Nearly two dozen speakers pleaded with the Tiverton Planning Board Tuesday evening to reject a proposal by a Cranston-based company that wants to build a Seasons Corner Market, a 24-hour convenience store, gas station, and drive-through coffee shop, on the corner of Souza and Main roads in the northern part of town.

About 100 people gathered at the start of the three-hour meeting, which was held at Tiverton High School rather than Town Hall due to the community’s strong interest in the controversial proposal. In the end, board members decided to delay any decision on the proposal until a second traffic study is complete.

Some of the opponents who spoke before the board seemed near tears, while others were clearly angry, as they voiced concerns about the potential for increased traffic congestion and crime, damage to the environment, the negative effects of visual and noise pollution in an area surrounded by residential dwellings, and the likelihood of reduced property values should the project move forward.

Speakers questioned the necessity of building another gas station in a neighborhood where three already exist. Several said they were distressed at the prospect of further disruption to Tiverton’s rural character with a project that, they said, did not align with the town’s Comprehensive Plan and was slated for an area where three other major commercial developments are currently under consideration by the town.

Others spoke in disparaging terms of what they perceived as unreliable information provided by Seasons’ parent company, Colbea Enterprises, LLC, as part of their application package. Critics said a traffic study, for example, was not reliable since it was conducted in March 2021 – when many were still working remotely due to the pandemic and when the effects of summer seasonal traffic were not considered.     

The planning board voted unanimously to arrange for an independent traffic study that, according to Chairman Stu Hardy, would be “objective and comprehensive.” The study, estimated by Hardy to cost $10,000 to $15,000, would be paid for out of the application fee the town has previously received from the company.

The public hearing is continued to Tuesday, Sept. 13, at which time the public will have another opportunity to weigh in.

Representatives of Colbea Enterprises LLC said they intend to address all of the speakers’ comments at a later date.