead’s zoning Board of Appeals on Wednesday, July 28, William Bonesso, an attorney representing the Arby’s franchise owner Thomas Clarke, presented an application seeking variances to build the new Arby’s at the site of the former Speedy Muffler on Sunrise Highway, just east of Bellmore Avenue. 

Mr. Clarke is seeking variances to install a drive-through window, changes in the front yard setback and off-street parking as well as construction of the 4,000-square-foot facility that would seat 66 people. 

It is a two-story building with 3,200 square feet on the first floor and an additional 800 square feet on the second floor for an office space. A decision should be rendered sometime in August.

The hearing had been postponed three times in order to work out differences between Mr. Clarke and neighbors including those who live on Royle Street, south of the site, and the Bellmore Preservation Group.

“We worked on this for the last two or three months, and I think it came to an amicable conclusion,” said Matthew Walden, president of the Bellmore Preservation Group.

For example, “They agreed to move the dumpster, install an eight-foot fence with staggered plantings [along the south end of the property abutting neighbors on Royle] and remove a small seating area up front,” said Mr.Walden.

Mr. Clarke also agreed to remove several parking spaces near neighbors on Royle and will restrict deliveries through the front entrance on Sunrise Highway after 7 a.m.

Mr. Bonesso said concessions were made to accommodate the community. “Originally hours of operation were to be from 6 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week but in the end we agreed to keeping the restaurant’s walk-in open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week and the drive-through will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday through Wednesday and 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.”

But not everyone was happy. 

Joseph DiIorio, a 35-year Bellmore resident and Royle neighbor is “overall, not happy. I hate to see a drive-through in Bellmore. It also changes the town.” 

He is not happy about the hours of operation for the drive-through and has concerns about traffic. “There was no in-depth traffic study conducted. I’m concerned about the traffic flow on a residential block,” he said, referring to Royle Street. “People will cut through residential streets if they are coming from the south.” 

In the end Mr. DiIorio said he was “a one-man band. No one wanted to pursue it.”

Still, Mr. Walden said, “They reached out and addressed our concerns. This was not like White Castle. This development was done in a responsible way, and we welcome them into the community.”

By Laura Schofer

Laura Schofer, staff writer for L&M Publications, has been recognized with several awards for many of her feature pieces published in Bellmore and Merrick Life, The Citizen and The Leader.