Town to vote on gas station plan BJ’s wants to site project on Burdeck Street, in area of aquifer BY MATT VOLKE Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Matt Volke at 395-3110 or mvolke@dailygazette.net.
The Town Board will have the final say next week on a large gas station and car wash proposed for the Burdeck Street area that has been called a risk to the area’s drinking water. BJ’s Wholesale Club in Rotterdam is proposing a 10-pump gas station with a car wash at the corner of Burdeck Street and Campbell Road, across the street from a large Mobil gas station. Town law requires a board vote on large construction projects in the aquifer area. A vote is expected at Wednesday’s meeting, said Supervisor Steven Tommasone. The project will have five filling islands, with 10 pumps, and a threebay car wash on the 52,475-squarefoot parcel. The car wash would be automatic. There will also be a small building where customers would pay for gas. BJ’s had a gas station proposal turned down by the town several years ago because it was in the aquifer area. More than half of the 189 BJ’s stores nationwide have gas stations, and the company has been pushing to get them at each store. This gas station would be about a quarter of a mile from the existing store. Planning commission Chairman Lawrence DiLallo said the main concern was traffic. He said the state Department of Transportation advised BJ’s to build a private road farther away from the intersection rather than a driveway. He said the nearby BMX bicycle track was also a concern, since many people park in the area during events. "That will relieve the congestion," DiLallo said. Tommasone said he’s not sure how the board, or he, will vote. In the past year, the town has taken action with businesses in the aquifer area. A townhouse project near the mall was shut down temporarily after accusations of illegal dumping. A businessman in Rotterdam Junction was fined for having junk vehicles on his lot, and the state DOT stopped burying rubble off Interstate 890 because of its proximity to the well heads. Tens of thousands of people get their drinking water from the aquifer in Rotterdam, Glenville and Schenectady alone. However, Tommasone said the town cannot turn a project down as long as it meets state and federal regulations. That’s why the planning commission passed the site plan, Tommasone said. "Illegal dumping or junk trucks is different from a gas station," Tommasone said. "(Gas stations are) regulated by the county and the state." Shawn Schultz, an outspoken member of Friends of the Aquifer, a water protection group, said a gas station should not be approved because of the risk of contamination. "I think it’s stupid to put a gas station in the aquifer. Gas tanks leak," Schultz said. "The rules and regulations are there for a reason. They’re there to protect our drinking water."
There's already a Mobil Station across the street so what difference will another gas station make except that it might put the over priced Mobil station out of business as BJ's gas is much cheaper.
"Illegal dumping or junk trucks is different from a gas station," Tommasone said. "(Gas stations are) regulated by the county and the state."
I wouldn't have my family build a house on the land or drink the water there after,,,would you???......why do we insist that regulations are 'perfect'.....so perfect that we can build chemical containers upon our water supply...and live healthy lives.....remember the dog food and toothpaste from china.....how about the apples from China.....because this is exactly how foolish/lazy we have become.......we have let our $$ do our work for us to get more $$....$$ has no concience and no eyes, ears, brain.........
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
I noticed that the houses on the corner of Burdeck and Campbell were torn down. I guess that means the gas station will be starting soon.
Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil, The Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.
I saw that too. Guess they got enough land. I don't know what that area is zoned, but it did have signs for some time that it was zoned commercial, I think.
Proud Rotterdam Resident Proud Patriot Proud Conservative Republican Proud Christian
If BJ's puts a gas station in that location Mobil will lose a lot of business as BJ's gas is much cheaper. I filled up in a BJ's in Syracure and it was $.10 a gallon less than many of the other gas stations.
I wonder where BJ's gets their gas? We obviously know Mobil and we know that Cumberland is that wack-o Chavez, so we'll have to find out about BJ's now.
Costal at 5 corners and Stewart are the best bet right now. I'm not talking price, just where they get their gas from. I won't give another dime to Mobil or Chevez.
Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil, The Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.
I agree with you on that Bumble, I have been using Hess but if BJ's is cheaper and not from Chavez or certain countries in the middle east I buy from them.
I forget about Hess...DUH! I'll have to check them out too.
Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil, The Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Since we dont have Christmas maybe Santa could rent us the reindeer....it might be cheaper than using gas fueled vehicles.....then again cattle feed is up due to the 'branching out'(not too sure if $$ is actually going here) of the ethanol 'market'.......
I wonder if the reindeer are free-range flying reindeer???
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
If you use a Hess credit card you receive an extra 5% off of the gas price. Not a bad deal and its easy to track since they credit your card with the savings monthly.
If you use a Hess credit card you receive an extra 5% off of the gas price. Not a bad deal and its easy to track since they credit your card with the savings monthly.
That's after they already invested that 5% into the subprime and hedgefunds markets......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
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