SOUTHWICK – The new Pride station at College Highway and Congamond Road is open for business.
Pride received a temporary certificate of occupancy and opened its doors Wednesday evening, the day after the Southwick Planning Board approved its signage.
Planning Board Chairman Douglas Moglin said this week that “the Planning Board has done its job in regard to Pride.”
The road to opening the new station – which features new pumps and a convenience store – began more than a year ago with a special permit request.
The board this week approved the station’s signs and the only thing left is a modification for a canopy. Moglin said the plans approved by the board included a canopy but the one installed was a different color.
“There is some friendly disagreement about the canopy, but the original permit included a white canopy with stripes and the Pride logo,” said Moglin. “That wasn’t what was built. We disagree on whether or not that’s okay,” he said of the board and Pride owner Robert Bolduc.
The modification would not stall the opening of the store and station, added Moglin. The waiting period from the approval of the special permit should expire this week and it is up to Building Inspector Denis Gaido when the full certificate of occupancy is issued.
The Building Inspector’s office said the store is selling all goods with the exception of perishable items because it needs a part for its refrigeration system.
