The wholesale club is hoping to build a store on 30 acres south of 25A. It would serve as an anchor store in the proposed mixed-use development, Mount Sinai Village Center, being pitched for just east of the King Kullen shopping center. Plans for that project call for retail and office space along a walkable village setting, with a clock tower at its center. It's estimated to bring $1.5 million to the school district.

But in order for the concept to draw shoppers and be successful, those associated with the project have said, an anchor store would be needed on the other portion of the property.

Costco's northeast region representative, Steve Gilman, told the group that Costco would likely hire between 200 and 300 people, depending on how their plans take shape. He also noted that salaries at Costco are on the higher end of most retail positions, with third-year cashiers earning about $42,000 yearly.

Mr. Gilman said the business model would require about 142,000 square feet of space, and the building's facade would likely be similar to that of other locations. However, he conceded that the company has made some exceptions in other communities around the country. He also said he couldn't see Costco being built without an on-site gas station for club members.

Mount Sinai resident Lynne Edsall, who held a sign featuring wildlife with the slogan, "Please don't destroy our home," said she didn't care that the development would help reduce the tax burden for property owners. Ultimately, Ms. Edsall said, it would be small businesses and the environment that would suffer should Costco come to pass.

"It would be a nightmare to have a big box store," Ms. Edsall said, noting the entire development proposal would only bring more stores and increased traffic.

"We don't need it here," she said.

But Bruce Madonna disagreed, saying the development would bring "rate-ables," meaning buildings that will generate tax revenue to the school district and help keep property taxes down for residents. Without the project, residents could be forced to leave due to continued increases in property taxes.

"I think we need it," Mr, Madonna said.

Mr. Elliot, of Soundview Properties, noted that he only applied for a zone-change with the Brookhaven Town in February and that nothing is set in stone. But he disagreed the proposal would hurt small businesses.

"Costco really energizes an area," Mr. Elliot said. "Any major anchor energizes an area. The problem in Mount Sinai is that they have got strips of [shopping malls]."

The civic association's president, John Leonard, said it was hard to judge whether the proposal would ultimately get support from the community when the final plans are out.

"I think the membership that showed up tonight was split down the middle," Mr. Leonard said.

peggy@northshoresun.com

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