Developers hoping to build a CVS Pharmacy at the corner of Curry Road and Guilderland Avenue in Rotterdam tried to allay residents concerns at a recent Planning Commission meeting, but detractors didn’t waver.
The Rotterdam Planning Commission heard changes for a proposed 13,225-square-foot CVS building on Tuesday, April 3. The most significant was the creation of a hammerhead turn around at the end of Lawndale Avenue to address concerns about an increase of traffic.
“There would be no conventional or customer traffic from the site going onto Lawndale,” said Donald Zee, an attorney representing the developer.
The new plan also removed 10 parking spaces, bringing the total to 70. Green space was reduced by almost 1 percent with the changes to about 23.5 percent. Commission members didn’t change their previous negative recommendation given on Feb. 21, with Ronald Severson once again casting the sole vote supporting the rezone.
Commission Chairman Thomas Yuille once again cited traffic concerns as the reason behind his negative recommendation, but he said the turnaround did address neighbors’ concerns.
“I think this plan is a good thing for the people on Lawndale. It keeps the traffic off their street,” Yuille said.
But Yuille said motorists would likely find another shortcut in and around CVS, moving traffic concerns to a new area. If the new CVS was built, Zee said the store being leased at the five corners intersection would likely close.
Zee also referenced findings from the recent five corners study to support not redeveloping the five corners store. Even if the new project isn’t approved, the five corners CVS is still likely to close, Zee said. There is also another CVS located on Broadway, which is also leased.
Zee previously said if the new CVS was approved the two stores in town were planned to close.
“If these properties do not get rezoned and we are not able to move forward with a CVS here then there is the question of which CVS survives — Broadway or five corners,” Zee said.
Yuille said if CVS did leave, it could lead to another business being interested in building a new store in town.
“We did have a competitor of CVS who was looking at site, had it all approved and ready to come into Rotterdam, but backed out at the last minute,” Yuille said. “Now without CVS competition in Rotterdam that particular company might decide to come back into Rotterdam.”
Rotterdam resident and business owner Bobby Iovinella urged the commission to encourage commercial development in town to offset residential taxes.
“We have the highest tax rate besides Schenectady for residents,” Iovinella said.
The Rotterdam Town Board still has the final say on whether to accept or deny the zoning change.
