Smithtown Town Board gave its approval to Lowe's Home Center's plans to take over the former Commack Cinemas site on Tuesday.
The town board's vote was another step in an ongoing 10-month planning process that will allow the home improvement company to move closer to demolition and construction. Lowe's received approval from Smithtown's Planning Board on Nov. 7.
Lowe's revised its initial plans 166,000-square-foot retail home improvement and garden center - more than double the size of the former Commack Cinemas. The $20 project calls for the existing building to be demolished before erecting a home and garden center from the ground up.
Frank DeRubeis, Smithtown's Planning Director, said in negotiating the plans for Lowe's Home Center it was agreed upon that Henry Street - privately paved as a back access for the theaters - would become a Suffolk County Road.
"The question of pothole maintenance will be eliminate," DeRubeis said.
The planning director said Lowe's could begin demolition of the cinemas as early as this winter.
Lowe's Home Center representatives could not be reached for immediate comment for their plans and timeline for moving forward with this project.
Lowe's purchased the Commack Cinemas in May 2010. As part of the deal, the theater was allowed to operate for up to two years until the deal was finalized. Commack Cinemas closed its doors in September 2011.
