02/20/2022
The Public Hearing on the Sam’s Club request for a zoning amendment that would allow an “Automotive Fuel Station” in the DS zoning district has been closed. However, the record is open until 11:59 PM TONIGHT (Saturday, February 19, 2022) for written comments - pro or con. Comments should be emailed to [email protected] and [email protected]
Sam’s Club wants to install 8 pumps (16 fueling stations) to sell gasoline and diesel fuel to club members. The proposed facility would be located in the corner of the lot near the Route 9A and Warehouse Lane intersection. A parking variance would be necessary since 113 parking spaces would need to be removed, creating parking shortages and vehicular circulation problems within the parking lot during busy shopping hours and seasons.
Does Greenburgh need another gas station? Sam’s Club has acknowledged there are 81 gas stations within a five-mile radius of its site at 333 Saw Mill River Road. In 1965, after the Mobil station was built at the foot of Beaver Hill (directly across from where Sam’s Club wants this fueling station), the Greenburgh Town Board decided there were enough gas stations in Town. To protect Greenburgh residential communities from traffic congestion and other negative impacts, the Town Board adopted legislation only permitting future gas stations in the Town’s industrial districts. This zoning plan has worked for more than 55 years. What has changed?
Store representatives claim a zoning amendment is necessary for Sam’s Club to be competitive with its competitors - BJ’s and Costco. However, the nearest BJ’s and Costco warehouses selling fuel are in Yorktown, New Rochelle or across the Tappan Zee Bridge. No one is paying a bridge toll or driving a round trip of 30 or more miles to buy gas at Sam’s competitors. And, the zoning of the site where BJ’s warehouse is coming to the Crossroads Shopping center (former Caldor’s/K-Mart store) does not permit the sale of automotive fuel.
The real competition if Sam’s Club gets the requested zoning change will be the small independent gas station owners who will be unable to compete with this Sam’s Club megastore’s ability to undercut the cost of automotive fuel, funded by enrolling new members. Sam’s Club claims 90-99% of area residents will continue to buy gas from other than Sam’s Club. That means a lot more traffic will be headed to Greenburgh for this fueling station to thrive or survive. Gas stations have closed in other areas where megastores have started selling automotive fuel.
Greenburgh claims it supports “green” technology and is addressing climate change. Permitting more stations to sell more fossil fuel will not decrease the frequency of devastating storms such as Tropical Storm Ida which negatively impacted vast portions of Greenburgh last year.
The nation’s largest retailer (Wal-Mart) is already making a profit at the Elmsford’s Sam’s Club store.
Protect the small business community. Ask the Town Board to deny this requested zoning change.
