Watkins approves preliminary Tops plan

    WATKINS GLEN—The Watkins Glen planning board approved the preliminary site plan for Tops’ proposal to install gas pumps at the Watkins Glen store, Wednesday, July 20.
    The approval was given with the condition Tops provide a number of documents still required before the next meeting, Aug. 17, which will also be a public hearing.  Board chairperson Joe Fazzary said Tops still needs to provide letters from the plaza’s landlord, the New York State Department of Transportation, and the town of Dix approving of the project, as well as the county planning commission’s response to the project.  Fazzary added the planning board would like Tops’ plan for updating the roadside sign, which would now include a digital face to list gas prices.
    Tops representative Lou Terragnoli said the store wants to build one sign that can list all the stores in the plaza, in addition to gas prices.  However, he added this will take some time to coordinate with the plaza’s landlord and the other tenants.  Fazzary said he wasn’t too concerned because Code Enforcement Officer Gordon Wright would make sure the company follows the regulations.
    The planning board also gave the project a negative declaration, meaning they didn’t think it would impact the environment.  During the process, Terragnoli said the gas pumps wouldn’t increase traffic that much because an estimated 93 percent of customers would be going there already or passing by Tops.
    The public hearing will be Wednesday, Aug. 17, at 7 p.m.
    In other business:  The planning board reviewed the site plans for an updated raw water intake building.  Jim Leonard, engineer for Hunt, explained the redesign was necessary because the work came in over bid.  He said the plans are now for a one-story, precast building with two rooms.  Leonard added the proposed building is still within the footprint of the previously approved site plan.
    Fazzary said he wasn’t sure if the change in plans like this required them to hold another public hearing or not.  He said he would speak with Wright, who was not in the area to attend the meeting.  If a public hearing is required, Fazzary said the planning board can hold it at the next meeting.