WESTFIELD – The applicants seeking to obtain a special permit to sell beer and wine at the Mobile gas station located at 181 Elm Street, just across from the Franklin Street intersection, withdrew their application Tuesday night after several members of the Planning Board expressed reservations.
The applicant, Dunne Manning Stores, requested the special permit, to sell beer and wine, because the gas station is within 500 feet of St. Mary’s High School, one of the issues raised by Planning Board members during the public hearing.
John Wells, manager of the gas station, said the company was seeking the wine and malt license for the convenience of its customers, but several members of the board argued that there are already package stores within a close proximity to the Mobile station.
Planner Peter Fiordalice commented that he often sees “a lot of people congregated in that area. Adding beer and wine to that loitering problem will only make it worse.”
Board member Jane Magarian observed that many Westfield State University students live in the city’s downtown area, while Board Chairman Phil McEwan said the cost of training staff and implementing security to prevent the sale of alcohol to minors may not be worth the effort to obtain the necessary licenses.
The applicant petitioned the Planning Board for a special permit, required under city ordinance, before it can make application to the city’s License Commission for a beer and malt license, an application which would also have to be reviewed and approved by the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission.
Board member William Carellas said that the board rejected a similar special permit at its last meeting for sale of beer and wine at the Pleasant Street Market which is located across West Silver Street from the Abner Gibbs Elementary school.
“This location is in the back yard of a high school where students are more likely to want to purchase beer than elementary students,” Carellas said. “What message would we be sending to the business community?”
Member Carl Vincent said that he requested the Westfield Police Department to provide documentation of incidents of loitering and disturbances, as well as drug activity, holding up a bundle of police reports, noting that the sale of beer and wine would only increase those problems.
“You need to get your property under control first,” Vincent said.
The applicant then requested to withdraw the petition without prejudice which would allow it to submit a revised special permit application.
