A developer is looking to knock down the Boght Road Firehouse and build a minimart, retail/restaurant space and an apartment building in its place.
A representative of Advanced Engineering and Surveying came before the Colonie Planning Board Tuesday, June 18, to discuss plans for the three buildings at the corner of Boght and New Loudon roads. While no commitments were made and several board members were not present at the meeting, the project received some positive and negative feedback.
The Boght Road Firehouse, located at 1095 New Loudon Road, is still used by the fire department while a new firehouse across the street at Canterbury Crossing is being built, Planning and Economic Development Director Joe LaCivita said. The fire department will relocate to the other building once it is move-in ready.
The 3.1-acre parcel went on sale over a year ago and Stewart’s was looking to redevelop the lot. LaCivita said Stewart’s eventually pulled out of the deal due to “constraints with an abutting property owner.” Since then, a new applicant has been eyeing the location to fill the spot with the three facilities.
While tenants for the restaurant and minimart have not been announced, the developer’s representative said the restaurant would most likely have a drive-thru service and the minimart would have a fueling station. There would also be an eight-unit apartment building.
The representative also said the developer hopes to incorporate a second parcel on which stands a two-story, single-family house. The developer has approached the family living there, he said.
Plans for the project include building a sidewalk around the entire lot along the frontage of both Boght and New Loudon roads.
Traffic concerned some board members, as the buildings would sit at the busy intersection of New Loudon Road and Route 9.
“There have been so many accidents at that corner, it really concerns me. It’s very dangerous,” board member Karen Gomez said.
Gomez suggested the developer contact the Department of Transportation to see accident statistics and find a safe access route for entering and exiting the area.
“We’ll take a look at it, that’s a good comment,” said Joe Grasso, the town designated engineer for the project.
Planning Board Chairman Peter Stuto also questioned whether the applicant was trying to do too much on one property.
Yet LaCivita said he thinks adding in the housing component makes “the project worthwhile.”
The proposed project would sit across the street from Cumberland Farms at 1093 New Loudon Road, which also has a fueling station.
“Competition is part of the whole economic cycle. You see it a lot,” LaCivita said.
The applicant needs to return before the Planning Board to receive concept and final approval before any construction could begin.