A proposed hotel in Patchogue took a significant step forward as the Village Board unanimously voted to approve a crucial zoning change for the site. The decision brings the community’s first hotel closer to reality, though some residents remain concerned about its potential impact.

The site, currently home to an abandoned bowling alley at the corner of West Avenue and Division Street, will be rezoned from industrial to a special category designed specifically for hotel developments. The approval comes after a series of discussions and revisions.

“We’re certainly happy with the decision,” said James Manicone, an architect on the project, which calls for the construction of a five-story Hilton hotel featuring 96 guest rooms and 13 apartments. “There’s been a lot of discussion about this project, certainly many changes. We had to listen and understand what the concerns are. We certainly want to put together a hotel the entire community can be proud of.”

But some remain skeptical of the hotel’s scale.

“This is going to be too much, I think,” said one village resident, Walter, who voiced concerns about increased traffic on nearby residential streets. “The village seems to be thriving pretty well with what they got now. Enough is enough.”

The zoning change, while a major hurdle, is not the final step in the approval process. The project still needs to undergo a review by the Village Planning Board, and residents will have another opportunity to express their opinions during a public hearing on the site plan.