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The way was paved to build a Kinneys Drug Store at the Triphammer Mall Tuesday, when the Village of Lansing Planning Board approved a special permit and environmental review.  Kinneys will be the first store as you enter the complex, where the former Home Works furniture store was located.

Most of the discussion revolved around changes to the Triphammer Road entrance to the mall.  A traffic island will route shoppers to the main parking area.  "The reconfiguration of the driveway will be an improvement over the existing conditions," said Village Engineer Brent Cross.


An area between Triphammer Road and Substation Alley will be made one way to accommodate a drive-through prescription pickup window.  That will prevent traffic from the small access road, forcing shoppers to drive into the mall parking lot via the Triphammer Road entrance.  Cross says vehicles making a left turn onto Sheridan Drive may be delayed, concluding that would be caused by the new configuration to the entrance to the mall rather than additional traffic to the drug store.

The timing of the meeting required a majority plus one to override a concern by the County planning department that increased traffic could negatively impact the area.  The County recommended a traffic study, something the Village Planning Board had already requested and received.  Based on the study, Cross said that the level of service would not be negatively impacted.


Architect Thomas M. Schickel presented plans for the store and answered questions about details of the plan.  he covered questions about the specifics of ten new parking spaces and traffic flow in the one way alley that will include the drive through window.  The new entrance to the mall will have four lanes: left and right turn lanes exiting the mall, a lane entering the main parking area, and thee fourth leading to the drive through window.

The Planning Board passed a negative declaration on the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR), meaning the project will cause no negative or controversial environmental impact.  Next they unanimously approved the special permit.  Lighting, landscaping, and sign plans have yet to be approved.  Officials say the approval clears the way for construction to begin, and estimate the store will be completed around October.

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