Battle Over More Tobacco Sales Near Binghamton Elementary School

A plan to open a convenience store that would sell tobacco products in a Binghamton neighborhood is drawing opposition from residents and a city commission.

The owner of a building at 249 Conklin Avenue is seeking permission for a business to operate at the site, which is less than 1,000 feet from Benjamin Franklin Elementary School.

Members of Binghamton's planning commission are opposed to allowing the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco items so close to the school.

Pyawer Doski acquired the property at the corner of Conklin Avenue and Tompkins Street for $150,000 in January 2020.

Doski said he briefly rented the space for use as an auto repair shop. He said he's been unable to find another tenant for the building since that business closed.

He said he's been approached by some people interested in operating a convenience store at the site. But he told planning commission members he'll be unable to get a tenant for the space if they aren't permitted to sell tobacco.

Members of the commission in April indicated they were opposed to tobacco sales at the site.

At a public hearing this month, the panel heard from city residents who also are against allowing another store to sell cigarettes and other related items so close to the school.

Although the planning commission is recommending rejection of the application for a store that would sell tobacco products, City Council could ignore that guidance and vote to approve the store. It's not known whether lawmakers will be asked to consider the property owners request to allow such sales.

Several stores near Franklin Elementary School currently sell tobacco products. They are permitted to do so because they were operating before the city changed the minimum distance between such a business and a school from 500 feet to 1,000 feet.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or call (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @bobjoseph.bsky.social on Bluesky or @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.