A new Northwest Bank branch in Brooklyn Square will remain conceptual for a while longer.

Jamestown Planning Commission members approved tabling the site plan approval for the site of the former Oriental Star restaurant after concerns were raised about potential state DEC approvals that may be necessary given the site’s status as a former brownfield cleanup site and its proximity to the Chadakoin River. The motion to table the agreement was 3-2.

Concerns raised also included the commission member Jeff Nelson’s desire to see an expanded drawing for the site that takes a larger view of the parcel, agreements for use of parking and access roads from the owner of the Riverwalk Center, how disposal material is going to be hauled away and if improvements could be made to the back of the proposed bank branch to make the building more attractive to those using the Chadakoin Riverwalk.

“I don’t want to hold anybody up, but I would have a much better comfort level having had some of those questions answered that I addressed previously,” said Greg Lindquist, Planning Commission member. “I can get by right now with the siting of the building and the Riverwalk. I’d like to see a final landscape plan with additional green screening along the back edge of the employee parking area that would screen a little bit more from the Riverwalk to the back of the building. Basically, right now it’s just a blank wall with three windows. Or, doing something with the back of the building so it’s more aesthetically pleasing when you’re walking down the Riverwalk.”

Andy Johnson, a civil engineer for the project, said Northwest Bank officials want to close the retail operation of its location at Third and Main streets, though offices would remain at the downtown site. The retail bank would then move to Brooklyn Square in a more modern building with a drive-through. Traffic patterns aren’t expected to change from the site’s former use as a restaurant, though the existing building would be demolished for a new structure. Grading and water flow shouldn’t change much, Johnson said.

The main holdup on approval is the potential involvement of the state Department of Environmental Conservation, which Lindquist said may be required because of agreements from the original cleanup of the site from manufacturing to retail as part of the 1970s urban renewal project. Johnson said he wasn’t aware of the DEC stipulation prior to the Planning Commission meeting.

“I think the soil review that you have, again in my humble opinion, is insufficient to know (if there) is the possibility of contaminants being brought up and how deep will the excavation have to go to remove the existing structure that’s on the property. … I’m not an environmental engineer and I don’t pretend to be. I’m just a simple person looking at the data that is currently available from public resources,” Lindquist said.

Bank officials said the project isn’t ready to proceed immediately due to the number of approvals that still have to be received. Planning Commission members hoped to be able to approve the site plan either at the regular April commission meeting or at a special meeting if the information requested can be pulled together quickly.

Project officials reiterated several times that they view the project as an improvement over what’s currently on the site and tried to work on ways to help the branch blend into the nearby parkland and the Riverwalk.

“The aesthetics of the Riverwalk and trying to assure that all of the work and all the funds and everything that went into both building and maintaining the Riverwalk may be able to be preserved to the best of our abilities,” Lindquist said. “I believe there is a local waterfront redevelopment program that was approved that gives further guidance to that and what the city and the Planning Commission is looking for when the project is sited and you’re close to the Riverwalk.”