The Grand Island Town Board’s refusal to allow an entrance lane from Whitehaven Road into the Tops plaza is “a deal-breaker” for development of a KeyBank at that location.

The board voted 3-2 Monday to approve a site plan for the KeyBank project, but with modifications that deleted a proposed turning lane from Whitehaven Road.

“The board finds the need for the Whitehaven turn-in lane does not justify the risk to public safety, including pedestrian safety,” Supervisor Peter McMahon read in a statement prior to the vote. McMahon and councilmembers Mary Cooke and Richard Crawford voted for the modified site plan. Councilmembers Susan Argy and Gary Roesch voted against.

The project had been on the table for the last 18 months, with Benderson Development heading back to the drawing board numerous times trying to address concerns by the various town advisory boards that considered the site plan. Attorney Sean Hopkins representing Benderson, developers of the project, addressed the board Monday and asked the board to consider the numerous modifications made since the project’s inception, which included removal of an exit from the plaza onto Whitehaven near the intersection with Grand Island Boulevard. He also asked the board to consider the positive recommendations made by the town’s Traffic Safety Advisory Board, Planning Board and Architectural Review Board.

“I’m unaware of any project, at least since I’ve been doing this in the last 10 years, in which you’ve received positive recommendations from all three of those boards and committees and then issued a decision that was not consistent with those recommendations,” Hopkins said.