A contentious proposal for a new gas station and country store at 290 West Main Street in has sparked heated debate among residents. The project, proposed by businessman Kevin Meehan’s Rte 85 Realty Corp, aims to transform the former Evergreen Haven Garden Center site into a commercial complex with a 4,000-square-foot country store and four gas pump islands.
>> RELATED: Country Store Proposed Atop School Street
Opposition:
A coalition of residents has organized against the project, collecting nearly 100 signatures from residents and taxpayers.
- Environmental Risks: Residents fear potential leaks from buried gas tanks could affect nearby Lake Maspenock due to high water tables.
- Traffic Congestion: Opponents argue the area already experiences significant traffic issues that a gas station could worsen.
- Safety Issues: Residents emphasize the need for proper vetting by the Fire Department, given the site’s distance from emergency services.
- Zoning Considerations: Many prefer the project follow standard vetting channels rather than seeking a variance, as the land is currently zoned for agriculture.
Environmental and Regulatory Concerns
- Contamination Risks: Gas stations can leak petroleum, potentially contaminating groundwater, soil, and air up to 500 feet away.
- Long-term Impacts: Cleanup of gas station leaks can be costly and time-consuming, often taking years to remediate.
- Regulatory Processes: The developer plans to go through proper channels, including site plan approval, notice to the Conservation Commission, and a formal design review.
- Stormwater Management: The proposal includes plans for a new stormwater management system.
Benefits:
- Convenience for Commuters: Supporters argue the project would provide needed services for drivers west of Interstate 495.
- Traffic Management: Some believe the station could help manage existing traffic by providing a place for commuters to stop during peak periods.
- Authentic Country Store: Proponents appreciate the developer’s vision for a genuine country store.
- Modern Amenities: The inclusion of electric vehicle charging stations is viewed positively.
What drivers’s get this so called “convenience “ mentioned?
Those from Upton,Grafton, Northbridge, etc where 1000’s of cars come from every day. More than 90% outside Hopkinton?
ZBA must vote by the law and must consider the many detriments to abutters, & A zoned “neighborhood “ and few if any benefits we can already get elsewhere without those detriments because they are zoned properly.
Also no one will hang out during peak hrs which run 3 hrs morning & night. However, there is good chance of an accident as they try to pull out into oncoming traffic.
The 1000’s of drivers coming from the West are from Grafton, Uxbridge, Grafton, Northbridge, Upton, etc.
I don’t believe Hopkinton bylaws make provisions for making conveniences for citizens outside of Hopkinton, at the detriment of the abutters and neighborhood associated with the project.
The biggest issue with the proposed development is that it requires a variance or change in zoning which has the overarching mandate to preserve the character of certain geographies.
The subject property is zoned Agricultural which, by right, would allow for agricultural or residential uses, both of which have been made there in recent memory. There is nothing about the site that has change since then that prevents further conforming use.
This is not an anti-business stance. An agricultural business could move it to take Evergreen Haven’s place. A farm-to-table restaurant could be built as a use accessory to primary agricultural use. But a gas station and convenience store would be a derogation of the primary purpose of zoning and a detriment to the neighborhood, both of which mandate that the Zoning Board of Appeals deny the requested relief.
It seems that adding this option for locals and travelers outweighs the specious arguments in opposition. I do not want to live in a NIMBY town trying to keep people from stopping here for fuel and food, at a superior business, and under the usual gripes. The location seems fine. Could we wait for more clarity before shooting this positive progress down. Studies matter. Speculation does not.
“Superior business” LOL! It’s a gas station, Chris! There are already 3 of them in our town! Each with its own junk food and beer convenience store.
They’re trying to bury gas tanks in a neighborhood zoned residential! That’s not a usual gripe.
4 gas stations — everyone forgets about Hopkinton Gas.
Don’t be fooled about the “Country Store”. Go check out Meehan’s country store and gas station in Mendon. It’s tacky and full of garbage. See if that’s what you want in Hopkinton.
Please us my initials for the posting DC
Dear DC,
I don’t know what your problem is, but I did go and visit the Country Store in Mendon and it is definitely NOT ‘tacky and full of garbage’. The store was impressively clean, stocked with an amazing selection of authentic old school toys like jump ropes, jacks, marbles, Honer harmonicas, books, card games, board games, puzzles, greeting cards and so much more. Think Santa’s Toy Shop! In fact, there was a train set high on the wall, continuously running on tracks around the interior perimeter of the whole store. Tacky? No. Unexpected and charming? Yes. With the loss of the downtown Hallmark store, the gift and card assortment here would be a welcome addition to Hopkinton. One could easily find a gift here for ages baby to adult seniors.
Just about everyone who came into the Mendon location, during my 20 minute visit, bought a gallon of milk which was competitively priced. There were dairy and non-dairy options. Also lots of snack food, cold drinks, frozen pizzas, etc. I was surprised by the variety in the Hardware section of the store, impressively stocked floor to ceiling.
In fact, ‘impressive’ is a recurring theme to the Mendon Country Store and the variety of items for sale. Please go see for yourself and form your own opinion.
CJ
Carol, we all know what a gas station junk store looks like, you don’t need to list all of the made in China cheap junk they are selling.
Only someone personally involved in the project would write what you just wrote.
Honestly, the one in Upton on 140 looks like the illegitimate Disney love child of the Country Bear Jamboree and Cars. No thanks.
I assume you are not serious right? You wrote a book here to promote a country store, a convenience store which 3 exist a mile away. All the milk you need 5 minutes away.
They can get a permit for that store right now!!
