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Developer pitches gas station and convenience store for South River Road; DOT signal timing and access are key hurdles
Summary
South River Road Ventures presented a conceptual plan for a gas station, convenience store and electric chargers at South River Road and Technology Drive; the board asked the applicant to coordinate with the N.H. Department of Transportation on a planned roadway project and to provide a full traffic study before returning for formal review.
A developer and a prospective operator presented a conceptual plan on May 5 for a 12‑fuel‑position service station and a roughly 6,000‑square‑foot convenience store with a drive‑through at the corner of South River Road and Technology Drive.
Owner Elias Petujas said the property previously had approval for a 41,500‑square‑foot auto dealership that did not proceed, and that he has had follow‑up interest in a range of retail and housing uses. Petujas said the site would work for a well‑designed convenience store operation and that YATCO Energy — a regional fuel and c‑store operator — is interested in the site.
Engineer Bob Veil presented an access scheme that relies on Technology Drive and a right‑in/right‑out on South River Road. He said the N.H. Department of Transportation is designing improvements for South River Road that could include a signal at the intersection; the town and applicant expect DOT to review the driveway configuration during its design process. Veil said a formal traffic study will be required as part of any formal application.
Planning staff reminded the board that gas stations in the performance zone are a conditional use that generally requires access to or proximity to a signalized intersection; the applicant said the proposed DOT improvements and potential signal would be central to the plan’s viability. Staff and board members asked the applicant to coordinate closely with DOT and to study shared access arrangements to reduce curb cuts.
Why it matters: The site sits at an increasingly developed corridor of South River Road and could anchor additional retail development; however, safety and capacity concerns on the state‑owned corridor and the requirement for a signalized intersection for conditional use evaluations make DOT coordination and a robust traffic study essential.
What happens next: The applicant will pursue additional engineering and a traffic study and meet again with DOT; the board asked the applicant to return with more detailed circulation and signal‑planning information before a formal application is accepted.
