Public debates pumps at Page’s

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:30:00 GMT

DUNBARTON – The Zoning Board Authority heard more testimony and public comments from abutters and residents in the second hearing on a special exception application for gas pumps at Page’s Country Store and Deli, Monday, Dec. 10.

In the first meeting on Nov. 19, more than 120 people turned out to hear lawyers and experts representing store owner David Barkie present his plan for a 20,000 gallon aboveground storage system and three-island, covered six-pump setup with precautions such as a double-walled tank, concrete holding dike, sensors to detect wall breaches, automatic shutoff valves, and a bioretention pond to filter run-off water from the station.

Attendance for Nov. 19 hearing was considerably smaller, around 40 to 50 people, as about 10 abutters and residents opposed to the plan gave public comment to the board. A handful of residents supporting the application spoke as well.

Experts and lawyers for both Barkie and the abutters opposing the plan presented studies and arguments during the last hearing addressing the five main criteria for a special exception, which require no detriment to property values, no hazard from potential fire, explosion or toxic materials, no additional traffic congestion or hazard, no excessive demand on municipal services and no degradation of existing surface and ground water quality. The experts provided information requested by the board from the previous meeting, but this hearing mainly saw public comment.

Residents addressed the special exception criteria and other issues such as quality of life and development and there were frequent mentions of the recent gas truck fire in Everett, Mass.

Many were concerned that they would be unable to evacuate Old Fort Estates in the case of such an emergency, since the station would be at head of the only road exiting the neighborhood.

Herb Allen, owner of the historic Molly Stark House located across from the Country Store, flew from Philadelphia that evening to give his testimony and submit documents on the detrimental effects of gas stations on the value of historic homes.

“A gas station not only lowers the value, but makes the property almost unsellable,” he said, citing examples of historic properties in Northwood, Chichester and Epsom that had been unable to sell after a gas station opened up nearby. He pointed out there were 10 other historic homes in Page’s corner in addition to the Molly Stark House.

Allen also brought up lighting and health concerns, mentioning three patients he had seen in consultation as a dermatologist who had been exposed to xylene, a toxic chemical found in gasoline, who eventually died from leukemia and liver failure.

Tom Cusano, who has property adjacent and downhill from the store, said because of the soil type, the runoff water from the station would go directly onto his property and into his hand-dug well. He used the extreme example of the effect of living next to a nuclear power plant, which he said was statistically safer than a gas station, on property values.

“Human emotion, you can’t put into statistics. If you don’t have peace of mind and quiet enjoyment of property, nobody’s going to want to buy it,” he said.

Abutter Patty Shearin reported on sites contaminated by gas leaks in New Hampshire and the health risks of exposure to chemicals found in gasoline.

Pam Werner, who lives two houses behind the store, works at the Department of Environmental Services but came as a private citizen. She said she had moved to Dunbarton from Manchester about two years ago for its rural environment and had been reassured that gas pumps weren’t allowed.

“You never realize this can happen until you see it,” she said, of spillage and accidents “I’ve been doing this for nine years. I know what happens. I see the claims.”

She submitted documents to the board on upcoming DES rule changes that would require the same setback distances from public well water systems for aboveground storage tanks, which currently has a shorter setback requirement, as underground systems.

A few residents spoke in favor of the gas pumps, saying that progress was coming, gas was a needed commodity, and there were bigger concerns for spillage and accident risk, such as the tankers full of oil and propane that supply many rural homes.

Resident Lori Davis pointed out living with risk was a part of modern life.

“You can die falling out of bed in the morning,” she said. “If you’re worried about accidents, there’d be no electricity, no cars, no machinery.”

She commended Barkie for proposing a state-of-the-art system.

Previous attempts to apply for a special exception for gas pumps using an underground storage tank have been denied.

The meeting concluded after about two and a half hours, and was continued to Jan. 14.

Dunbarton news : Environment

Public debates pumps at Page’s