The Town of Victor Planning Board reviewed a range of development applications at its Nov. 12 meeting, including a proposed Chick-fil-A at Eastview Mall, a new Element by Westin hotel, and an art gallery with artist-in-residence housing. The board also approved a demolition request for a structure listed in the town’s historical inventory and finalized plans for a dog grooming and kennel facility on Route 96.
Board recommends demolition of historical home
The board unanimously recommended approval for the demolition of a structure at 7432 Modock Road. Owner Colin Blind said the structure, purchased through a tax foreclosure auction, was in significantly worse condition than anticipated, with deteriorating cobblestone walls and a failing addition.
Although the structure is listed with “medium significance” in the town’s historical resource inventory, the Town Historic Advisory Committee had no objection to its removal. The applicant plans to build a new home about 100 feet behind the current location.
Chick-fil-A receives site plan approval
Following a public hearing, the board granted site plan approval for a 5,397-square-foot Chick-fil-A restaurant at Eastview Mall. The restaurant will include a double-lane drive-thru and outdoor patio on a 1.96-acre parcel at the southeast corner of the mall property.
Rob Stout, attorney for the project, confirmed that area and signage variances were obtained from the Zoning Board of Appeals, and all remaining engineering comments had been addressed. The board added a condition requiring replacement of any existing border trees lost during construction with equivalent species placed just outside the disturbance area.
The final approval includes multiple standard and project-specific conditions, including requirements to address past comments from engineering, conservation, fire safety, architectural review, and code enforcement officials.
Art gallery with artist residence approved
The board approved a site plan for the conversion of a building at 7404 State Route 96 into an art gallery with a second-story living space for visiting artists. The application includes a 280-square-foot addition and partial demolition of the existing garage to accommodate a second-story deck.
Applicant Susan Forrester DeMartino and project engineer Brian White confirmed that revised plans addressed grading, lighting, and screening concerns. A condition was added to the resolution to clarify that the second-story residence will be used for transient housing of artists, with stays limited to 30 days or as otherwise allowed under town code.
Board members and engineers also confirmed that recent earthwork on the site was conducted by an adjacent property owner and did not impact the applicant’s property.
Dog salon project receives final approval
The board approved a special use permit and site plan for the Bow Wow Dog Salon at 7235 State Route 96. The facility will operate in an existing building and include 43 kennels, a grooming area, an office, and a fenced-in outdoor area.
Planning Board members and engineers discussed waste management concerns at length, particularly regarding the potential discharge of animal waste into nearby wetlands. The applicant agreed to a turf-over-asphalt solution and submitted a standard operating procedure to mitigate runoff, including redirecting cleaning water to the sanitary sewer and regularly collecting solid waste.
The board accepted the waste handling plan with the condition that Village of Victor Department of Public Works retain the right to inspect and require removal of the discharge pipe if misused.
Hotel project still awaiting sewer resolution
The board heard updates on a proposal to construct a four-story, 123-room Element by Westin hotel on a portion of the Eastview Mall parking lot. While site plan components were generally supported by board members, the project cannot proceed to final approval due to capacity issues at a nearby pump station (PS-19).
Town engineers and applicant representatives confirmed that the hotel would increase wastewater flow by 12%, which would require the pump station’s upgrade. The board discussed the possibility of issuing a conditional negative declaration under SEQRA but agreed to defer action until additional documentation, including a long-form environmental assessment and a coordinated review, could be completed. A meeting between the applicant, town engineer, and town attorney is expected before the next board session.
Other items
- The application to convert 7404 State Route 96 into an art gallery was approved with a parking space reduction from 20 to nine spaces due to limited need.
- The board noted that four applications, including Cheshire Ridge subdivision, Lehigh Place PDD site plan and subdivision, Stewart Tree Service, and Timberview Estates, were removed from the agenda and rescheduled for the Dec. 9 meeting.
- Upcoming agenda items for December include a proposed cannabis dispensary, new residential site plans, and a performing arts center.
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