Planning board approves change of use and site plan for Island Shop with conditions on signage, parking and utilities

The Town of Grand Island Planning Board voted to approve a change of use and site plan for the Island Shop at 1966 Boise, permitting the existing retail/food operation to add a year‑round food truck and related site modifications, subject to conditions on signage, utility protection and parking arrangements.

Ronald Cidiolio, appearing as the applicant/agent, described the property as roughly 0.42 acres and said a short‑form site review was conducted. He told the board the lot currently requires 16 parking spaces under code and that the proposed layout can accommodate as many as 19 spaces; the applicant said the plan provides for an addition to the deck, a food‑truck pad, a new pole sign and landscaping. Cidiolio said drainage on the site is sheet‑drained either to the street or toward a swale near an adjacent funeral home.

Board members raised several technical and operational concerns: the plan showed an existing driveway that encroached onto neighboring property and the applicant agreed to pull the driveway fully onto the subject parcel as part of the project. Members requested a clear entrance/exit scheme (pavement arrows and a visible sign) and a two‑faced stop sign for exiting traffic; the board recommended a double‑faced sign that also reads “Exit Only” and an on‑site sign for the entrance.

Health and grease‑management questions were discussed. The applicant said the business already holds a health department permit and that the indoor kitchen has a three‑bay sink with a grease trap; board members noted that a grease trap or additional plumbing controls could be required depending on the extent of on‑site food preparation and whether dishwashing occurs in the building rather than solely inside the truck.

The board asked the applicant to protect gas meters near the proposed driveway and agreed that any conversion from tote cans to a dumpster would require a designated dumpster location on the site plan. The board also recommended that the applicant obtain a recorded license or easement with the neighboring funeral home for overflow or employee parking; board staff noted such a license or easement would be filed with Erie County and would protect the business if the adjacent property were sold.

Finally, the board and applicant discussed winter operation of the food truck, equipment location (condensing/utility units), and possible signage visibility in inclement weather. The board combined the change‑of‑use and site‑plan votes, added the discussed conditions in its motion and approved the application on a voice vote.

Conditions recorded on the transcript include: clear entrance/exit signing (including a stop sign for exiting traffic), protection of the utility corridor/gas meter, a recorded license or easement for shared parking with the funeral home, and a required dumpster location if the applicant changes from tote cans to a dumpster.