Planning Board gives go-ahead to proposal for new 24 hour gas station on Eddie Dowling Highway

NORTH SMITHFIELD – The Planning Board granted preliminary approval last week to a project that would see a new gas station built on Eddie Dowling Highway on two lots that currently hold multi-family homes.

The houses at 1241 and 1253 Eddie Dowling Highway would be demolished to make way for applicant Zeshan Abid’s Village Gas, along with a drive through coffee shop, retail store and sandwich shop, if final plans are approved. The lots, currently owned by Cumberland-based Dynogra LLC, are situated just south of the Sayles Hill Road intersection, where a major reconfiguration project is currently underway, and are zoned business highway.

The new location would be added to Abid’s growing list of locally-owned gas stations, which currently includes businesses in Smithfield, Scituate, Foster and most recently, Burrillville. Abid would purchase the two highway lots, which total around six acres, and construct a 4,155-square-foot building on the properties, according to plans laid out by firm Compose Designs.

An attorney representing Abid, David D’Agostino of Gorham & Gorham, said the two lots have already been used as a commercial business for some time.

“The properties are now for sale,” D’Agostino explained.

The new business would be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and would feature eight regular and four diesel fuel dispensers, 18 parking spaces, a drive through coffee shop and a restaurant, with a few outdoor tables.

Gary DeBlois, senior project engineer for firm VERTEX, presented the project to planners, noting it is not yet known which restaurants would sublease space inside the new structure. In Burrillville, Fresh Pita and Brewology signed on as tenants in a similar project also developed by Abid.

“I don’t think it’s fully determined yet, but some type of sandwich shop,” DeBlois said of plans for the restaurant.

A study completed by PARE Corporation on how the initiative will affect the passing highway notes that the project is not anticipated to significantly change traffic patterns.

“As Eddie Dowling Highway is a high-speed roadway, a deceleration lane of approximately 140-feet will be provided for approaching drivers in order to decelerate outside the lanes of primary traffic,” the study notes. “Similarly, an acceleration lane of approximately the same length will be provided to allow exiting vehicles to accelerate before merging into traffic.”

Several neighbors expressed concern for private wells in the area and questioned if the project would worsen an ongoing issue with flooding.

“I have several rivers that are running through my yard when we have large storms,” said Jacqueline Gromkiewic, the owner of a property on Old Sayles Hill Road that abuts the highway properties. “My concerns are really about where the water’s going to go.”

“I’m concerned about my well water as well,” Gromkiewic said. “This new construction really, really worries me.”

In a letter, abutters Herbert & Betty Upham asked planners to get an independent environmental impact report.

“There are very serious concerns in regards to surrounding wells that provide neighborhoods with water and public water lines for the city of Woonsocket,” the Uphams noted, also pointing to flooding hazards. “This poses a compounding health risk. Gas stations so close to neighborhood wells, public water lines and wetlands have far reaching negative consequences that outweigh any potential benefits.”

In terms of flooding, DeBlois said the project would either change nothing, or would help alleviate the problem.

“We don’t want the road to flood,” he said. “We don’t want the site to flood. It could actually be improved.”

Planner Cynthia Roberts asked about Abid’s plan for the appearance of the building and surrounding landscape.

“It is still a gas station and convenience store – but it is still a very nice property when you’re driving by,” DeBlois said of Abid’s other locations. “It’s clean. It’s well kept. It’s well landscaped. It’s not just a sea of asphalt.”

The design plan is expected to undergo several changes before the applicant seeks final approval. DeBlois noted that the team does not yet know details of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation’s plans to build an access road nearby, and that engineers must still work with officials from the Woonsocket Water Department to account for water lines at the front of the lot.

Planer Jeffrey Porter suggested tabling the application so details could be added to the plans, but D’Agostino said the board’s approval was time sensitive, with financing for the purchase dependent on their decision.

“We would like to be able to leave here this evening with a preliminary approval,” D’Agostino said. “Obviously, there’s work that we have to do. We’re not afraid of doing that work.”

The plan was unanimously approved with stipulations that included submission of a detailed landscaping plan, an assessment of water runoff and a report on the current condition of wells in the area. Final approval of the project is also expected back before the Planning Board.

Abid said he’s happy to work with the town and neighbors to ensure everyone is happy with the outcome.

“Trust me – it’s going to be a beautiful building, for my own sake, but for the town’s sake too,” Abid said. “I’m not going to disturb anybody in the neighborhood. Whatever they want from me that’s reasonable, I’m willing to do it. These are the people that are going to give me business.”