Citgo sues PZC over zoning change

The Planning and Zoning Commission is being sued, by a Citgo gas station, in regards to a new zoning amendment that will allow Stop & Shop to open a gas station with 1,500 feet of where the 3 Mill St. Citgo is located.

A suit was filed Oct. 15 in Superior Court of New Britian.

General Equities Inc., which owns the Citgo, claims that a new zoning amendment, enacted by the PZC, at its Sept. 25 meeting, is in violation of the town's zoning regulations. The old regulations for a CCD-2 zone prohited a gas station from opening with 1,500 of an existig gas station. The amendment allows a gas station to open within that range "in limited cirumstances."

Essentially, that means a pump only station, with a small cashier station, may be allowed. However, a full-service station, a convenience store, or other larger facility would not.  

Legion Square Associates LLC, the holding company for Stop & Shop, is seeking to open a gas station at its site. The gas station would have only a "kiosk" for one worker and no other  gas station or store capacity. The new amendment will allow for that use.

The amendment also raised concerns about whether or not it was within the guidelines set by the town's Plan of Conservation and Development. Also, the Stop & Shop plaza is adjacent to the new Veterans Park (Town Center Park). Several people voiced objections to the PZC in regards to a gas station interfering with the plan for better pedestrian access and the aesthetics for the site.

For expanded coverage see the Nov. 20 edition of The Citizen.