Adams Cumberland Farms Hearing Tuesday

The Berkshire Eagle reports after four months of delays, a controversial plan for a new Cumberland Farms south of Adams center will be examined Tuesday night, sooner than the company hoped.

And it appears the public hearing will resume without the company ever meeting in person with neighbors opposed to the project.

The business notified the Adams Zoning Board of Appeals last month it wanted to speak with people against the 95 Commercial St. project, then come before the panel in December.

But Adams officials said no. They put the Cumberland Farms proposal on Tuesday's agenda, unwilling to grant another extension.

That means a Town Hall meeting room is likely to again be crowded when the board opens the public hearing at 6 p.m.

The company needs three variances to build a 24-hour convenience store on a parcel owned by Carol Ostrowski and Al's Service Center Inc. The project would occupy about an acre and a half of land, extending a block from Elm to Prospect streets along the west side of Commercial Street.

While some Adams residents applaud the project, saying it would improve upon the look of old vehicles stored at the service center, neighbors have come forward with concerns about traffic safety.

The company declined a request Monday to describe the status of the project, including whether Cumberland Farms planned to submit a new proposal.