After a lengthy public hearing, Dunbarton’s Zoning Board of Adjustment has yet to take action on a special exception permit request to put gas pumps in at Page’s Country Store and Deli.

The store’s owner, David Barkie, has been trying to get the special exception permit for years.

The issue is hotly debated in town, as Barkie must show that the pumps would pose no threat to abutters of the property.

In order to get permission, Barkie must show the added pumps would not hurt abutters’ property values, would pose no health or safety threats, would not interrupt traffic flow, would not bleed municipal services and would sustain the current surface and groundwater quality.

The original plan submitted called for three islands with gas pumps that would be supplied through underground storage tanks. Those parameters were turned down in 2002 and previously in 1992 under different ownership.

The store property, located at the intersection of Old Fort Lane and Route 77, is not zoned for gas pumps, and is part of the town’s low density district. Barkie revised and re-submitted a plan including aboveground gasoline storage tanks, but abutters still worry about the possible effects on property values, health, safety and traffic issues.

According to real estate studies presented by Amy Manzelli, the attorney representing the abutters, at the public hearing during the Monday, March 10, Zoning Board meeting, the gas pumps would negatively affect property values.

The study, conducted by Amoskeag Appraisal Company LLC, compared other similar sites in surrounding towns to Page’s Store, but Barkie’s attorney, Richard Uchida, argued the comparisons were too vague and included too many variables to determine whether gas pumps affected property values.

Many abutters and residents in the immediate area of the store spoke out against the project, citing concerns about property values, the possibility of explosion of fire and ground water pollution.

Pam Werner, of 16 Old Fort Lane, who, in addition to living by the store, works for the state’s Department of Environmental Services inspecting gas stations, pointed out that there are only 10 gas stations in the state currently with above-ground storage tanks.

During a prior phone conversation, Werner said putting gas pumps at Page’s could entice larger gas companies to come into town, further driving property values down.

Others spoke in favor of the project, including Jay Davis of 8 Jacqueline Drive, who said he would like the convenience of a gas station in town.

The gas pumps at Page’s Country Store and Deli would be the only ones in town should the permit be issued.

Residents from Weare and Hopkinton showed up as well to speak in favor of the gas station.