Queueing at the drive-thrus of Dunkin Donuts shops in the area spill out onto roadways at times, said Planning Board member Rosemary Eva. ‘I don’t think it fits in that neighborhood,” said Hardy, suggesting it might be better to locate it closer to the town’s industrial park off Fish Road. The town’s zoning ordinance requires that new projects be compatible and fit in with the neighborhood, he said. “We want to see something that is attractive and gets away from the strip mall look,” Hardy said of proposed commercial developments. And the intersection of Main and Souza roads is “problematic to say the least." The neighborhood within a quarter-mile of the site is “almost entirely residential and fairly expensive,” said Planning Board Vice Chairman Stuart Hardy, and is “within spitting distance” of federalist-style homes that are part of a National Historic Register District. “It’s not appropriate for that area,” said Planning Board member Adam Rapoza. She also said the design is “cookie-cutter.” “It’s a difficult proposition for this area.” “The drive-thru is a real issue too and the amount of traffic,” said Gill of the impact to the area. “The idea of it being 24 hours in a residential neighborhood is an issue,” said Planning Board Chairwoman Susan Gill. Planning Board members also had plenty to say. Several residents said there are already three gas stations within a mile of the site and another is not needed, especially now that demand has dropped because many people are working from home and the auto industry is producing more electric vehicles not reliant on gasoline.Ī project like this could also put the “Mom and Pop” businesses nearby out of business, some said. There would also be a couple of dozen parking spaces for the store. Eight cars could be at the gas pumps at any one time, and 10 cars could stack for the drive-thru. The front portion is zoned Pedestrian Friendly that requires buildings to be closest to the street with parking in the rear.Ĭarpini said they’d want curb cuts on both Main and Souza roads. The site, formerly part of an oil-storage tank farm, is zoned General Commercial. About 15,000 cars pass the site every day.Ī special use permit from the Zoning Board of Review would be required for the project, said Building Inspector William Moore. The average sale is 8 to 10 gallons, he said. “That area is going to continue to grow and develop,” Carpini said of what attracted them to the site and their expectation to sell up to 140,000 gallons of gasoline a month. The board of directors of over-55 high-end condominium development wrote a letter of opposition, as did several residents of the development.Īndrew Delli Carpini, whose father-in-law started Colbea Enterprises 60 years ago with two stores, said they bought the 1.5-acre parcel four years ago. The intersection of Main and Souza roads is across from an entrance to the 204- residential unit The Villages on Mount Hope Bay and Boat House restaurant. Please let it stop here,” wrote David Formanek, “or at least be restricted to zoned sites already tarnished by greedy ugliness….Tiverton remains beautiful and historic, but those qualities are at risk every time ground is broken for construction.” “Nearly everywhere in America, the good, the natural, and the historic are being turned into blacktop, plastic and steel. This type of station is thoroughly out of character with Tiverton’s coastal, residential and small scale business attributes. Maureen Morrow said home valuations in the area would “free-fall. Susan Anderson who lives in a historic house close by said the proposal does not meet the plan’s “mantra of the small town, historic rural and scenic character.” Others pointed out the proposal does not meet the guidelines of the town’s Comprehensive Community Plan. “Many of us live here to get away from urban eyesores like that.” “Residents do not want to live near brightly lit 24/7 convenience stores,” wrote resident Kendra Furman.
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