- By Dan Veaner
- News
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By winter the Lansing Xtra Mart will be three times its current size, with more pumps for cars trucks, plus a drive-through Dunin' Donuts window. Just about everything about the site will be different, according to Ron Fortune, a consultant to Drake Petroleum, which owns the Xtra Mart chain."Everything is being torn down including the pavement," Fortune told the Lansing Planning Board Monday. "The tanks are being removed. The only component that's remaining is the free standing sign."
The current 1,200 square foot store will be replaced by a 3,600 square foot store that will include more parking and a drive-through window. A large canopy will cover eight gas pumps that will facilitate 16 cars fueling at once. Another canopy will cover three pumps for trucks. Entrances to the property will be cut down to two, with the Peruville Road entrance used for entering only. That entrance will split traffic between the drive through window and the gas plaza. Vehicles will be able to enter and exit on the Triphammer Road side.
Fortune says that once everything is approved construction could begin soon. Plans for the store will have to be finalized, but he says the company hopes to complete construction during the current construction season. He says that some similar projects have taken a maximum of 120 days.
Because everything must be torn down before the new construction can begin, including replacement of underground tanks, the store will be closed during construction. That could create a gas crunch in the town. Until only a few weeks ago twelve pumps serviced the area: eight at the Xtra Mart, two at The Pit Stop on the corner of Ridge Road and East Shore Drive, and two at P & Y on Ridge Road just west of East Shore. On June 22 the Pit Stop removed its tanks after they failed a DOT inspection. During the months the Xtra Mart is closed, only the two P & Y tanks will serve the area.
Fortune says the company considered staggering construction so they could keep the store open, but that it proved impractical as their plans solidified. He says the company is eager to start construction as soon as is feasible.
Fortune first brought the project to the Planning Board in April of 2007, but delays in getting State approvals were so long that the Planning Board's consideration of the plan expired. With DOT and DEC approvals now in hand, he resubmitted the plan to the Town. Planning Board members have chosen to subject the plan to the long form State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) because of the potential impact of the changes in traffic patterns and replacement of underground tanks. The Board designated itself as the lead agency for the project, and will solicit comment from the County and other municipalities that may be affected by the project. A public hearing has been scheduled for August 10th, and if all goes well for the company the Planning Board could vote to approve the project that night.
That still leaves time to complete construction before winter if the weather cooperates. Engineering and Planning Coordinator Jeff Overstrom says tank replacement will be subject to DOT regulations.
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