30,000 gallons of fuel storage OK'd for Rochester development

Jun 23, 2015

A license for the installation of two, 15,000 gallon fuel storage tanks was quickly approved by Selectmen on Monday night for a proposed gas station at the Rochester Crossing property.

The approval means Colbea Enterprises is one step closer to developing a portion of a 30-acre commercial site at the intersection of Cranberry Highway and Route 58.

Selectmen Brad Morse and Naida Parker voted for the license during a brief meeting where Chair Richard Nunes and Town Administrator Mike McCue were absent.

The Wareham-based company Rochester Crossing LLC owns the property. Developer Colbea Enterprises has proposed a convenience store, drive-thru coffee shop and gas station on the site. In the future, Rochester Crossing LLC hopes to attract big-box commercial retailers.

Caroline Parker represented Colbea Enterprises at Monday night’s public hearing. She said state and local fire officials will oversee the installation of the fuel tanks. One will hold 15,000 gallons of gasoline while the other will be a split tank holding 9,000 gallons of diesel fuel and 6,000 gallons of gasoline.

Selectman Naida Parker said the town has not had a gas station in recent memory and the approval process is under scrutiny.

“This is our first gas station in a very, very, very long time,” Parker said. “The last one was done so long ago none of us has an institutional memory of that.”