OLEAN — A new chain auto parts store is being planned for part of the former Archbishop Walsh Academy site.

The city of Olean planning board set a public hearing for 6 p.m. June 23 at the Olean Municipal Building for a site plan review by O’Reilly Auto Enterprises for 2230 W. State St. — the narrow street frontage of the former Catholic school campus. The board also issued a negative declaration under the State Environmental Quality Review process, clearing a regulatory hurdle for the 7,200-square-foot commercial structure.

O’Reilly, founded in Missouri in 1957, has more than 6,400 locations in North America. The chain operates several stores in Erie and Chautauqua counties, including one in Springville. Along with locally-owned stores, other similar businesses in the area include chain locations operated by Advance Auto Parts just outside the city limits on the West End and Autozone on the 1000 block of West State Street.

“It’s a great site and we’re happy to be here,” said Hayden Woods of Bohler Enterprises, the engineering firm representing O’Reilly for the project.

Planning board members asked about several variances applied for through the code enforcement office, such as a greenspace variance for the front of property, which Woods said was recommended by codes officials instead of moving the building north and entering a residential-3 zoning area and requiring a special use permit. The city Zoning Board of Appeals issued an area variance allowing for the greenspace and parking concerns in April.

Also discussed was an on-site stormwater drainage system to handle rainfall and snow melt, access through the area to the former school parking lot behind, lighting, facade improvements,

Built in 1959, in February 2023 Southern Tier Catholic School officials announced the school’s lower grades would move from the campus to the former St. John’s School in North Olean at the start of the 2023-24 school year and high school instruction would end at that time. Buffalo-based Ellicott Development purchased the site in December 2023 for $200,000 after an auction as the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo reorganized under bankruptcy protection triggered by lawsuits over child sexual abuse allegations against priests.