Commission presses Walmart team for tank, spill and maintenance details on Tiffany Boulevard fuel station plan
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Summary
Engineers outlined a proposal to add an 8-dispenser fuel station and kiosk at the Walmart on Tiffany Boulevard. Commissioners pressed for tank specifications, monitoring and O&M manuals, and asked the applicant to explore layout changes to move tanks and canopy farther from the 60-foot no-build buffer; the hearing was continued to Jan. 12, 2026.
Engineers for a proposed fuel station and convenience store at 677 Tiffany Boulevard told the Gardner Conservation Commission they plan a 1,618-square-foot kiosk building and an eight-dispenser fuel station with a 4,800-square-foot canopy at the Walmart supercenter site. Connor Ennis of Polar Engineering described existing conditions, wetlands buffer lines and a proposed stormwater system that includes deep-sump, hooded catch basins and a proprietary "jellyfish" water-quality unit.
Commission members pressed for technical details about the underground storage tanks, monitoring and alarm systems, fire-protection measures and how spill response would be handled. The chair said, "If this stuff spills and it goes into the catch basin, it's gonna overwhelm the catch basin ... and it's gonna drain towards the wetlands," and asked for the Walmart owner O&M manual and evidence of routine maintenance. Staff and consultants agreed to provide the operation and maintenance manual, tank specifications, jellyfish unit details and larger-format drawings; Ennis said the team would also investigate moving tanks and the canopy to reduce impacts on the 60-foot no-build buffer.
Because DEP comments and additional requested details were outstanding, the commission voted to continue the hearing to January 12, 2026.
