Business owners, residents rally against Walgreens
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

The corner of Hopkins and Klein roads has been chosen by Arista Development as the possible site of a future Walgreens. The Amherst Town Board hold a public hearing on Jan. 22 about the proposal. Photo by Joe Eberle Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

"Everyone thinks Walgreens is a done deal, but it's not," Karen Coia said of rumors circulating about plans for the southwest corner of Hopkins and Klein roads.

Coia, who opposes the building of a 14,000-square-foot Walgreens Pharmacy at that location, is rallying to inform residents of what they can do to voice their concerns.

"We want as many people at the Jan. 22 meeting as possible," Coia said, referring to the public hearing set by the Amherst Town Board on Arista Development's request to rezone 1.6 acres of land from motor services and neighborhood business to general business at 804 Hopkins Road and 501 and 545 West Klein Road.

The public hearing was originally scheduled for December. The town Planning Board recommended the rezoning at its Oct. 18 meeting.

Business owners in Dash's Plaza have been filing petitions to show their strong opposition to the proposed development. Dennis C. Galluzzo, owner of Family Medical Pharmacy, said he has more than 1,000 signatures.

"I'm curious, what will it take for the board to understand the community doesn't want Walgreens here?" Galluzzo said. "The community should have a say in what businesses are here."

Many believe that because the Mobil gas station at the intersection has closed - its final day was Nov. 14 - that Walgreens is definitely being built, Coia said.

As the situation now stands, four businesses at the intersection are leasing space that is marked to be torn down should the rezoning be granted.

One of those businesses is Say Cheese! Pizzeria. Owners Peter and Kim Cirocco said they do not want to relocate, but they are only leasing space, which is on one of the parcels in question. Kim noted that the Town's Comprehensive Master Plan supports their opposition to the project.

"The key here is, the plan calls for this corner to be mixed use and visited on foot, not by people in automobiles," she said.

Walgreens is reportedly asking for 72 parking spots, which would indicate an increase in traffic, the group said.

Also referring to the comprehensive plan, Kim asked how Walgreens would fit into the plan for that corner.

"What would Walgreens provide?" she asked, adding that the plaza already has a pharmacy and a grocery store.

Another pharmacy is not what that section of Amherst needs, John Van, a clerk at Clearfield Liquor, said. The business is also leasing space on the acreage that is proposed for rezoning.

He marked a map showing the number of pharmacies located near the corner. The Amherst Bee found four Rite Aids in a two-mile radius - 1640 Hopkins Road at Dodge Road, 2545 Millersport Highway, 8530 Transit Road at Klein, and 480 Evans Road. Family Medical Pharmacy would be next door to the proposed Walgreens.

"The old Vix location, at North Forest and Maple, would be better. It's been vacant for years," Van said. "But the developer knows why they want this corner."

The group met last week to discuss ways to inform the community that it isn't too late to voice opposition. Coia said she is planning to distribute fliers and lawn signs to show the joint voice against a Walgreens.

Neil Weinberg, owner of Dash's Plaza, said he has directed an attorney to file the paperwork to petition for a supermajority vote, meaning the rezoning would need six instead of four Town Board votes to be approved.

Because Weinberg owns at least 20 percent of the adjacent property he has the right to petition for such action, he said.

Weinberg planned to have the petition filed by Thanksgiving. He is also hiring a firm to do a traffic study of the intersection.

During the Jan. 22 public hearing, residents will be allowed to speak for 5 minutes each, for or against the rezoning to allow a Walgreens.