Hannaford Plans New Store At Route 7 and Lord Avenue
by Doug La Rocque
On Wednesday, March 3, the Hannaford Supermarket chain announced it plans to build a 49,000 square foot market in Brunswick, directly across Hoosick Road from where an Aldi is proposed. It would be the company’s 52 store in New York State. It already has stores in both North Troy and Wynatskill and, according to the company, these will remain open.
The developers of the proposed Hannaford, in a field off Lord Avenue, sometimes referred to as Duncan’s Meadow or Field, have already been before the Brunswick Planning Board with sketch plans, but until Wednesday, had refused the name the tenant for the complex.
Hannaford says in its press release, it plans to hire 155 full and part-time employees and feels this new store will strengthen its relationship with the Rensselaer County community.
A traffic light at the corner of Route 7 and Lord Avenue is already in the works, as part of the Aldi’s proposal. Hannaford will also come into play with this proposed light, as the rear entrance into Aldi’s demanded by the Department of Transportation (DOT) for interconnectivity, may not come out because the DOT has said it may not require it after all, if another supermarket goes in at that intersection.
The proposal is in its very preliminary stages before the Planning Board, which has already heard about traffic concerns on Route 7 many times, as well as residents of Lord Avenue and Oneida Avenue, which is on the west side of the Hannaford acreage.
The store, if approved, is still some time out as the planners need to discuss the site plan, file for lead agency for an environmental assessment review and hold a public hearing before it can even consider approval. It is also possible the plans may need a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals, which would fall right in the middle of the Planning Board’s work.
The Hannaford chain is scheduled to make a formal presentation before the planners on Thursday night.