<p>The Martha’s Vineyard Airport Commission this week approved plans for a new gas station, convenience store and car wash.</p>
The Martha’s Vineyard Airport Commission this week approved construction plans for a new gas station, convenience store and car wash at the site of the former Mobil station in the airport business park.
The plans do not include a quick oil-change facility as the previous station did, sparking strenuous objection from one commissioner.
The new facility will sit on lot 33, the site of the former Airport Mobil which was demolished this summer.
Leaseholder Louis Paciello, who owns two other fuel stations in Edgartown, outlined his plans at the airport commission meeting Thursday.
“As of right now we are looking at a Shell station,” he said. “We are going for a slightly larger footprint on the building. It’s our plan to offer the tenants and the public what they seem to want more, which is a larger convenience store.”
The plan still needs review and approval by the Martha’s Vineyard Commission before it can go forward.
Mr. Paciello said he plans to install underground storage tanks with a capacity of 37,000 gallons of fuel, the same amount licensed to the previous lease holder.
Airport commission member Clarence A. (Trip) Barnes 3rd took strong exception to absence of an oil change facility in the plan. He noted that the previous leaseholder operated the only oil change facility on the Island where no appointment was necessary.
“I can’t vote for this unless that’s in there,” Mr. Barnes said. “That’s what was there before, and that’s what should be in there now. I see you got a big grocery store there but I want to see an oil change place if you want my vote.”
Mr. Paciello said there is not enough demand for such a facility to make it profitable.
“In my business plan it does not make money,” said Mr. Paciello. “The quick lube philosophy does not work with the traffic counts here.”
With only five commissioners present and some not voting, the first round of voting produced a 1-1 deadlock. Mr. Barnes voted no and commissioner Richard Michelson voted yes. Chairman Myron Garfinkle and commissioners Don Ogilvie and Kristen Zern did not vote.
More discussion followed.
“I don’t know if it’s right to tell somebody what their business plan should be at this stage,” said Mr. Garfinkle.
“This is something we had that was taken away from us,” Mr. Barnes replied.
The chairman called for a new vote, and this time the plan was approved 3-1, with Mr. Ogilvie and Ms. Zern voting yes.
The plan now goes to the commission for review.
Comments
Voting NO simply because the
EdgartonianVoting NO simply because the business plan does not include something one commissioner personally wants to see? This is the kind of thing that makes the MVC look petty and amateurish.
Did you see where it was the
Nick Name OBDid you see where it was the Airport Commission -not the MVC?
Only five commissioners
BCBOnly five commissioners present and three of them not voting? What kind of effort is this by the commissioners? What purpose does a commissioner serve if not to contribute to the decision making process? Very amateurish indeed.
Perhaps it could be specified
Marty Milner TallahasseePerhaps it could be specified that the new lessee should be offered a fair appraisal price for the infrastructure and the incoming lessee should be allowed to buy it, for a reasonable price, if the lease has to be passed on. Simple bit of efficient common sense, and I'm sure with lessons learned, someone has included it.
So we're gonna get
Sara Oak BluffsSo we're gonna get (eventually) a gas station (Shell gasoline, not Mobil -- not that there's a discernible difference), a convenience store and a car wash ... wait a minute, isn't that what we just had? I don't know either the previous owner or the current owner, but this whole thing makes my head hurt, just a little bit. No worries, Nelson deBettencourt, you and your station have me hooked for life -- and I don't care what kind of gas you sell...
I worked for the previous
rs riI worked for the previous owner . many people good people are now out of a job! get out of the USA
The former store sold disk
Louis de Geofroy West TisburyThe former store sold disk golf supplies for the frisbee golf course down the road. I would hope that the new operator would continue that. All you have to do is look at the parking lot in front of the course to realize there is a demand.
Mr Barnes sounds like bratty
Tom EdgartownMr Barnes sounds like bratty 4 year old. If the guy doesn't want to put one in, who the heck is he to tell him how to run his business?! His job is to make sure the place in safe and attractive.It's not the commissions job to make business decisions.
I agree with Trip Barnes,
Charlie Oak BluffsI agree with Trip Barnes, would like to see the oil change services continued.
I agree, the availability of
John Oak BluffsI agree, the availability of an oil change Quick-Lube is something to consider seriously. I just tried to make an appointment for a simple oil-change, and no one could take me for at least two weeks.
If there is such a demand for
deshandra brown EdgIf there is such a demand for a quick lube service , then someone should approach the airport commissioners, rent a lot, and open one up. Problem solved.(and thank the new leaseholder for allowing a business opportunity for someone else)
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