Lincoln panel approves new Cumberland Farms
Planning Board votes to OK expansion of Smithfield Avenue convenience store
LINCOLN – The Lincoln Planning Board this week granted master plan approval to Cumberland Farms’ proposal to expand its gas station and convenience store at 823 Smithfield Ave. The development will extend the chain locale to the current sites of Antonio’s Cafe and Preferred Towing and Automobile Sales.
The way attorney Rob Stolzman sees it, this expansion continues a trend away from the original 1970s mindset of keeping pedestrians off Smithfield Avenue.
“This should pretty radically change the view of that coming out of Arnold [Avenue], and also from a pedestrian
standpoint, if you walk over to get a coffee,” Stolzman said. He added, “It is Cumberland Farms’ hope that this is a continuing trend. They’re betting on it, and they’re making an investment.”
While Stolzman is representing Cumberland Farms, the plan got similar praise from Town Planner Al Ranaldi. He said last month that he is excited about the redevelopment and that “it’s really going to open up that corner.”
The Planning Board approved Cumberland Farms’ master plan by a 6-0 vote after less than an hour of discussion. Only one abutter was present and only one resident gave public comment on the plan.
The proposal is to raze three structures and build the new Cumberland Farms in roughly the same location, while moving the gas pumps and adding landscaping, Stolzman said. Cumberland Farms design specialist Dalina Boryszewski said the plan is to begin construction in the spring of 2018.
The structures to be razed are the current homes of Cumberland Farms, Antonio’s Cafe and Preferred Towing and Automobile Sales.
Antonio’s Cafe is moving to 200 Mineral Spring Ave. in Pawtucket, and co-owner Antonio Amarante said they’re looking at June for the relocation. Amarante said he signed a purchase and sales agreement with Cumberland Farms in December of 2015.
Noting that talks have been going on for awhile, Preferred Towing owner Christine Labbe said she does not have concrete plans to move yet but hopes to stay in Lincoln. Labbe owns the plaza hous- ing Preferred Towing, Wicked Ink Tattoo, Planet Hair and Get the Picture Framing Gallery.
The other businesses aren’t going anywhere, and Preferred Towing is not closing anytime soon.
After redevelopment does begin, the gas pumps will be moved from their location in front of the store to the center of the property, Stolzman said. The expansion involves redeveloping five lots that total 1.28 acres, and the building will be parallel to Smithfield Avenue while the gas pumps will be parallel to Reservoir Avenue.
The new Cumberland Farms convenience store will be 4,956 square feet and have entrances facing both Smithfield Avenue and Reservoir Avenue. It will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
There are four gas pumps now, and there will be six after the redevelopment. Curb cuts will be reduced from six to three and the signage will be reduced by 75 percent, according to Stolzman. There will be 25 parking spaces.
Lincoln’s Technical Review Committee feels that the reduction of both commercial uses and curb cuts will greatly improve traffic around the site.
Phil Henry of Civil Design Group noted that the expansion includes the addition of approximately 40 trees and more than 130 shrubs, along with an outdoor seating area. A six-foot-tall opaque fence will be erected along three sides of the property.
The only member of the public to speak about the plan at the Planning Board’s meeting was Jim Spooner. He said he thinks the expansion is “a wonderful thing” but expressed overall concern about current use and abuse of the sidewalk and about vehicles occupying the sidewalk.