Stories that made the news July 20 through July 22, 2012

Melanie Lekocevic reported in The Daily Mail the Town of Coxsackie is talking anew about how to replace its aging highway garage with something better, but affordable. Last year the town proposed a new structure be built for approximately $3.4 million. "We don’t have to do what was originally designed by the engineers, but we might be able to do something on a smaller, less expensive scale,” Town Supervisor Alex Betke said recently. The current building has a leaky roof, crumbling foundation, cracked walls and a host of other problems. Construction is not expected to begin for another year or two, at least. Enough time to pull together a feasible proposal the town can afford, officials said. Read the full story in The Daily Mail

Jim Planck reported in The Daily Mail three local supermarkets will be acquired by Tops Friendly Markets. The Grand Unions in West Coxsackie and Tannersville, along with Bryant's in Greenville, are expected to be under new management by fall. Bryant's is a Grand Union store operating under the Bryant's banner. Tops is based in Williamsville, Erie County, and operates 153 stores throughout western and central New York and northwestern Pennsylvania. Current employees will be offered continued employment with Tops, and all stores will operate without interruption of service. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Nathan Mayberg reported in the Register Star talks are under way between Columbia County and the owners of Meadowgreens, a nine-hole golf course in West Ghent, for the purchase of 18 acres, intended to provide a runway protection zone for the Columbia County Airport. Commissioner of Planning and Economic Development Ken Flood said the county was directed to acquire the land by the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA is expected to fund 90 percent of the project, Flood told the paper. Meadowgreens' principal owner Carmen Nero said the county was interested in purchasing the entire property two years ago, but he declined. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Trevor Alford reported in the Register Star the Chatham Village Planning Board decided the Price Chopper site plan application is incomplete without a special use permit, a decision in direct conflict with the Chatham Village Board's vote granting an exemption for the project. At issue is Price Chopper's plan to construct a new, 43,000 square foot store in Chatham Plaza. Upon review of the application, the village Planning Board had questions about the scale of pictures presented, the adequacy of screening over time and concerns over negotiations between Price Chopper, Chatham Plaza and Francis Greenburger, a private property owner. Price Chopper’s options are to ask for clarification of the local law and exemption by the Chatham Village Board, or to take the matter to court for a decision on the exemption. Read the full story in the Register Star.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="480"] Rendering of the front side of Hampshire Real Estate's proposed remodel of Price Chopper in Chatham Plaza. (Courtesy of Protect Chatham)[/caption]