Planning Board approves Route 1 gas station site plan with revised access design

Drew Orlowski of Haley Ward, representing Route 1 Gas LLC, presented final revisions to the proposed gas station and convenience store at 952 Portland Road. Orlowski said the project team addressed peer‑review and staff comments on landscaping, lighting and drainage and adopted a revised access layout intended to discourage left turns across several lanes of Route 1.

Orlowski told the board the project’s traffic counts were updated (January counts with seasonal adjustment and May counts) and the team ran SIM traffic models; the peer reviewer accepted the revised modeling. On lighting, the applicant proposed dimmable canopy fixtures that will be set at occupancy to meet the city’s 20‑foot‑candle limit and hardwired to prevent future adjustment.

Board members praised the redesigned islands, pavement markings and signing that direct drivers to exit right and discourage unsafe maneuvers. Public Works and planning staff indicated remaining minor details could be worked out as conditions of approval. The board reopened the public hearing, received no public comment, adopted findings and conditions and approved the site plan and conditional‑use application by unanimous vote.

Next steps: applicant must satisfy drafting and minor plan edits noted by staff and coordinate wayfinding signage with the city before occupancy.