The village of Camillus is expected to make a final decision on a proposed gas station and car wash at their next regular board meeting, April 16.
A 2,770-square-foot gas station with a convenience store, Subway restaurant and car wash is being proposed for the corner of Newport Road and Main Street. The area would have room for 19 parking spaces, including eight at the gas pumps. The car wash area could accommodate up to six cars waiting for the bays.
Should the developer get the OK from the village board, the convenience store would run 24 hours a day and seven days a week. The car wash would operate between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., based on noise surveys done in the village and a recommendation from the village’s engineer.
The engineer proposes the developer change the plans, taking out the curbs proposed on the property, as the firm believes larger vehicles would not be able to get through the property. Those curbs were requested by the county planning board.
The gas station would also need an additional 2,800 gallons of water per day. In order to accommodate that in wet weather seasons, when the sewers could be overloaded, the developer will have to purchase a system for one manhole in the village. The inflow/infiltration reduction project will help save 5,000 gallons of water per day and would be required to be paid for by the developer, should the plan be approved.
Some residents remain in steadfast opposition to the proposal.
“Is this absolutely necessary,” said attorney Dirk Oudemool. He’s representing homeowners near the proposed station. “It seems to me you’re trying awful hard to mess something up. I think everything wants the services this would afford, but the problems are the hours of operation and the problems the square feet would provide.”
The proposed station is a 70 percent size increase over the current building.
“There are people who bought into this village because they would it would remain simple and stable,” said one other resident who lives near the gas station. “Everyone likes convenience but nobody like disruption.”
The county planning board has disproved of the plan. Should the village board decide to approve the developer’s plans, their vote would have to do so with a super-majority, or two-thirds of the vote.
The developer says the addition of the store would create up to 20 new jobs in Camillus.
