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Colia Enterprises unveils larger convenience store and reduced fueling islands; formal vote delayed for notice problem
Summary
Developers proposed demolishing the existing gas station at 1980 Woodbury Ave and building a one-story 5,500 sq ft convenience store with a 12-dispenser canopy; the planning board received the presentation and provided feedback but did not vote because of a public-notice defect.
Colia Enterprises presented conceptual site plans Jan. 22 for a comprehensive redevelopment of the service station at 1980 Woodbury Avenue: demolition of the existing structures and construction of a one-story, 5,500-square-foot convenience store with a new fueling canopy that would include six islands (12 dispensers) and on-site stormwater treatment.
Chris Rice of TFAN, representing the applicant, said the proposal replaces the current 1,800-square-foot convenience store and an eight-island canopy with a slightly larger store and four fewer fueling dispensers than exist today. “We’re proposing to demolish all the existing structures on site and build a new one-story 5,500 convenience store that will also include a new fueling canopy,” Rice said, summarizing the scheme and noting the team’s stormwater and landscaping commitments.
Because the application had a notice irregularity, the planning board did not conduct a vote and said a full public hearing and vote will occur at a later meeting (anticipated Feb. 19). The board nevertheless provided detailed feedback and asked for clarifications about lighting, snow-storage and trash operations, curb-cut geometry and impacts on nearby housing authority properties.
The applicant said the design reduces the number of fueling islands and will meet city stormwater regulations through pre-treatment, treatment and detention on site. The development team said they provided 27 parking spaces — counting pump positions — and a landscape plan with 12 trees and extensive shrubs.
Board members asked about the driveway geometry and the risk of drivers cutting through the site to avoid backups at the adjacent intersection; the team said they narrowed one curb cut where feasible but retained required widths for fuel and delivery trucks. The applicant acknowledged a need for signage clarifying permitted turning movements and said they would consider a “right-turn-only” sign on the Galing Road exit.
Colia’s construction director said routine snow-removal will rely on trucking out large accumulations due to limited on-site snow storage; the team said they operate similar high-activity sites and plan 24/7 on-site maintenance.
With the notice issue resolved, the applicant expects to return for a formal public hearing and vote the following month; the board requested a lighting plan and additional details on fencing and screening along the housing authority property and asked the applicant to consider signage and loading/delivery logistics before the next hearing.
