Town officials displeased with Pride’s proposed expansion

Date: 7/18/2011

July 18, 2011

By Chris Maza

Reminder Assistant Editor

LONGMEADOW — At a public hearing on July 20, Pride Stations and Stores will appear before the Planning Board to discuss plans for the expansion of the company’s location at 1730 Longmeadow Road.

According to documents from the office of Planning and Community Development, Pride’s site plan proposes the addition of one gasoline service island and the replacement of the 32-by-32 foot retail structure with a much wider 80-by-32 foot store.

A request for comment from the company’s president, Marsha Del Monte, was not answered as of press time, but a memorandum from the company to the Planning Board states, “Based on site observations during peak operating hours, it was concluded that the site was in high demand. Long queues of up to three or four vehicles per vehicle fueling station would be present, would prevent additional vehicles from being able to enter the site, and would prevent safe vehicle circulation.”

However, Walter Gunn, chair of the Planning Board, said that not everyone is pleased with the company’s plans.

“Nobody likes it,” Gunn said.

Gunn indicated that the site plan provided by the company and its owner, Robert Bolduc, is lacking in several areas and is not very clear.

“Bob Bolduc has provided us with very little information on what exactly he plans to do,” Gunn said. “He wants to add pumps, he wants to build a new building. He hasn’t offered much in the way of a plan for traffic, except one curb cut removal.”

He went on to say that the town’s public safety departments filed reports that have been made public which state their concerns about the plan.

The Fire Department is questioning the legality of adding extra pumps,” Gunn said. “People are already complaining about the in and out traffic. That spot is already notorious for accidents and the Police Department has had to respond to altercations between motorists.”

In his report, Police Chief Robert Siano confirmed reports of assaults and recommended changes to the site plan in regards to entry and traffic flow.

“Due to higher gasoline prices in Connecticut, many customers are obtaining their fuel at this station. This creates significant traffic problems, especially during rush hours. Traffic attempts to enter and exit via the driveway cuts on Route 5,” Siano’s report reads. “Northbound traffic is either forced to wait in line or utilize the restricted right turn only lane to proceed into Longmeadow.”

Siano proposed the driveway cuts on Route 5 be eliminated and vehicles only be allowed entry through a driveway on Connecticut Avenue. Vehicles under Siano’s plan would only be allowed to exit through a driveway on South Avenue.

Fire Chief Eric Madison stated in his report, “From a public safety perspective, we are concerned about the additional gas pumps being proposed on the southern end of the existing gas pumps. It is our concern that there is not enough room for traffic flow while vehicles are fueling at these pumps, and this could pose a potential public safety and fire issue while vehicles fuel. It is our recommendation that these additional pumps not be installed.”

Gunn added that the lighting at the current store is too bright and violates town by-laws.

Pride has also purchased the abutting property, which is on the other side of the border of Massachusetts and Connecticut.

The plans provided to the office Planning and Community Development do not indicate that the company plans to expand onto that property, known as 1734 Longmeadow Road, Enfield, Conn., but does indicate the company wishes to do away with at least part of one of the existing structures on that lot. Gunn said it appears Pride wishes to do away with the buffer between the two properties as well.

“I really don’t know what he’s planning to do with it,” Gunn said. “All Bob Bolduc sees is that gas is cheaper in Massachusetts, I think.”