JOHNSTOWN - The Fulton County Planning Board on Tuesday approved a site plan for the new 26,122-square-foot Eagle Chevrolet Cadillac dealership on Route 30A that will lie east of the current city dealership.
"I think it's a positive improvement," said board Vice Chairman John Blackmon at the Fort Johnstown Annex.
Both the city and town have approved an intermunicipal agreement allowing the project to proceed with municipal services. The town Planning Board, which referred the site plan to the county, is the lead agency for the state Environmental Quality Review because the project is mostly on town land.
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People tour a high school science room on the second floor of Northville Central School on Wednesday.
The Leader-Herald/John Borgolini
The city Planning Board on June 5 also referred Eagle Chevrolet Cadillac's new dealership project to the county planning board, but deferred to the town for action on the project's required SEQR.
County Planning Board member Ryan Fagan abstained Tuesday because he is the town of Johnstown's code enforcement officer.
County Senior Planner Sean M. Geraghty said Eagle owner James Provenzano wants to construct a new 19,200-square-foot auto dealership at the corner of Routes 30A and 67.
"I think from an aesthetic standpoint, I think this is going to be a nicer-looking intersection," Geraghty said.
He said the existing dealership, located at 108 S. Comrie Ave. in the city, will be torn down as part of the project. The proposal says the new dealership will be constructed partially on the same piece of property in the city, with the majority of the building located on adjacent property in the town. The majority of parking for the new dealership will be located along Route 30A in the city.
Geraghty said there are a "few issues" that remain with the project, including probably a need to "flatten" some land off Route 67.
"There's probably some retaining walls that will have to be constructed," he said.
He said stormwater drainage details are still being finalized. He said there has been some discussion with the state Department of Environmental Conservation to allow water to partially "sheet off" into a nearby wetland area.
Geraghty said town planners are asking for a grassy or shrub area through which emergency vehicles can gain access to the site.
When discussions about possible annexation fell through, the city and town reached the property-tax revenue-sharing agreement. The project involves 89 percent of the project sitting on now-vacant lot in the town.
Under the intermunicipal agreement, the city will allow the company to access municipal water and sewer lines in exchange for collecting the sales-tax revenue from the dealership's parts and service business. The town and city will share property-tax revenue on the new building, with the town taking 89 percent and the city 11 percent.
The project will include the new car dealership building with paved driveway, parking lots for car displays, a customer lounge for the vehicle maintenance department, a sales showroom and administrative offices.
Geraghty said Eagle may eventually initiate a "phase two" with this development that might involve access from Route 67.
"They've got some future plans out there," he said.