Whole Foods is one-step closer to becoming a reality in Brighton.
The Brighton Planning Board signed off on site plans for the Whole Foods proposal at a meeting earlier this week.
The project has stirred quite a controversy in the town, with residents saying the store would make traffic issues in the area worse.
Howie Jacobson is the Founder of Brighton Grassroots, an advocacy group fighting the new store.
"So we're very concerned about it because of traffic. To be clear, myself and Brighton Grassroots are in favor of a Whole Foods coming to Brighton. But under the context of an oversized plaza with an inaccurate traffic study, it’s just plain wrong."
But Danny Daniele, owner of Daniele Companies who is developing the project, says this plan has the opportunity to change and improve traffic patterns on Monroe Avenue.
"So with this project what were able to do is create a traffic signal connecting probably 15 different properties, so now rather than someone having to take the chance and make a left on a five lane high way, they can stop at the traffic signal and wait for a controlled access into that roadway."
Town Supervisor Bill Moehle also said the traffic studies were "vetted and are reliable."
Moehle is in favor of the project, saying it will be good for the town for a number of reasons including tax revenues and the ability to change traffic patterns.
"Most visibly removing those zombie properties, that's not the kind of gateway we're looking at for the town of Brighton."
With the sign off by the planning board, over 40 conditions were added to the approval as well.
Jacobson says these don’t make a difference to his group, with Daniele adding "conditions" are misleading, and standard practice.
"Even if you get an approval to put up a swimming pool in your backyard it comes with probably 35 conditions."
While Daniele says the approval is a giant step forward for the project, they still have a lot of work to do. Brighton Grassroots and another advocacy group Save Monroe Ave are suing the company as well as the town of Brighton.
He says this next step in the approval process represents almost fout years of working with the town and residents, who he says a majority of approve of the project.