Potential travel center coming to the City of Elmira

ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY) -- A travel center could soon be coming to the City of Elmira.

The travel center will be located at 905 E. Church St., just off of I-86. The 24-hour station will have gas pumps for semi-trucks and cars, electric vehicle chargers, a mini-mart with some restaurants, extensive parking and a vehicle service facility.

The Chemung County Planning Board reviewed a site plan at its meeting Thursday for the project. The planning board made some recommendations to the project, like adding landscaping and some park-like amenities for travelers.

"We don't want people coming in and seeing a big asphalt field with cars and trucks and all that," said Joseph Coletta, chair of the Chemung County Planning Board. "We want to make it a little more amenable for folks when they come into the city. And I think this project... is really going to be good."

The board also requested a traffic study be performed to see if the roads can handle the amount of traffic the center could get. The New York Department of Transportation is conducting it. Members want builders to consider dark sky lighting as well.

The planning board showed concern over a requested elevated sign over the highway advertising the travel center when built. They requested developers look at other signage options, like adding the location to existing signs on the highway.

Below are plans for the site as shared in the Chemung County Planning Board meeting Thursday:

Planning board members recommended the project move forward with their comments taken into account, subject to the City of Elmira's approval.