Tiverton residents who have waged a three-year battle to block development of a new Seasons Corner Market in the north end of town had a final chance to plead their case last week before zoning officials, who said a decision on the matter will likely be made some time this spring.

Roughly 120 people were on hand for the special meeting at Tiverton High School on Tuesday, Jan. 14. More than two dozen speakers urged zoning board members to reject Colbea Enterprises, LLC’s request for three special use permits to develop a convenience store, gas station, and drive-through coffee shop on a vacant lot at the corner of Souza and Main roads.

Critics say the current heavy traffic flow along those roads, along with the anticipated impact on quality of life for the many individuals who own homes near the proposed site, make the project unsuitable for that location. Others point to what they contend is the project’s inconsistency with the town’s Comprehensive Community Plan, as well as potential safety issues, diminished air quality, unwelcome noise and light pollution, and the anticipated reduction in property values of area homes as reasons why they believe rejection of the proposal is justified.

Colbea representatives, however, argued that their plan complies with the zoning ordinance and is consistent with the Comprehensive Community Plan. Throughout the past year, the company brought in traffic and environmental consultants, as well as planning, zoning and site plan experts, who testified for countless hours in an effort to bolster its case.

But the experts’ opinions have not swayed opponents including John Reed, a Tiverton resident and one of the speakers at last week’s meeting.

“It is a disaster for the surrounding neighbors. It is a disaster for the neighborhood,” he said. “It is at the very bottom of a commercial zone that has never been developed by high-volume businesses. It is surrounded on virtually all sides by residences.”

Another speaker was Steve Mohney, who lives with his family in a home directly across the street from the proposed business. Mohney got a laugh from the audience when he suggested zoning officials watch Season 8, Episode 8 of the old Seinfield series, in which Kramer has to deal with neon lights from a new business across from his apartment that keep him up all night. He and his family face a similar dilemma, Mohney said, if the project is approved.

Mohney also criticized two traffic studies submitted by Colbea, which he said were flawed in part because they did not address school bus traffic on days when school is in session.

“They did not even know that our son’s bus stop is right in front of their proposed gas station.”

What about other towns?

Concerns regarding traffic congestion and safety have been raised repeatedly by speakers as the project has made its way through the planning and zoning process, and last week was no exception. Abutter Carol Hermann showed photographs that highlighted the contrast between the Tiverton proposal and Seasons markets currently operating in ten other towns, including Bristol, Middletown, and Fall River. Each of those existing businesses, she said, are in large commercial

areas, as opposed to residential neighborhoods, and all of them are situated on roads with two and in some cases three travel lanes. Most, if not all, have turning lanes as well, she said.

“Then we get to Tiverton, [with] one travel lane in each direction and no turning lane. Commercial properties? I don’t see any. I see lots of residential properties. I see a residential district that includes the [Osborn-Bennett] historic district.”

A “painfully disruptive” concept

Scott Burns, a Tiverton resident for 47 years, said he is familiar with Seasons because he is a regular customer at their Providence location, and he is worried about the impact on nearby residents if the project is approved.

“The glare of lights, the signs, the drone of sound systems, the slamming of car doors, the impact of noise from trucks delivering gasoline and supplies for the business and restaurant will be painfully disruptive for neighbors and totally incompatible in every way with neighboring uses.”

Burns and other speakers also noted the impact on The Villages, an over-55 community with over 200 households whose residents use Schooner Drive, directly opposite the proposed project, as a main exit and entry point to get to their homes.

“To create any problems in terms of access to and from their homes I think would be extremely unfortunate,” said Burns. “It is impossible for me to see how any public convenience or benefit would in any way offset the strains and the nuisance that will be created by the construction of the Seasons facility.”

Next steps

Attorneys for Colbea and for Preserve Tiverton, a citizens’ group that represents opponents of the project, must submit briefs and rebuttals during the month of March. In mid-April, the zoning board is expected to hold a public meeting to ask questions and begin deliberations that will be open to the public.

The deliberations, which will result in a determination as to whether the company meets the legal standards to qualify for the requested special permits, will involve review of massive amounts of material, including meeting minutes, letters, testimony, and exhibits submitted to date.

A date for a final decision has not yet been set.