Mar 22, 2025
OBSERVER Photo by M.J. Stafford Fredonia Planning Board Chairman Brian Luce eyes a site plan for a proposed Sonic restaurant on Route 60. The planning board approved the site plan.
The site plan for a proposed Sonic fast food restaurant on Route 60 was approved by the Fredonia Planning Board this week.
Board members had a lengthy, detailed discussion over the plan. It was basically centered around this fact: Planners must attempt to please not only burger seekers, but bowlers and hospital users.
That diverse crowd could be coming to the area because the Sonic is planned for part of what is now Lucky Lanes’ parking lot and side lawn; the restaurant would also be directly adjacent to a slated Route 60 access driveway for the new Brooks-TLC Hospital.
Two people involved in Sonic’s plans — Andrew Tredo of Marino Engineering and Kevin DiPirro, franchisee — passed out site plans to the board. Tredo said the basic layout is not much different than what was initially presented last fall, but “we basically squeezed the layout to the north as far as we can” in response to concerns about blocking Lucky Lanes’ frontage.
A similar concern about blocking frontage means the Sonic would have a “monument sign” on the ground, rather than a raised sign on a pole as many adjacent restaurants have. Project planners also granted a request by Brooks-TLC, to offset anything on the property at least five feet from the driveway to the hospital that’s going in.
Planning Board Chairman Brian Luce inquired about the time frame for the project. He was told they’d be ready to break ground soon after the site plan gets finalized, but no date was offered. DiPirro later said he envisioned “120 days max(imum) site work.”
The restaurant would not have seating but would have an outdoor patio. “It’s a lot in a little bit of space,” Luce said.
Sonic’s parking would be striped; Lucky Lanes’ current lot is not. That spurred a meandering discussion about striping the whole lot.
Local attorney John Gullo, representing Lucky Lanes owner Paul Nocek, said Nocek was concerned that striping the lot would upset his customers. However, “obviously we will comply with whatever you require,” Gullo added.
“I don’t understand the concern with the customers,” Planning Board member Ron Johnson flatly stated. Gullo said he was simply expressing his client’s concerns.
Board member David Fridmann commented the issue would be easier to deal with if the Sonic site was simply parceled out. However, the Lucky Lanes limited liability company will retain ownership of the site, apparently leasing part of it for the Sonic.
The site plan approval was made contingent on several minor changes, including a move of the restaurant’s trash bins.
DiPirro has had Moe’s and Cinnabon franchises, and currently runs four Sonics elsewhere in the region.
“I’m excited about the market here,” the Buffalo resident said. “I think there’s a ton of potential here.”
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