Burger King can be built at vacant Smithtown site

The developer of a long-dormant Wendy’s in Smithtown has received necessary approvals to construct a fast-food restaurant at the location.

DiCanio Management Corp. of Smithtown has received a modification of a special exception permit to construct a Burger King on Jericho Turnpike east of Ledgewood Drive, along with sign variances to direct traffic and display the menu and restaurant name.

Vincent DiCanio said the previous fast-food tenant left the site four or five years ago and it has been vacant since.

“It’s an ... eyesore,” DiCanio said of the site at a Smithtown Zoning Board of Appeals meeting last week. He said he submitted a redesign of the building in November at the request of the board.

“Most of the national franchise companies all have their own corporate design, and Smithtown did not care” for the company’s standard building design. “They wanted me to see if I could get Burger King corporate to add copper awnings, stone, real stucco ... I went back to the drawing board, redesigned it.”

Zoning board chairwoman Adrienne Giannadeo lauded the changes.

Assistant town planning director David Flynn said the new design was “more in keeping with some of the nicer buildings on Jericho Turnpike.”

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DiCanio said he is looking forward to construction and an opening date this spring, adding, “I think we’ve done a very classy, upscale Burger King.”