In an effort to protect residents from traffic concerns, New York State Sen. Alexis Weik has requested the Town of Islip relocate the main entrance of the Bayport Gardens housing complex currently under construction on Rajon Road, in Bayport.

The issue of the safety concern of the main entrance at the currently under construction Bayport Gardens housing complex was brought to Weik’s attention by residents of adjoining property, the Bayport Meadows. Following an invite from Bayport Meadows residents last year, Weik subsequently held bi-monthly meetings for community members to voice their concerns.

Residents had asked the Town of Islip to intervene with the relocation, but appealed to Weik after a lack of reception to concerns.

Weik has written letters to both Islip Town councilman John Lorenzo and chairman of the planning department, Edward Friedland.

“In the interest of the safety of our mutual constituents who will live in Bayport Gardens, the curb cuts already placed in the current entrance on the south service road of Sunrise Highway will create added risk to the residents,” she said.

According to Weik’s office, there has already been a fatality at the service road entrance, as well as multiple speed violations and a “considerable number of accidents.”

According to Suffolk County Police Department documents from the Department of Transportation requested by Weik’s office, over 40 accidents have happened in total in that area since 2020 through 2024, not including the current year, while the fatality was from June 15, 2021.

“I hope that you will agree to consider the relocation to prevent further accidents. As the Bayport Gardens complex is still under construction, it seems to be the most cost-effective time to relocate the entrance for the health and safety of future residents,” she wrote in her letters.

However, according to an Islip Town Planning Department spokesperson, at this point in time, they said, the only viable access to the Bayport Gardens site is from the south service road of Sunrise Highway.

According to the town, Rajon Road is a private road used primarily by industrial traffic, since all parcels to the north and south of it are zoned Industrial 1 and have industrial uses. As such, any use of Rajon Road to access the Bayport Gardens site has been limited to emergency purposes only.

“Establishing an alternative connection through the Bayport Meadow Estates site to the west would be very difficult. An access road would need to be constructed over a LIPA-owned parcel and cut through an established buffer,” the town wrote in a letter back to Weik. “Relaxations

would also likely be needed from the authorities having jurisdiction, which may not be limited to the planning board, depending on the location of the proposed connection. More significantly, an access road through the Bayport Meadows site would be a material change to common elements of the site, thereby requiring an amendment to the project’s offering plan and the consent of all homeowners directly affected.”

Additionally, alternative access to the Bayport Gardens site would require approval by New York State Department of Transportation.