Proposed Dandy Mini-Mart in Lansing moving along

The proposed Dandy Mini-Mart in the town of Lansing is moving forward, and now stands just a handful of approvals away from setting official construction dates, according to town and Dandy officials.

Dandy’s site plan proposal calls for a 6,100-square-foot convenience store with two gasoline fueling islands, one diesel fueling island and a drive-through window. The proposal also includes 36 parking spaces, with four designed for tractor-trailer trucks and four for electric vehicles.

The location for Dandy’s projected store and gas station is a 4.7-acre plot of land at the corner of East Shore Drive and Ridge Road (Route 34 and Route 34B) in the town.

The Sayre, Pennsylvania-based company is in the process of requesting an area signage variance, which includes the installation of 10 wall-mounted signs to four sides of the proposed building and two free-standing signs at the two main entrances. The application submitted by Dandy noted that each sign will be lit until the location’s daily closure around 11 p.m.

Dandy recently submitted the signage variance request, which was discussed at the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) meeting on Jan. 10.

According to town Planning Director John Zepko, Dandy’s signage variance request exceeds both quantity and square-footage limits. The town’s zoning ordinance allows for no more than two signs and commercial signs not to exceed 48 square-feet.

Dandy is requesting a 113.5-square-foot monument sign, along with the proposed 12 signs at the location, which will be lit until closing at around 11 p.m. The detailed request must go through a public hearing, which is scheduled for Feb. 14, before the town’s ZBA discusses potential approval on their end.

“What matters is that someone wants to invest in our town,” said Lansing Town Supervisor Ed LaVigne. “They want to use that land for what it’s allowed to be used for and go through the process in a respectful manner.”

If the ZBA sets approval for recommendation of an area signage variance, the town’s ZBA and planning board will convene for a joint review and consideration of site plan approval. Zepko noted that the review process could extend into the spring.

The anticipation of the review process means that Dandy does not currently have set dates for the groundbreaking and official grand opening of their proposed Lansing location, said Dandy spokesperson Bill Bustin.

Bustin noted Dandy has locations in Freeville, Slaterville Springs, Ithaca and Enfield within the county. This means that if Lansing gives Dandy its final approval, the company will have five locations in the county.

Town of Lansing residents expressed concerns last summer about having an out-of-town chain store and gas station in the area.

While LaVigne understands residents’ displeasure with the proposal, he also knows that there are rules and a process that needs to be followed by Dandy and by the town’s ZBA and planning board.

LaVigne mentioned that a handful of town residents support Dandy’s proposal but haven’t expressed it. He said last summer that if the town does not allow a business to use the space in a legal way, that business can take the town to court.

“If someone doesn’t want something, I understand that, but if it’s an allowed use, how would you prevent it?” he said. “Then we have bigger problems on our hands.”

Lansing at Large appears every Wednesday in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@VizellaMedia.com.

In brief:

Lansing CSD’s second BOBCAT vote is Jan. 24

Lansing Central School District’s second attempt at the Building Opportunities for Branding, Capital improvements, Athletics & Teaching (BOBCAT) project is scheduled for Jan. 24 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the school district’s offices.

The school district’s second attempt at approval for the BOBCAT project has a projected cost of $16,858,166. That number is down from the original projection of $22.8 million, which was voted down 632 to 368 last year.

Lansing Community Library’s ‘From Memory to Memoir’ workshop on Jan. 21

The Lansing Community Library, located at 21 Auburn Rd., will hold a ‘From Memory to Memoir’ workshop with Regi Carpenter from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jan. 21.

Carpenter – an author, storyteller and workshop leader – wrote the memoir “Where There’s Smoke, There’s Dinner.”

The 90-minute workshop will guide participants in how to take a memory and shape it into an engaging, well-written story of their lives.

No experience is needed for the workshop. Bringing writing materials to the workshop is recommended.

To register, call 607-533-4939, email info@lansinglibrary.org or sign up at lansinglibrary.org.

Upcoming meetings in the Lansing area

The village of Lansing’s next Board of Trustees meeting is slated for 7:30 p.m. Feb. 6 at the village office on 2405 N. Triphammer Rd.

The town of Lansing is scheduled to meet today at 6:30 p.m. at the town hall on 29 Auburn Rd.