McLane Food Service Inc. dropped plans for a distribution center proposed for a 27-acre site on the Rotterdam and Princetown town line, citing recurring delays, internal issues and economic downturn on Friday, April 25.
McLane’s had proposed moving its distribution center in Guilderland to the 168,000-square-foot facility off Feuz Road, but nixed the project last week after nearly three years of costly design work.
The decision came as a surprise for Rotterdam officials.
Yes, I was surprised, said Lawrence DiLallo, chair of Rotterdam’s planning commission. `They [McLane] invested a lot of time and money, and they were so very close.`
DiLallo confirmed that the McLane project had already received all of the necessary approvals from the town of Rotterdam and was awaiting approval from the Princetown Planning Board. Princetown’s board would have reviewed the project’s site plan, special use permit and subdivision applications this week.
Bart McKay, a spokesperson for McLane said the project simply was no longer feasible.
`We forecasted a need for relocation from Guilderland and an expansion in size,` said McKay. `That forecasted need looked more eminent than it is now.`
McKay said the project faced several delays. He said that the timing of the project and its location were a factor in the ultimate decision to shelve the venture.
The facility would have straddled the town line with 15 acres being developed in Rotterdam and 12 acres being developed in Princetown. Project engineer Joe Bianchine of ABD Engineers had to gain site plan approval in both municipalities for construction to move forward.
The project would have expanded the company’s storage space and included a 12,800-square-foot truck repair building.
McLane distributes mainly to fast food companies such as Pizza Hut and Taco Bell. The company employs about 135 workers at its Guilderland plant and intended to add up to 40 jobs at its new location after the expansion.
McKay said that for now, due to the delays associated with permitting and because of prohibiting costs, the company will remain at its location in Guilderland. He said that the company has not yet decided if it will seek another location in the future.
DiLallo said that several conditional approvals granted for the project, including a change in zoning, will likely be scrapped as well.
`Unless we get another project that is nearly identical to take that location, which isn’t very likely, it’s kind of likely it will revert back to the town board for a zone change,` said DiLallo.
DiLallo said the land was previously zoned for agricultural use.
Rotterdam Supervisor Steven Tommasone said he felt that an update to the town’s comprehensive plan could include forecasting for the Burdeck Street corridor where the project was proposed.
`If the town had planned differently in the past, it would look differently today,` said Tommasone of the area. `We have to make sure we have the appropriate zoning to allow for different types of zoning and the town has to continue to improve its infrastructure.`
Tommasone said that if a sewer line and proper zoning had been in place years ago, the failed McLane’s project may have come to fruition.
`There’s potential there,` said Tommasone. `Hopefully there will be other projects that will bring jobs to the town.“
