Removal of a long-standing eyesore at a busy intersection on Western Avenue will likely be tied to allowing Cumberland Farms on the adjacent property.
On Tuesday, Dec. 2, the Guilderland Town Board weighed Tri-Way Services, Inc.’s proposal to rezone the 1.35 acres parcel at 2444 Western Ave. from local business to general business. Tri-Way is seeking to build a Cumberland Farms gas station on the property, which borders a blighted site of a former bank. The company owns both properties.
Board members ultimately stalled any decision until its next meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 16, to allow the town attorney to present the board with State Environmental Quality Review findings. The public hearing is being continued during the same meeting.
Tri-Way is proposing to build a 4,500-square-foot store, with six pumps each having two dispensers. The local business zoning allows for the convenience store usage, but not gas pumps.
The adjacent property holding the vacant building is not being rezoned. Burke said the site usage would likely be similar to the former business, a bank, which is allowed under its Local Business zoning.
Tom Burke, president of Tri-Way Services, bristled at the suggestion he would leave the blighted property undeveloped.
“I can’t put a gun to a prospective tenants head and say, ‘You have to do this by (a certain date).’ I am pushing as hard as I can,” said Burke. “The redevelopment of this corner will allow others, who don’t necessarily have the vision that this board has, to see the value of that remainder piece.”
He said the two properties “go hand in hand,” with the gas station attracting tenants. The two properties would share an entranceway on Western Avenue.
“There are things that I think could be done to soften the blighted look of the property,” said Runion. “There are some simple things that could be done to clean up the site so that its much more presentable, so that it doesn’t look as derelict as it currently appears to be.”
Runion said people’s eyes are directed to the overgrown site, so cleaning up the property would lead to people noticing it less.
“I don’t think it’s our purpose to tell you that you have to demolish the building,” said Runion, “but I think that we wouldn’t be doing our job if we granted general business use on the adjoining site if we didn’t condition it in some respect on cleaning up the neighboring site.
Town Planner Jan Weston has previously said she was “hesitant” to recommend the rezone without a comprehensive approach to redeveloping the two properties. Addressing blight of the adjoined property, along with the share entranceway, would closely tie both developments.
The primary contention surrounding construction plans for Cumberland Farms has been the placement of the sole proposed driveway to Western Avenue, particularly left turns entering the property.
Town Planning Board members gave a positive recommendation on rezoning the property, which is mainly required to install the gas pumps. Planners tied their recommendation to allowing the state Department of Transportation to conduct an “after-evaluation” two years following its opening.
If the DOT found mitigation measures were needed, up to eliminating left turn entrances from Western Avenue, Tri-Way Services would be required to make any such changes.
Developers said the rezone would fit the character of the area, citing the Stewart’s located adjacent to it holding the same zoning.
“Because the proposal addresses the priorities or visions of this gateway, the zoning amendment would be consistent with the comprehensive plan,” said Stefanie DiLallo Bitter, an attorney representing Tri-Way. “The proposal does meet the majority of the (General Business) intensity regulations.”
Developers could seek a variance for the amount of parking spaces required on the site, because they contended the amount required under the zoning is too great.