JOHNSTOWN - T.J. Maxx wants to begin construction of a store in the fall and open it in spring 2013 at the Johnstown Shopping Center.
The city Planning Board on Tuesday reviewed a site plan for the proposed 23,400-square-foot T.J. Maxx store.
The store would be an addition on the north end of the Route 30A shopping center, next to Romana's. The store would be accessible from the shopping center's parking lot and from Fisher Avenue.
The project is being done by Pennsylvania-based developer Michael Wachs for Johnstown Comrie Associates LLC. Wachs owns the shopping center and the Johnstown Mall across Route 30A.
Presenting the project were Dominick Madia, president of National Structures of Syracuse, which would build the addition; and engineer Peter V. Giovenco of Bergmann Associates of Rochester.
"Michael has been working on this for quite a while," Giovenco said. "They're very anxious to come here."
Madia said TJX Companies - parent company for T.J. Maxx stores - doesn't plan to start construction until fall. The store would open in early spring 2013.
"It's the type of market T.J. Maxx is looking at at this time," Madia said. "They're looking at the smaller markets."
He said the store could create at least 15 jobs.
T.J. Maxx of Framingham, Mass., has about 1,000 locations and sells brand-name family apparel, accessories, shoes, gifts and jewelry at discount prices, according to its website.
The retailer doesn't have a lease agreement yet for a Johnstown store.
The Planning Board approved itself as lead agency for a state Environmental Quality Review of the project. A public hearing was scheduled for 4 p.m. March 6 at City Hall. The Fulton County Planning Board must review the project.
Giovenco said the concrete construction would involve a "marrying" of T.J. Maxx with the center. He said sewer lines would have to be relocated under part of the building, although the engineer said it "shouldn't be too much of an issue."
Madia said a sewer line serving nearby Applebee's restaurant might have to be relocated.
Board Chairman Peter K. Smith said past issues at the shopping center have involved parking and traffic flow, especially with "several free-standing businesses in that area."
"The mall developer has always been cooperative with the city," Smith added.
Fire Chief Bruce Heberer said T.J. Maxx built enough parking spaces into its plan to meet city code.
