Albion Planning Board expects to vote on Dollar General site plan on March 12
This photo shows a printout of a Dollar General rendering of a proposed store on East Avenue in Albion, across from the high school.
ALBION – The Village of Albion Planning Board adjourned a public hearing today about the site plan for a new Dollar General at 327 East Ave. The board will meet again at 5 p.m. onb match 12 and is expected to vote on the site plan.
The plan was supposed to go to the Orleans County Planning Board on jan. 22 for its review. But that meeting was cancelled due to rough winter weather.
Karen Conn, the Village of Albion Planning Board chairwoman, wants the county board to look at the site plan and offer its feedback before there is a final vote by the village.
The Village of Albion Planning Board heard from neighbors during today’s hearing who are concerned the store would bring more traffic by the school and a residential neighborhood. Neighbors also said they are concerned about tractor-trailers being able to maneuver the site and turn onto East Avenue.
The site is zoned general commercial and the store fits the criteria of what is permitted in that zone, Conn said.
The Village Planning Board can make recommendations on how the building should look, traffic flow on site and other issues.
The state Department of Transportation reviewed the entrance and parking lot. Conn said the DOT is recommending Dollar General have tractor trailers turn east out of the site after making deliveries, rather than going west due to the tightness of the site.
The 10,640-square-foot building would have a parking lot with 35 spaces. The village code requires one space for every 200 square feet of gross floor space for retail stores. The Village of Albion Zoning Board of Appeals on Sept. 9 approved a variance to allow for 35 spaces. That is more than enough spots, Dollar General representatives said, and will allow for more green space on site. The company said a store this size typically has 32 parking spaces.
The Broadway Group from Huntsville, Ala. is developer of the store in Albion. The company would demolish a building that has been used for auto sales and a warehouse. Currently, Ridge Road Station is parking smaller school buses on site.
The property is owned by Chris Kinter, the village’s code enforcement officer. He has recused himself from the review of the project with Dan Strong, the Town of Albion code enforcement officer, filling in for the village with this proposal.
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Broadway Group wants to knock down this building at 327 East Ave. and build a new 10,640-square-foot Dollar General across from the high school.
