County planners cite concerns over proposed Dunkin’ drive-thru

By Russ Tarby

Contributing Writer

At their monthly meeting on April 28, members of the Liverpool Village Planning Board reviewed three detailed resolutions passed the day before by the Onondaga County Planning Board in response to site plans provided by ESW Realty for a planned Dunkin’ Donuts at 105-113 Second St.

The drive-thru lane is designed to accommodate 11 queuing vehicles, the county planners noted, adding that the New York State Department of Transportation has determined that “the average queue length for Dunkin’ Donuts is 13 vehicles.”

The county board urged village officials and ESW to “increase adherence to the Village Comprehensive Plan 2025 and to ensure more appropriate traffic flow within the village.”

County planners previously warned the village that traffic back-ups are likely if the drive-thru restaurant becomes reality.

“The board reiterates its concerns regarding drive-thru facilities within the village center,” according to the documents filed by County Planning Board Chairman Douglas B. Morris. He specifically noted that “the proposed Dunkin’ Donuts drive-thru and resulting circulation layout could increase traffic backups.”

Morris pointed out that the state DOT also anticipates traffic backups on Second Street (Route 370) should the drive-thru restaurant is approved.

On March 21, the Liverpool Board of Trustees accommodated ESW’s request for permission to operate a drive-thru window at the proposed location. The trustees unanimously OK’d the drive-thru despite the fact that nearly a dozen residents, including former Mayor Jim Farrell and current Zoning Board Chairman Mike Romano, publicly spoke out against allowing drive-thru restaurants in the village, which is already overwhelmed with traffic.

The county planners instructed ESW to complete a Traffic Impact Study.

The property at 105-113 Second St. was previously the site of Seneca Savings Bank and Venesky Appliances. ESW has secured a purchase option on the parcel.

ESW Reality, owned by New England donut entrepreneur Ed Wolak, will decline to move forward with the Second Street project unless it’s allowed to operate a drive-thru window there.

Dunkin’ Donuts already has eight restaurants in the Liverpool area — two on Route 57, two on Seventh North Street, one on Route 31, one in Great Northern Mall, one on West Taft Road and one on Henry Clay Boulevard.

The Village Planning Board will continue reviewing the proposed DD site plan at meeting at 7 p.m. May 23, at the Village Hall, 310 Sycamore St.