Konover Takes First Step in Pharmacy Plan

Looking to pave the way for a planned pharmacy and other development, Konover Development Corp. has applied for a zoning regulation and master plan amendment for the corner of Route 44 and Lawton Road.

The application requests some changes in the Albany Turnpike Gateway District or ATG-2 zone, which specifies guidelines for development at the corner.

“It is important to note that this is a zoning regulation and master plan amendment only, and not a site plan application or application for a special exception,” Neil S. Pade, director of planning and community development, stated in a memo.  “If this application is approved, a site plan and special exception application(s) would follow.”

Konover has current development approvals for the site but plans for a furniture store and then a Home Goods fell through. Now it is looking to anchor the site with a pharmacy.

The changes Konover is seeking have mostly to do with building layout and access. It is looking to add full access from Lawton Road and to spread development over three areas instead of two. The company is not asking to change the allowed building footprint and gross square footage maximums, 56,000 and 64,000 square feet respectively.

The plan would also include numerous utility upgrades and other related work and lane additions on Lawton Road and Route 44. An additional traffic light would also be installed between the Shoppes at Farmington Valley and the corner of Lawton Road and Route 44. That light already has the state’s blessing and many of the other studies for the project have been performed as well.

The application will go to the Zoning Commission on Wednesday. The commission will consider Pade’s recommendation to refer the matter to the Planning Commission for “review of the proposal for consistency with the Plan of Conservation and Development” and to the Design Review Team for advisory input.

Pade is also recommending the zoning commission hire its own engineering consultant, at Konover’s expense, to review the potential traffic impact.

A public hearing on the proposal will likely be held March 16.

Stanley C. Glantz, Konover’s executive vice president and chief operating officer,  said that if all goes well, the company hopes to get through this process, file its subsequent applications soon after and receive approval by some time in the summer.

If that happens, “there would be no reason why we wouldn’t be able to start construction by the fall,” Glantz said.

Meanwhile, Konover has met with various groups in town and has scheduled meetings with residents in the vicinity.