Ed. Note: Prior to the Planning Board's finally approving the Champlain Oil site plan application to develop a Rt. 12 gas station/convenience store January 10, Krystyna Marcom collected signatures on a petition asking the Board to reconsider its decision not to hire an outside expert to advise it on the possible risks of building the station above one of the town's aquifers. She turned over her petition and signatures to the Board January 10, and several citizens supported its points at the meeting. The Board responded by voting, 4-3, to approve Champlain's application. Here is a statement Krystyna asked The Walpolean to post after the meeting. (Incidentally, The Walpolean has not yet posted the minutes of the Planning Board meeting because there have been delays in getting them written. The Walpolean will post the minutes as soon as they are finished and public.) CCB
Thank you Walpole residents who, on very short notice, signed a petition asking our Planning Board members to further scrutinize the impact the proposed gas station on Route 12 will have on our town's well water and other safety issues by engaging an independent engineer to study the site.
Unfortunately, in a vote of 4 to 3, the Planning Board decided that our concerns were not valid, and ignored the voices of 260 Walpole residents. The Walpole Water Commissioner, Safety Director, and several board members voiced safety concerns which were not even acknowledged. A 3rd generation farmer who leases the land, and whose farm stand is frequented by many in our community, provided documentation pointing out that this was the most fertile agricultural land in our valley. His plea went unheeded.
More time was devoted by some members of the Planning Board to the examination of the tile to be used in construction than to the impact this gas station would have on our town's water supply and other safety issues.To date, this project still needs state approval.
Krystyna Marcom