Residents tell Veneta commission gas station plan would worsen traffic, tanker safety and local competition

A lengthy string of public commenters urged Veneta’s Planning Commission to reject the US Market proposal on safety, environmental and economic grounds during the April 7 hearing.

Speakers told the commission the Jeans Road and Territorial Highway intersection already posed hazards and that adding a 24-hour fueling and drive-through coffee operation would increase crash risk and complicate fuel deliveries. Debra Taylor, who said her husband drives gas-delivery tankers, called the proposed tanker turning radius “a nightmare.” Mary Monette said the site was too small, calling the plan “trying to cram an elephant into a sardine can.” Monica Henry warned that drivers would likely “zoom through” the slip lane despite speed-control measures, increasing collision risk for pedestrians and neighborhood traffic.

Several commenters questioned whether the town needed another fuel and coffee option, saying existing businesses already serve current demand and that new competition could harm local employers. Amanda Bomark and Sam Fowler pressed for independent traffic analysis and argued Oakley Estates’ required improvements should not be the sole burden of adjacent property owners. Rebecca Cox and others asked the city to clarify public-notice materials and deadlines, citing difficulty locating consistent application information on the city website.

Commissioners reiterated the hearing’s purpose is to judge conformance with approval criteria, not market preferences, but the record showed broad resident concern about pedestrian safety for Elmira-bound students, seasonal fair and train-related congestion, and tanker-delivery constraints. The public comment period closed before applicant rebuttal and commission deliberation.