A new Northwest Bank branch in Brooklyn Square has a few hurdles left to clear after city Planning Commission members raised some interesting questions about potential DEC concerns with the site of the former Oriental Star restaurant.

Those concerns can likely be addressed in time for the commission to give site plan approval to the new bank branch within the next month.

But questions asked by Planning Commission members raise an interesting question that should be explored further – how much weight should the Chadakoin Riverwalk carry when discussing new development near the river? The discussion over the Northwest Bank branch this week focused much more on the river than discussion of a new Tim Hortons restaurant across the street when it was discussed by the Planning Commission in December.

There was lengthy discussion of potentially changing where Northwest Bank officials should place the building so it isn’t as distracting to Riverwalk users, how light from the bank’s ATMs would affect the Riverwalk and if the bank’s drive-through could be moved, in part because of the Riverwalk.

In the end, what Northwest Bank officials are proposing is an improvement over the vacant building now on the site. But a new Tim Hortons and a new Northwest Bank branch shouldn’t be the only developments coming to the area near the Chadakoin Riverwalk. At least, city residents should hope they aren’t the only developments discussed for the area.

Much like the Tim Hortons and a Northwest Bank branch will be improvements over the status quo, the Riverwalk is an improvement over what was along the Chadakoin River’s banks in the past. The area is better than it was, but there is still investment needed to truly unlock the Riverwalk’s potential to draw people to the Chadakoin River.

Planning Commission members are right to consider the Riverwalk when discussing development near the trail. A lot of money and time has been spent to make the river someplace nice to visit. But the Riverwalk doesn’t pay taxes. New businesses do. And until the Riverwalk begins to generate revenue in terms of visitors and activity, it should be a factor for neighboring development, but not the determining factor.