The Tiverton Zoning Board of Review (ZBR) has held numerous meetings regarding the Colbea Enterprises application for three special use permits for an eight-bay, regional gas station, convenience store, and drive-through restaurant at the intersection of Souza Road and Schooner Drive with narrow, two-lane Main Road. Their consultants have given testimony as to why this project should be permitted. The community-based Preserve Tiverton’s expert witnesses have presented testimony outlining the ways in which this proposal does not meet all six criteria for each of the three required special use permits Colbea seeks. Members of the community recognize the intersection cannot safely accommodate such a high volume, high traffic regional enterprise. They cannot see how this proposed project can possibly meet the requirements. Many have attended meetings, asked questions, presented information, written letters and emails to ZBR members and sent letters to local newspapers stating their arguments against this project. Townspeople are understandably concerned about the impact a project of this scale backed by Shell Oil Co. will have on their safety and quality of life in our small town, especially for those in the residential and historic area that it will encroach upon so dramatically.

The requirements that must be satisfied are:

• The public convenience and welfare will be served.

• It will not be detrimental to the public health, safety, morals or welfare.

• It will be compatible with neighboring uses and will not adversely affect the general character of the area.

• It will not create a nuisance in the neighborhood, nor hinder or endanger vehicular or pedestrian movement.

• It will have adequate provision made for water service, sanitary sewage disposal and fire protection. The board may accept reports of the state department of health and registered professional engineers, land surveyors or sanitarians, as proof of the adequacy of these facilities.

• It will be compatible with the Comprehensive Community Plan.

The members of the zoning board have been charged with a careful and thorough review of the materials submitted by Colbea; the testimony of the experts hired by Preserve Tiverton; and the points made  by many townspeople who have expressed their objections strongly.

While it is a weighty and serious decision for the ZBR because the safety and welfare of the public is at stake, it is also a straight-forward one. The application is deficient and has failed to satisfy the requirements.

One compelling example of a deficiency is the failure on the part of their traffic expert to include any calculation of the volume of vehicles that Colbea fully expects to draw from Route 24, which matters to the accuracy of their traffic analysis as does their lack of attention to the school bus runs on Main Road. How can the applicant’s testimony fail to address the impact of a substantial increase in traffic from Route 24 onto Main Road and Souza Road, or the fact that school children are getting on and off buses on Main Road regularly from September to June? They cannot gloss over or ignore the importance of such significant data. And yet, they have done so. It seems they have also underestimated the volume of delivery truck traffic servicing their three businesses.

If permitted, this project will do irreparable damage to Tiverton. It will put a huge burden on this community with dangerous traffic congestion as well as air, light, and noise pollution. It will put the people of our community in harm’s way every time they venture through or near the Main Road/Souza Road/Schooner Drive intersection. For some, that intersection cannot be avoided.

I acknowledge the dedication of the ZBR members and recognize their due diligence over many months. I thank them for their patience and thoroughness in this review and their service to our community. As key decision-makers in the case of Seasons, they have been entrusted with full responsibility for the safety and well-being of Tiverton’s residents and visitors. I urge them to deny these permits in the interest of the safety and welfare of everyone in Tiverton.

Gayle Lawrence

Tiverton