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Board approves Starbucks, patio and site changes at Aurora Village Shopping Center
Summary
Trustees approved a special use permit for a Starbucks at Aurora Village Shopping Center and granted site‑plan approval for related plaza changes including an outdoor patio, dumpster enclosure and a sound‑attenuated generator for Michael's fire pump.
The East Aurora Village Board on March 17 approved a cluster of site and special‑use applications from Benderson Development for the Aurora Village Shopping Center.
The board granted a special‑use permit to operate a Starbucks at 123 Grey Street (the plaza space next to Mighty Taco) with 60 interior seats and a 24‑seat outdoor patio. Applicant Matthew Oates of Benderson Development told trustees the proposal reuses 2,704 square feet of vacant space, adds pavers and landscaping around a covered patio and includes a bike rack; he said the center’s parking supply exceeds the ordinance requirement.
Trustees also approved site‑plan changes for the same plaza to install a two‑bay, screened dumpster enclosure for HomeGoods and to permit Michael’s to install a fire‑pump generator inside a Type‑2 sound attenuation enclosure. Benderson submitted a noise study for the generator; the board was told the generator must be tested for five minutes once a week and would otherwise remain off, and that the enclosure meets state and village noise limits.
The planning commission recommended approval of the applications prior to the board hearing. No board member recorded opposition during the meeting; motions to approve passed on voice votes.
The approvals included a SEQRA (State Environmental Quality Review Act) determination of non‑significance for the site‑plan changes. There was no request for a drive‑through at the Starbucks, and Benderson confirmed the existing Tops Foods cafe location in the grocery store would remain unaffected.
The board also discussed pedestrian access and handicap parking placement; Oates said pedestrian connections in the plaza would be preserved and that handicap parking behind the building would remain in place. Trustees and the planning commission had asked for a bike rack; the applicant confirmed space for one would be provided.
