ALLEGANY, N.Y. — The proposed Community Bank, N.A., center at the Bonaventure Square property has moved closer to reality.
A site plan session of the Town of Allegany Planning Board was attended by officials with Clark Patterson Lee developers in Olean, who designed the project at the former Castle property on Route 417. The company also designed a 12,500-foot expansion for the nearby Olean Physical Therapy building owned by Mike Droney. The board held a site plan approval session for the expansion of that building later in the evening.
In February, officials with Community Bank announced intentions of purchasing 10 acres of land on Route 417 across from St. Bonaventure University to build a loan operations center. The new 25,000-square-foot loan center will employ approximately 100 current Community Bank employees, with future plans for expansion.
Thomas McElheney of Clark Patterson Lee told the board the building will not be a public facility, and it instead would house documents and would only be open weekdays during business hours. The structure will have two points of access from the highway.
When a couple of planning board members questioned the wisdom of designing a flat roof, McElheney said the steel frame would provide more than adequate support for the structure. He said a screen or parapet wall could also be installed around the roof.
“This will be a good-looking building … and that site has been empty for almost 12 years,” McElheney reminded board members.
The board further scrutinized the proposed lighting plan for the parking lot as well as the retention pond plan on the property and said they will have to determine if the current design meets town guidelines.
McElheney also reminded the board the bank will not close the sale on the property until it receives approval on the project from them.
With that in mind, Frank DeFiore, chairman of the planning board, said the town will move as quickly as possible to provide a decision on the lighting and retention pond issues. He then set the public hearing for the project at 7 p.m. May 12 at the town hall. A separate public hearing will held for the Olean Physical Therapy expansion on the same date at 7:15 p.m.
DeFiore noted the Cattaraugus County Planning Board will meet Thursday to review the site plan, and they expect that entity will then reach a resolution on the matter.
When reviewing the site plan for Olean Physical Therapy project, the board had some questions about the front parking lot setback from Route 417, as well as planned parking spaces in front of the current structure and proposed expansion. The board also plans to research those issues and reach a decision on the matter as soon as possible.
Droney said he is optimistic the 12,500-foot expansion for his business will also be approved by the planning board. The expansion will include space for a wellness center and a small, second-story area that will contain a health club.
“Things have been proceeding really well,” Droney said. “We’ve had a lot of cooperation with the board and appreciate what they’re doing.”
The developers have said they would like to see construction for both projects begin as soon as possible and would put the work out for private bids.
