Decision on Hamlin Tops fuel station tabled

No decisions were reached on Tops Markets' request to construct a fueling station in the parking lot of their supermarket in Hamlin.

Tops officials were on the planning board agenda in the Town of Hamlin on January 3 but the decision was tabled by planning board officials for further clarifications of five items on the Tops proposal. The issues raised were: landscaping, trash storage, sidewalk proposal, lighting and grading.

If the proposal to construct a fueling station on the grounds of the grocery store parking lot is granted, Tops will put in an additional 11 parking spaces and will add buffering to screen residences from headlight interference.

The addition of a fueling station does not violate any comprehensive plan mandates or zoning ordinances because the area is zoned commercial, Dick Bauman, building inspector and code enforcement officer said.

Residents have protested the addition of a fueling station saying the construction of a fueling center on the site would harm long time local family businesses and would negatively affect Hamlin's rural character.

Stefanie Zakowicz, spokesperson for Tops Markets said earlier, "In today's busy lifestyle, customers are looking for any avenue to save time and if they can get their groceries and get gas all in the same stop, it is a great time saver for them."

The Tops proposal is scheduled to be on the planning board workshop agenda on January 25. The public is invited to the workshop but no public input will be accepted.