Cumberland Farms New Adams Site Concerns Residents

iBerkshires.com reports after hearing a flood of concerns from the Zoning Board of Appeals and residents, Cumberland Farms representatives asked to extend the public hearing to alter their plans.

The convenience store chain is looking to construct a new Cumberland Farms at Al's Service Center on Commercial Street, just south of its older, smaller location.

At the end of a two-hour meeting Thursday night, Cumberland Farms representative Thomas Reidy thanked the board and the dozens of residents for airing their concerns about the proposed 95 Commercial St. gas station and asked for the opportunity to go back to the drawing board.

The hearing to review three variance requests was postponed late last month by request of Cumberland Farms. Although there was no business conducted during this May 23 meeting, many residents still attended to voice their concern over the project.

Cumberland Farms is proposing the construction of a gas station and convenience store. The facility would sit on three parcels one of which contains Al's Service Center. Two homes along with the service center would be demolished.

Cumberland Farms needs variances to redevelop the property, create two curb cuts and permission to operate 24 hours in an R-4 zone.

The only voice in favor of the new facility was James Leitch, who lives next to the current Cumberland Farms. He said when a truck delivers gas, traffic needs to be stopped. He added the curb is cut along the entirety of that property and that gas station is even closer to a school.

The board will reconvene later this month on July 24.