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Design Review Board tables Friendly Express redevelopment at 619 Main over parking, tank and traffic questions
Summary
The city’s Design Review Board voted to table a plan to convert an abandoned Rite Aid at 619 Main into a Friendly Express convenience store and six‑pump gas station after members said the submission lacked a project‑specific cross‑access easement, clear parking for a future tenant and auto‑turn diagrams; the applicant was asked to return next month with revisions.
The City of Greene Design Review Board on May 6 tabled an application to redevelop the former Rite Aid at 619 Main Street into a Friendly Express convenience store and gas station, citing missing technical documents and circulation concerns.
During the presentation, the project team described plans for a convenience store occupying roughly 6,000 square feet, a new storefront entry and a six‑pump canopy on the south side of the existing building. The project architect presented a parking plan that would provide 24 spaces for the first phase and stacking capacity for the proposed drive‑through. The architect said the convenience store phase requires “approximately 20 parking spaces.” (Project architect)
Board members pressed the applicants for a project‑specific cross‑access easement to document tanker access and shared circulation. A member said the plans showed a tanker truck operating over neighboring pavement and asked whether a legal description exists that obligates maintenance or limits heavy vehicles. The applicant said the owner provided a general agreement to planning but had not highlighted a legal description specific to the drive used for deliveries.
Chair (role used in transcript) told the applicants, “We’re gonna require you to remove the tank,” directing that the storage‑tank layout be revised to address safety and circulation concerns. The chair also said, “Auto turn is a big issue,” and asked for swept‑path (auto‑turn) diagrams for large vehicles, including tanker trucks and boats that frequent the nearby Portage Lakes area.
Owner Larry Kane introduced Friendly Express and described typical operations, saying, “We picked this site, because we like the area,” and that the company will be selective about future tenants to avoid direct competition. Kane said deliveries are typically scheduled in evening hours to reduce daytime impacts.
The board also requested canopy elevations and masonry‑pier details for the gas canopy, and flagged sign‑code compliance: members noted the proposed sign appeared to be about 70 square feet while the code limit is 60 square feet and asked the applicant to submit a compliant signage option.
After discussion, a board member moved to table the application pending: a highlighted, project‑specific cross‑access easement or legal description; demonstrated parking layouts that show compliance under a worst‑case future tenant scenario (for example, a restaurant); swept‑path/auto‑turn diagrams for large vehicles; and revised signage/elevations. The motion to table carried in a voice vote. (Motion moved and seconded from the record.)
The applicant was invited to return to the Design Review Board next month with the requested materials. No building permits or approvals were granted at this meeting.
