An applicant proposed the redevelopment of an existing building on Oneonta’s Chestnut Street to house a convenience store and liquor store at a Wednesday, March 18 meeting of the city’s Planning Commission.
Christopher Stastny, a project engineer with Griffiths Engineering, said the proposal was to use the former Rite Aid drug store and an adjacent liquor store, at 88-96 Chestnut St., as a gas station and convenience store with an additional liquor store. The building is next to the Elks Lodge.
Stastny said the goal would be to develop a portion of the building as a convenience store with fueling islands, adding that he would want to include three electric vehicle charging stations.
“Interior reconfiguration of the building is expected, as well as modifications for exterior doors and windows based on the new interior layout,” the project narrative stated.
According to the project narrative, the two committed uses of the building, the convenience store and a liquor store, would total 4,497 square feet and 2,810 square feet respectively. The remaining part of the building is 8,052 square feet.
Stastny said under his redevelopment proposal, parking would be located along the southern front and eastern sides of the building, with a total of 29 parking spaces available under the layout, which would include EV charging station and fuel island spots.
The project Code Enforcement Office memo provided to the commission stated that the proposal included three fuel islands with six minimum fueling positions, where people would fill their vehicles. It stated that seven fueling positions, electric vehicle or gas, “could generate more than 100 peak hour trips,” surpassing the threshold for whether the proposal could cause a “substantial increase in traffic above present levels.”
“What we are looking for is some initial feedback,” Stastny said.
Commissioner Alex Simon asked for clarification regarding the ability for the facility to sell liquor. Stastny said the liquor store would be a separate tenant business within the building.
Vice Chair David Rissberger said three parking spaces would be needed per 100 square feet of building space. According to the project narrative, the two committed building uses would require 22 parking spaces. If the three spaces per 100 square feet model was used for the total building area, it would require 46 parking spaces.
“Either way, the site falls short of the number of parking spaces required for total building occupancy and would need a variance for parking,” the narrative stated.
It added that it could be challenging to request a parking variance without a determined use for the uncommitted building space.
Commission Chair Marcela Micucci said retail goods and services are permitted in the MU-2 zone, or the gateway mixed use district, where the building is situated. She said that is why the commission was continuing with the site plan application review. Micucci said the commission would require the submission of a full environmental assessment form for the project.
Micucci added that the state Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of Transportation need to be involved with the project moving forward. Micucci said she and Delaware Engineering see two potential issues with the project — parking and traffic.
She said the proposed site plan shows 20 parking spots, not including spaces at the fuel islands and EV charging stations. Micucci said, however, even if those spots are included, there would still not be 46 spaces, needed for full occupancy of the building. Stastny did not determine a use for a third part of the building. Traffic, Micucci said, is another area of concern.
“The addition of three fueling islands and three EV charging stations has the potential to result in a significant increase in traffic in that area,” Micucci said. “Given that potential increase in traffic resulting from this project, we would recommend that you conduct a traffic study to assess the possible impacts on local road networks before any final determination can be met by the Planning Commission.”
Robert Chiappisi, a senior project consultant at Delaware Engineering, said he agreed the project would warrant a full study. Micucci said without any traffic lights right by the property, pulling out of the parking lot is already difficult.
“I think with the increased traffic and the parking that you have on the street side on the other side of the road there, I foresee it potentially being dangerous to pedestrians and also drivers,” Micucci said.
She made a motion to table the application until April, which passed.