Washington Township zoning board ruled that a gas station owner can move his business to the edge of the historic Windsor village.
By: Lauren Burgoon
WASHINGTON The "town that time forgot" could soon get a reminder of modern life after the zoning board ruled that a gas station owner can move his business to the edge of the historic Windsor village.
Windsor homeowners are regrouping and deciding on their next step after they lost their bid to keep the station out of the neighborhood.
The zoning board voted 5-2 March 8 to allow EZ Auto Service owner Sikandar Ranu to build a gas and service station to the intersection of Route 130 and Church Street where a upholstery shop currently stands. Mr. Ranu’s current Mobil station at routes 130 and 33 is slated to be condemned by the state Department of Transportation for intersection improvements.
"We’re very happy" about the outcome, EZ Auto’s attorney Kevin Moore said March 10. "We realize that some neighbors had concerns and my client went to extraordinary lengths to address those concerns. The zoning board was very fair about this decision. It’s a good outcome."
Zoning board approval was the biggest hurdle Mr. Ranu had to clear to build the new station. He still needs endorsement from agencies like the DOT, Department of Environmental Protection, county Planning Board and Soil Conservation District, but Mr. Moore characterized those steps as less time consuming and more routine than the zoning board hearings.
"We still need the administrative approvals so I would say it will be at least a year until the station can open," Mr. Moore said.
That also depends on when and if the state will take over the current Mobil station. Mr. Moore said there has been no indication from the DOT about when that might happen.
Windsor residents reacted with displeasure on the news that their months-long campaign opposing the Mobil station did not garner even one variance request rejection. The station application included multiple variance requests, including permission to build closer to the Windsor School than normally allowed, closer to neighboring gas stations, larger signs and more lighting.
Several modifications were made along the way, such as dimmed lighting, higher berms to separate the station from neighboring houses and design changes. The station also went from a proposed 24-hour operation to limited hours the service station will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. while the gas pumps will be open from 5 a.m. to midnight, both seven days a week.
The modified variance requests were not enough to convince Kristin Kiefer that the application should be approved. As one of the zoning board’s "no" votes, Ms. Kiefer said Tuesday she remains concerned about the station’s proximity to Windsor School and the intersection and potential influence on Windsor property values.
"My decision was based on a balance between what’s good for the township’s businesses and people," she said. "The issues that impact the people outweighed bringing a business to that part of town."
Ms. Kiefer’s lingering concerns are shared by some Windsor residents.
"I’m extremely, extremely disappointed," Cathy Lubbe of Main Street said Monday. "In my heart I believe there are still questions about safety issues for some of the variances."
Her neighbor Laura Friedman also voiced her displeasure. Both women, who are actively involved in the community-based Windsor Village Association, declined to speculate if they will appeal the decision or show up at other hearings on the state and county level to protest the station.
"We’re weighing our options but we haven’t made a decision yet. We need to decide the best avenue to take for the village," Ms. Lubbe said.
If the Mobil station gets all the necessary approvals, it will be built on the edge of Windsor. Part of the property is zoned historic commercial, but Mr. Ranu said there will be no development there. The rest of the land is zoned for commercial space where a gas station is a conditional use.