Little Falls, NY – July 24, 2025 – The City of Little Falls Planning Board unanimously approved a series of measures on Thursday to facilitate Adirondack Bank’s proposed move from its current location at 500 E Main Street to a new site at 699 E Main Street, paving the way for the bank to relocate operations by the end of the year.
Rocco F. Arcuri, Sr., President and CEO of Adirondack Bank, presented the plan to the board, emphasizing the benefits for customers and the community. Arcuri answered concerns over the condition of the existing building and ownership issues. “By moving the bank to another location, it’s going to be better for our customers and also for the market.”
The current site at 500 E Main Street has served as the bank’s branch for over 25 years, but Arcuri noted challenges as a tenant, including maintenance difficulties. The proposed new location at 699 E Main Street, previously used by Little Falls Hospital for office functions, requires a zoning change.
The property was rezoned from C1 (commercial) to R3 (residential) to accommodate the hospital. The bank now seeks a use variance to revert it to C1.
Arcuri addressed potential concerns about traffic and operations, stating that branch volumes have decreased since the COVID-19 pandemic, with many transactions now being handled digitally.
“Our volumes are down in branches, but you still need a branch… If you look at the trend, it’s about 30 transactions or seats, each taking about 30 minutes per day. It’s not a lot of cars,” he explained.
He assured the board that peak times between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. would not cause backups. The move includes modifications to the building for improved access, such as partial demolition in the back for professional parking.
The Planning Board took decisive action during the meeting, unanimously declaring itself as the lead agency under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). They initiated the SEQRA process, completed Parts 2 and 3 of the review, and adopted a Negative Declaration, indicating that the project would have no significant environmental impacts.
Following these approvals, the board unanimously voted to refer the matter to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) for consideration of the use variance. The ZBA is scheduled to review the proposal at its next meeting on July 31, 2025, at 10 a.m.
Arcuri expressed optimism about staying in the area, noting efforts to find a suitable site nearby. “We do want to stay in the small communities. I will tell you, we did a lot of work looking for a site,” he said, referring to the proximity and community ties.
The relocation is viewed as a positive step for the bank and the city, addressing building concerns while maintaining local banking services. Board members raised questions from prior discussions but appeared satisfied with the presentation, leading to a unanimous decision.
Further details on the ZBA meeting are available through the City of Little Falls clerk and the public notice that was posted.
