GUILDERLAND — The zoning board here unanimously approved a special-use permit to allow the long-closed Westlawn Lanes bowling alley to become a strip mall.

“There’s some barbershops and dental offices that want to be in the neighborhood,” said developer David Zhang of potential tenants although he stressed discussions were preliminary.

The only person to comment at the Aug. 7 public hearing was Paul Miesing who said he lived in “the third house from the property” and did not oppose the project.

“I would be interested in participating in any conversation you might have with potential tenants,” Miesing told Zhang. “I see this as an opportunity, as more of a meeting area where the local citizens or residents can actually, you know, just walk down the street.”

The property is located at the corner of Western Avenue, Guilderland’s major thoroughfare, and Alvina Boulevard, a residential street.

The one-story brick building is on 1.5 acres, most of which is in a Local Business zone.

“The LB district, Local Business district, allows local retail businesses and provides for shopping, dining, professional services, and employment opportunities that are accessible from residential neighborhoods,” said Elizabeth Lott, who chairs the zoning board, which is the lead agency for the project. “You couldn’t get more residential than this.”

Zhang plans to convert the 14,750-square-foot building into four 25-by-80-fout suites that open onto Route 20 with another three suites, at 25 by 96 feet each, behind those, running across the back of the building, opening onto Alvina Boulevard.

Zhang had first appeared before the town’s planning board in March at which time the planning board’s chairman, Stephen Feeney, said, “There’s not a stitch of landscaping. There’s not a single tree. There's not a shrub. There's not a blade of grass. The parking in the front doesn’t even comply [with town code].”

Feeney acknowledged that the parking was existing and that “it’s kind of bizarre,” adding it had been that way for probably 60 years. But, he said, “It doesn’t meet our basic standards.”

Elizabeth Lott noted on Aug. 7 that Zhang had complied with the planning board’s recommendations.

“They wanted you to remove the five angled parking lots, which you did,” Lott said on Aug. 7. “And your revised plan increases the drive aisle to 24 feet.”

She also noted that the plan calls for planting both bushes and trees.

Zhang told the zoning board that he had followed the planning board’s recommendations. “I guess the direction of the town is to have some, you know, some green around,” he said.

Zhang said the part of the property that is zoned residential will “stay the way it is — it’s just good trees, existing vegetation.”

The hours of operation will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends for businesses who are renting space. The hours for retail shops will be from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends.

Plans call for new storefront windows and doors outside and partition walls inside along with restrooms that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The project narrative says two to three employees are anticipated for each 1,000 square feet of space. No loading dock is planned as deliveries are expected through the postal service, UPS, or FedEx.

Jacqueline Coons, the town’s chief building and zoning inspector, said the fire department hadn’t expressed any concerns about the planned conversion.

The zoning board accepted a negative declaration on the State Environmental Quality Review, meaning the project will not have a major environmental impact.

Lott read through the list, saying, “There will be no likely impact to the land, water, air, plant or animals, esthetics, historical or archeological sites, critical environmental areas, transportation, energy, noise, odor, public health ….”

Lott also said, “The proposed use is consistent with the comprehensive plan, which encourages repurposing buildings like Westlawn Lanes bowling alley to a viable commercial use … The proposed use is consistent with the predominant character of the existing landscape …

“It will not result in substantial increase in traffic because of the size and scope of the shopping center. CDTA has a bus service right in front of the building.”

Miesing, the neighbor who spoke at the hearing, described the build-up of traffic on Western Avenue. “It’s horrendous trying to make a left turn,” he said, noting that used to be the case only at rush hour. “Now it’s 24 hours.”

Miesing asked the board, “Is there any consideration of having eventually a traffic light put up there?”

Zoning board member Sharon Cupoli said that is a decision made by the state’s Department  of Transportation.

“Unfortunately, DOT’s rule is how many people have to die first before they put a traffic light there,” she said. “I am not being facetious … I have lived in this town long enough to have known that only traffic lights or third lanes go in after X number of accidents that claim lives.”