A local businessman wants to convert an old garage and construction site at 182 Route 9W in Selkirk into a corral-themed dinette with additional retail space for local businesses.
Ken Gonyea gave an initial presentation about the project to the Planning Board during its Tuesday, Sept. 2, meeting.
I kind of want to make it a much nicer building, Gonyea told the board. `It will be a theme type of thing,` he added, saying the theme would be corral related. He said there would be retail space in the back of the building, possibly a barbershop.
The restaurant will have limited hours, operating from around 6 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., he said.
`It’s an existing structure and we’re not eliminating anything,` Gonyea said of what he described as a dilapidated building. `We’re only going to be moving the inadequate stairs to the back.`
The building will be completely renovated, and has water but no sewer, according to Bethlehem’s assistant Economic Development and Planning Director Michael Morelli.
Gonyea said a 1,000-gallon septic tank currently serves the site, but quickly announced that he was willing to work with the Albany County Planning Board’s recommendations for the project.
`It’s up to them,` Gonyea said. `Whatever they want me to do, I’m going to do it.`
Morelli said the project would fit well into the Rural Hamlet zoned area, and that the county’s department of transportation has been pushing for less curb cuts along Route 9W and that Gonyea’s proposal would reduce the current curb cut by about 35 feet.
`It’s an old construction site and it’s an adaptive re-use of an existing site,` Morelli said of Gonyea’s plans. `He’s also looking for some retail uses on the site.`
Morelli said the project calls for completely renovating the existing structure and also making it handicap accessible.
Planning Board member John Smolinsky asked Gonyea about the landscaping in front of the building because of the limited green area to work with. He asked if there would be adequate room in which to work.
Gonyea admitted that there was limited green space but assured the board that whatever planting could be done will be and that some lawn added as well. He also told the board that there is 3.8 acres of land in the back of the property.
The Planning Board unanimously tabled the project until it returns from review from the county’s planning board with recommendations and said Gonyea would have to return to the board for an environmental review.“
