Tops gas station back on Hamlin Planning Board agenda

Landscaping, trash removal, pedestrian sidewalks and noise were a few of the issues that were addressed by Tops officials at the January 25 planning board meeting in Hamlin. Richard Bauman, Hamlin's building inspector and code enforcement officer, said those issues were addressed and the proposal to construct a fueling station on the site of the Tops grocery store in Hamlin is now back in the hands of planning board officials.

"Tops officials responded to issues raised and addressed them," Bauman said.

Bauman said Tops agreed to put shading on some of the lights to confine the glare to the parking lot and additional trees would be planted in the buffer area to prevent headlights from shining into neighboring homes. A sidewalk with pedestrian crossing will be installed, employees at both the grocery store and the proposed gas station will be asked to be more vigilant in picking up trash from shopping carts and from the parking lots. Noise issues were also raised regarding snow plows and the parking lot vacuum machine. Residents asked that officials arrange to plow later than 5 a.m. or somehow deactivate the back up horns in the vehicles, but Bauman said he didn't believe it was legal to deactivate the back up horns.

Stefanie Zakowicz, public relations spokesperson for Tops, said the requests made were "fairly typical" to the process.

"We've listened to and responded to the concerns raised and we are hopefully optimistic that the project will move forward," she said.

If the proposal to construct a fueling station on the grounds of the grocery store parking lot is granted, Tops will put in an additional 11 parking spaces. Bauman said the addition of a fueling station doesn't violate any comprehensive plan mandates or zoning ordinances.

Opponents of the project say the addition of a fueling station on the site would harm long-time local family businesses and would negatively affect Hamlin's rural character.

Zakowicz said that based on Tops receiving construction approval, the project could likely begin late spring or early summer with the fueling station being open in the fall.

The Tops proposal will be on the February 7 meeting agenda, Bauman said.