Greenwood residents keep watchful eye on proposed new, larger service station

By Tessa Roy
Posted 9/1/16

A few months ago, Gary Lonergan and some of his Chapmans Avenue neighbors heard rumors about upgrades to the Shell and Dunkin Donuts service station at the intersection of Routes 5 and 13. Since the location is so near their homes, Lonergan

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Greenwood residents keep watchful eye on proposed new, larger service station

Posted

A few months ago, Gary Lonergan and some of his Chapmans Avenue neighbors heard rumors about upgrades to the Shell and Dunkin Donuts service station at the intersection of Routes 5 and 13. Since the location is so near their homes, Lonergan became curious. After asking a worker he saw evaluating the site, he learned about plans to demolish the station, build a larger one, and add a drive-thru to the Dunkin Donuts.

A drive-thru would increase convenience for those visiting the service station. Customers would be able to pick up their morning coffee and fuel their cars without having to park. Plus, increased convenience could mean increased business for the station. However, the plan might not be so ideal for the people living near the station.

The station is already only 10 feet from the property line, and the proposed drive-thru would be 15 feet from it unless the plans change. This proximity might be a little too close for comfort. Lonergan and his neighbors are worried that trash and traffic on their street will increase greatly as a result of the drive-thru. (See Longergan’s letter in today’s paper.) City Council candidate Charles Donovan Jr., whom Lonergan approached about the issue, added that being so close could pose a danger to residents if the Chapmans Avenue entrance is used for fuel deliveries.

This entrance is a concern for many Chapmans Avenue residents. Lonergan said he doesn’t think it is “reality” to try to shut down the entire project as businesses need opportunities to expand, but that he and other residents would like the entrance near their homes to be closed.

“We aren’t trying to stop a business from growing. We just want them to be good neighbors,” Donovan said. “I’m looking forward to any more public discussions to be had.”

Donovan has met with residents and Warwick’s Planning Department to communicate concerns between parties. He said a public hearing would give residents the opportunity to speak with developers.

Robert Romano, who bought the house at 415 Chapmans in July and has extensively renovated it, said he had heard the station would be demolished in October. He felt a curb cut on Chapmans would result in increased traffic and wanted to learn more about the proposal.

East Side Enterprises, the building owners, submitted zoning applications to the Planning Department last week for a new 3,600-square-foot station, a sizeable difference from the current 1,248 square foot station. The lot is about an acre and includes excess land bought from the state. Plans show for five curb cuts, which Principal Planner Richard Crenca said “seems a little excessive.” Multiple permits, including special use and physical alterations permits, would be necessary for East Side to proceed.

An attorney for East Side met with the Planning Department on Wednesday. Crenca said he aired the concerns of the residents.

“We discussed the moving of the building and drive-thru farther away from the residential area, the number and necessity of curb cuts, access to Chapmans Avenue, potential changes to the Main Avenue traffic island, and other things,” Crenca said.

He said East Side took the concerns into consideration and are currently reworking their plans for a new proposal. Crenca said they were “agreeable” to a neighborhood meeting before any appearance in front of the Zoning Board.

Comments

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  • richardcorrente

    C.J.Donovan was wise to listen to the concerns of the neighbors on this proposal. One only needs to visit the Duncan Donuts in East Greenwich which relocated down the road in order to install a drive-thru, to see how much traffic gets backed up. It is an absolute logjam at times.The DD in the plaza next to City Hall has little traffic problems because the line backs up to the parking lot, not the street. This DD however, will have the drive-thru line backing up to Greenwich Ave. and/or Chapmans. It poses a safety issue and a decreasing value issue to the surrounding residential properties. I am all for "growth" in our City, but this idea is not, in my opinion, in the best interests of the taxpayers.

    Richard Corrente

    Endorsed Democrat for Mayor

    Thursday, September 1, 2016 Report this

  • Biggameatball

    Richard Corrente - you spelled Dunkin Donuts incorrectly.

    Thursday, September 1, 2016 Report this

  • RISchadenfreude

    "Progress and more business growth...oh, wait- NIMBY!"

    Concerns over traffic flow should be addressed by architects and builders and presented to the City Council and residents, and a satisfactory plan determined before permits are issued.

    Unfortunately, the "common sense" of customers who queue up on a main thoroughfare, litter or cause other nuisances will always be an issue.

    Friday, September 2, 2016 Report this

  • FASTFREDWARD4

    come take a look at D-D Hoxie 4. Now that something . But with out business that is paying more taxes then homeowners. Some people in this city would have nothing to do.STOP YOUR CRYING

    Monday, September 5, 2016 Report this

  • PaulHuff

    Sounds like Romano and Lonergan are a couple of NIMBY's. Buying a house on the back side of a convenience store and complaining about traffic is as bad as the people who buy a house near the airport and complain about noise.

    Monday, September 5, 2016 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear Biggameatball,

    I noticed that after it was too late.

    Thanks for catching it.

    Rick

    Wednesday, September 7, 2016 Report this