Archive: Opinions

Lansing Town Board and Lansing Planning Board
Lansing Town Hall
29 Auburn Road
Lansing, NY 14882

Dear Board Members:

As residents and business owners within the Town of Lansing, we are sharing our concern regarding the proposed new development of a dollar store in North Lansing. From review of the submitted plans and public information provided to the community, it appears a Dollar General is being proposed near the northern edge of Lansing along Rt 34. ( Application for Site Plan Review of construction of a new 9,100 s.f. retail store and site improvements on NYS 34 / North of Locke Rd (Tax Parcel No. 5.-1-32))

We urge town and planning board members to move slowly and carefully through this process and insure that the long term interests of our community are properly served. Municipalities across the United States have taken action to restrict the proliferation of formula businesses due to the detrimental impact they have on the community.

Dollar General currently has a store within the town center area. Dollar General, Lansing Market, Mirabito and C+ Convenience Store provide retail offerings within the town. All of these businesses compete and provide services knowing that Target, BJ's, Tops, dollar stores and pharmacies are within close proximity in a well-defined commercial district of the Village of Lansing.

Allowing Dollar General to add a second location in our town, only 6 miles from its current location, will not serve our community goals of controlled development and sustainable community minded services. The proposed location is not within a business district, it is an area intended for agricultural use. Although general retail is a permitted use, it is not in the best interest of the community to perpetuate sprawl of such formula driven retailers beyond distinctly defined business areas.

Of additional concern is the impact a second Dollar General will have on locally owned businesses that were initiated in support of the town's Comprehensive Plan for a town center. Lansing Market currently competes with Dollar General in the town, as well as much larger retailers located in the village. Competition is expected and it forces businesses to focus on products and services of interest to the community. Adding a second Dollar General will negatively impact Lansing Market and the unique services it provides within the town.

It is ironic that a second Dollar General is being proposed in an agricultural district of our town, one with significant value to our community for the dairy products it produces. Yet the dairy and egg products that will be sold within this Dollar General are exclusively from the Southeast and similarly distant areas of the United States-- NOT from our town, NOT our neighboring counties, NOT from Upstate NY.

Our commitment to the community is long standing and significant through support of the Lansing Food Pantry, Lansing's Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops, The Salvation Army, Lansing Recreation Department athletic programs, Community Recreation Center, Lansing Central School District arts and athletic programs and Friends of Lansing Center Trails.

We are concerned members of the community who are willing to assist our town and planning board members through this process. We appreciate your time and dedication to serving the residents of Lansing, NY.

Sincerely,

Sciarabba Family, Ruoff Family, Eisenhut Family
Lansing, NY
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