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Gas Pumps Denied at Sam's Club (May 2003)
Seabrook, NH -- On the eve of Thanksgiving last
fall the Zoning Board granted Sam’s Club a variance to the town’s zoning
laws which would have allowed Sam’s Club to install gas pumps at the
company’s store on Batchelder Road. When NESSARA member Charlie Mabardy,
owner of Seabrook One Stop Mini-Mart, got wind of this, with the backing and
support of NESSARA, he went to work. He contacted the abutters and all the businesses along the
seacoast that would be adversely impacted if these variances were granted.
He contacted members of the Zoning and Planning Boards, Conservation Committee
and the Committee for Environmental Protection. At a packed meeting, three
members of the Zoning Board of Appeals agreed to rehear the case on Feb.
26. At the meeting, 55 members of the public attended, many
wearing stickers that read “No Gas at Sam’s”. Opponents to the pumps said they would endanger nearby wet
lands, create traffic jams and drive smaller gas stations out of business. In a letter sent to the Chairman of the Zoning Board, Richard
Poulin, NESSARA Executive director wrote “ town zoning laws allow
gas stations only in certain areas and this is not one of them. This is
not an accessory use as defined in the town zoning code. Sam’s Club
is not in the business of selling gasoline. Placing pumps at this location
can hardly be viewed as an extension of their business.” A loud burst of applause followed the Zoning Board
of Adjustment’s decision not to allow pumps at the Sam’s Club
location. Small businesses in the area should be thankful to Charlie Mabardy
and Carmel O’Brien for standing up for your interests.
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