This is about a GAS STATION. And you are either unaware or like the developer trying to gloss over it. If you want one , or need one propose to change the zoning around your home. Then let us know how a station less than 170 ft from your back yard works out.
Well, there is no need for the abutters and for the neighborhood residence, and are completely familiar with the impact, the legal and technical issues to wait for anything
If you live in Hopkinton, and on a residential lot, be prepared for this potential precedent to destroy our/your present zoning and having a gas station built near you based on a hardship that does not exist from some developer.
The rezoning process ( in our bylaws) gets you all the studies you want, and puts it in front of a Town meeting. If that were to occur this proposal would be dead in 30 minutes. That’s why the developer is not going through that process..
I believe this would be an asset to our community. There was already a thriving business located on the property. I don’t recall any traffic problems or higher accident risks when the property was in operation, especially during the Christmas season when it was very busy. As for leaking gas storage tanks, this isn’t 1970. With state of the art modern construction and regulations, it’s almost impossible for these storage tanks to become compromised. I don’t remember anyone being concerned about chemicals being leaked on South Street when an active chemical plant was in operation there during the seventies. That property abutted residential lake front properties. Kevin Meehan is a good man and will be an asset to our town.
What this town desperately needs is another road that gives access to the schools and another option for the citizens of Upton, Grafton, and points west to exit 495 and/or the Mass Pike. It is ridiculous that there is only one road to get across our town, and equally ridiculous that we are the only option for Upton and Grafton residents to get home everyday. Both of these issues are, dare i say, easily fixable.
Here are my thoughts after a quick look at Google Maps.
1. a road that serves only as a connection (no more houses, no construction) between Lumber St. and Loop Rd. Open it only during school hours for buses and student drop-off. This would completely solve the back-ups at Wood St. and Pleasant St. each morning and afternoon.
2. a road that connects Lumber St. with Chamberlain St. that allows cars to bypass Main St. to get across town.
3. an off-ramp at either North St. or Upton Rd. that gives west bound commuters an opportunity to skip 495 and get off closer to home.
If traffic wasn’t so unnecessarily jammed up in our town, businesses like this country store wouldn’t be as big of a deal. We are 26.2 miles from downtown Boston, and I often feel trapped in my corner of the town because I don’t want to battle traffic. It is quicker for me to go spend my money in Milford at their restaurants and shops.
There have been many road projects proposed over the years that could have alleviated the traffic jams we are all experiencing, all of them have been shot down for one reason or another (usually NIMBY or town character related).
1. Whalen St does connect to Chamberlain St, but is blocked off so it can’t be used as a bypass of the town center
2. The extension of Parkwood Dr (Lumber St Ext) to connect to Wood St near Macintyre Loam was nixed
3. A double lane road connecting from the I495 Hopkinton via Hartford Ave/Sutton St all the way to RT 146 was nixed
4. An exit from the I495/Mass Pike onto Fruit St was nixed when the MBTA was looking for a spot for a train station
5. Turnpike Authority nixed any idea of using the access ramps from Wood St onto the Pike. The idea was to get trucks utilizing Harvey’s off the local roads
You are correct. And that’s why we have an out of town developer recognizing this cluster of an intersection that has 10,000 cars passing by it every day with only two lanes!!
Trying to jam a gas station in on an A zoned property. It’s a joke!!
It is agricultural. Leave it alone. The gas station will adversely impact the financial intergity of the property round it, neveer mind the traffic congestion that is clearly already extending down to Price Chopper.
This is already a busy intersection as it is during rush hour, and there are two gas stations right near the highway. If you’re coming from Upton, there are two there as well. Why do we need another one in the middle of a residential area?
Everyone knows that over time, even the best made containment systems can break down.
Do we seriously need another gas station in town?? We have 4 already – 2 within 200 yards of the 495 interchange – less than 30 seconds from the highway!! How much time are people really going to save?? I’m all for putting a “country store” in that location – I just don’t know why we need another gas station in town!!
In addition to the other concerns already raised, I am not in favor of a business that would presumably add bright lights to the area in the evening hours. The prior business closed early in the evening and blended with the neighborhood after dark. I haven’t seen any information about the planned operating hours but gas stations are generally open until 9pm or so.
As to the merchandise such as jump ropes, etc. they sound more akin to a tourist stop not household staples one would routinely purchase. I understand there will be milk and some other groceries but what is the mix and what cannot be purchased less than a mile down the road?
Here is the Facebook page for the Mendon Imperial Gas Station and Country Store. There are merchandise pictures some where the prices are visible. Don’t know what year the pictures were taken but the prices seem quite inflated to me. There seems to be a lot of sugary treats with wrappers (trash?) and less of what a real country store would offer (e.g Amato’s) referenced in the variance application. The Mendon store appears to be just over 2000 sq. ft. per the assessors record online. It also has 4 gas pumps per what is visible in pictures. Don’t know about EV chargers.
In Hopkinton, the store is around 4000 sq. ft. per the variance application with 4 gas pumps and a few EV chargers. Since the size of the store is double that of Mendon, my question is what is the hardship the wetland portion of the land is causing on the project?
Also, the Mendon location is open 6am to 10pm with a large neon road sign. The emphasis is on gas not the country store. It’s second billing on the sign.
https://www.facebook.com/ImperialGasandCountryStore/photos
I didn’t realize the large extent of Kevin Meehan’s development efforts until doing a bit of research. Here’s an article if you have interest.
https://www.wbjournal.com/article/mendon-auto-dealer-buys-uxbridges-bernat-mill-site