The Peru Gazette

By Donald McBrayer

The barriers at the north exit of the Grand Union Plaza were addressed at the Planning Board meeting on Wednesday, November 10th. They will be coming down soon.  A Planning Board decision on April 14th, 2009 required the placement of the barriers because the land the exit crosses is actually owned by the New York Sate Department of Transportation (NYSDOT). It was originally a driveway for a house once owned by Charlie Barber.

An original site-plan for the approval of the pharmacy contained a condition that the exit be permanently blocked. It was never acted upon and the route became a popular exit-way for the plaza. The exit did not have signs so the the town was concerned that it could create a traffic flow problem which might result in the town being liable in the event of an accident.

Winfried Holderied, the plaza’s owner, has been negotiating the NYSDOT for permission to use the access. At Wednesday’s Planning Board meeting Holderied provided documents granting him permission from NYSDOT to use the area in question. The Planning Board responded by granting approval for the exit. Signs indicating the exit will be an exit only are already in place and the barriers are expected to come down within the next few days.