If a new Seasons Corner Market is built in Tiverton’s north end, the neighborhood will see increased traffic and congestion, and the public good will not be served.   

Those opinions, expressed last week by civil engineer Gordon Meth before the zoning board of review, were based on his analysis of the impacts on traffic if Colbea Enterprises, LLC, is allowed to proceed with its proposed convenience store and gas station at Souza and Main roads.

Colbea, the Cranston-based owner of the Seasons retail chain, wants to build a convenience store, gas station, and drive-through coffee shop on 1.2 acres of undeveloped land on the corner of Souza and Main roads, in the immediate vicinity of many single-family homes, townhouses and condos.

The company’s application for the project has been making its way through the planning and zoning process for more than two years, while community opposition has steadily gained momentum. 

The zoning board, which is considering three special use permit applications from Colbea, has held seven special meetings since December, with each one lasting three to four hours and focused primarily on highly technical details of the proposal. To date, board members have heard presentations from Colbea’s experts on site planning, planning and zoning implications, and the anticipated environmental and traffic impacts of the project. 

The lengthy zoning meeting held last Wednesday at town hall was a turning point, since it was the first time an expert spoke on behalf of Preserve Tiverton, a citizen’s group that represents opponents and abutters.

During his presentation, Meth critiqued various elements of an analysis previously submitted by Colbea’s traffic expert, saying he disagreed with certain calculations, and he thought the analysis should have included statistics for Saturdays, when traffic is almost as heavy as it is during peak hours on weekdays in the neighborhood.

He questioned why Colbea’s expert did not consider the impact of school buses on the flow of traffic, noting that each of Tiverton’s five schools use Main Road to transport students when school is in session.

Additionally, Meth expressed concerns that Seasons’ customers will be entering and exiting the property from two-lane roads without the benefit of turn lanes, which he said are an important safety enhancement.

“Left-turn lanes improve traffic operations and they improve safety greatly. If someone is waiting to turn left, the through traffic can continue. Otherwise, the through traffic is stopped…There is a known safety benefit to putting left turn lanes in.”

Attorney Rob Stolzman, who represents Colbea, disputed many of Meth’s statements while emphasizing that the site is zoned commercial, and the proposed project is permitted by right in Tiverton. At one point, he took issue with some statistics Meth pulled from a traffic study completed more than a decade ago in connection with a much larger commercial project. 

“I’m having trouble contemplating the end of western civilization as we know it today based on a 4,000 square-foot convenience store with a coffee shop, when a convenience store is permitted. So how do we reconcile that?”

At least 10 audience members spoke, many of whom are members of Preserve Tiverton. They raised concerns relating to traffic flow and congestion, anticipated light pollution, pedestrian and driver safety, and the expectation that the convenience factor locals currently enjoy in running day-to-day errands will be a thing of the past if the project is approved.

One speaker said she was troubled by the lack of detailed analysis relating to volume of traffic coming off Route 24. Another said traffic experts should have included information in their analyses on the future impact of traffic congestion by large housing developments now on the drawing board for Tiverton’s north end.

When a speaker whose home is within 300 feet of the proposed project suggested that other commercial developments permitted by right on the site – such as a barber shop or insurance agency or real estate office – would result in less traffic congestion and fewer safety hazards, Meth concurred.

Court ruling favors Colbea

In a related matter that represents a victory for Colbea, the Newport County Superior Court recently ruled in favor of the Tiverton Zoning Board of Appeals in connection with zoning officials’ decision in January 2023 to overturn the planning board’s earlier denial of the company’s master plan and development plan review applications.

The court case came about because of two challenges to the zoning board’s action, filed by Preserve Tiverton and abutter Tracy Heywood.

The court noted that while Preserve Tiverton does not have legal standing to appeal its ruling, since it is not considered an “aggrieved party,” Heywood does have a statutory right to.