To the editor:
The Village of Liverpool Planning Board is having a special public hearing on Thursday, Sept. 8, at 6 p.m. at Village Hall on Sycamore Street. The purpose is to review a proposed Dunkin’ Donuts store that would replace the vacated Seneca Federal Savings Bank and the eyesore of the long-empty appliance store on Second Street. The single replacement building has been designed to blend in with the décor of brick and decorative iron of Washington Park. The appearance will be “upscale” and unlike any other Dunkin’ Donuts in the area. The artist rendering of the building and the intermediate ground plans are on file at the Village Clerk’s office, and available for public review.
However, a special zoning change was granted to allow for a drive-thru, and traffic pattern changes could impact the very lifestyle of this village. These eateries are very popular, but as a result often have extended lines of cars spilling into the streets.
Liverpool is already the “perfect storm” of traffic funneling through; we are all painfully aware of this. It is the very bane of our existence as a village. The planning board was told by the applicant that Route 57/Oswego Street traffic will be inconsequential, since it would be a detour. But drivers might bypass the smaller DD in Bayberry and the already backed up line on 57 just outside the village. (How many DD’s do we need?) Traffic exiting the Thruway might not find the switch onto Second Street a major inconvenience.
Of course, inbound traffic of Route 370 to Second Street will be the primary customer. Tulip Street already backs up all the way to Fourth Street.
Cars on Vine Street could be an issue unto themselves; after crossing Oswego, they have to jog immediately left into a turn lane that can only hold four to five cars between lights. Four Centro No. 48 buses must do the same thing during rush hour.
There are other issues to consider as well, such as pedestrian/bicyclist safety, and littering.
The above concerns are mine as a fellow resident. As a trustee, it is my job to look out for the well-being of all residents. But it is also our function to listen to the people. If the consensus is to turn down this application, then that is how we should vote. If the drive-thru is felt to be the only obstacle, then we need to know that and vote accordingly. But you must consider whether or not this could be a profitable store without the drive-thru. The applicant says that it won’t be, and supposedly won’t build without it.
We have to weigh the very clear and provable positives of this Dunkin’ Donuts against the potential negative impacts of traffic flow. Two empty buildings will be replaced by a very nice-looking store that fits into the scheme of the village; there will be outdoor seating as well, giving a friendly, café-like appearance. Village residents will likely be employed there. Finally, the fact is that there have been, and are, no other applicants for either lot, much less both of them. Another applicant might seek to purchase only the bank lot, still leaving the run-down store to be resolved somehow as a separate item.
As a trustee, I am available for questions on this topic or you can register your opinion with me if unable to attend. I can be reached by telephone at 572-6155, a phone line dedicated to resident issues. Again, the public hearing is at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8. This is your village; recognize that complacency and apathy are the true enemies of any democracy.
Bradley C. Young
Trustee, Village of Liverpool
