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Planning staff flags DOT objection to driveway on Grand Island Boulevard; board leans to table site-plan approval
Summary
Town planning staff told the board that DOT requested removal of a planned driveway onto Grand Island Boulevard for a new site plan; board members discussed conditioning approval on securing DOT permission and moved to table further action to allow applicant and town to coordinate with DOT.
Grand Island planning staff informed the Town Board that the state Department of Transportation had recommended against a proposed driveway onto Grand Island Boulevard for an applicant’s site plan, and board members discussed options before deciding to table the item to allow coordination.
Planning staff said it received a late comment from DOT during coordinator review instructing that “they do not want the driveway to Grand Island Boulevard” and that the applicant appeared unaware of the DOT comment until that evening. Staff presented three options: accept the planning board’s recommendation as-is, send the application back to the planning board for revisions, or approve the plan conditioned on the applicant later obtaining required permits.
Board members debated whether the town should approve the site plan now, conditioned on the applicant securing DOT approval, or postpone final action until DOT and the applicant reconcile the driveway location. One board member said he was inclined to wait for a revised plan so the town would have an “actual real plan before you that's approved.”
The board moved to table the site-plan matter to give the applicant an opportunity to work with DOT; no final site-plan approval was recorded in the meeting minutes.
Staff noted similar driveway accesses exist at nearby businesses (Tim Hortons, Burger King and a gas station) and that DOT guidance can vary, suggesting the issue might be negotiable but requiring direct coordination between the applicant and DOT.
The board did not adopt or deny the site plan; the matter was left on the table pending further discussions between the applicant, DOT and town staff.
