It’s not a question of bulk storage or warehousing the Standish Planning Board should be addressing in (Dana) Lampron’s application along with 12 gas pumps next to Colonial Marketplace on Route 25.
Standish already has two gas stations in the town’s crossroads and two more gas stations in Sebago Lake Village, making four in all. There also are two more on Route 25 coming into Standish on the Gorham line.
The questions addressed should be: maintain a village community atmosphere in accordance with the people’s wishes or commercialize. Allow competition of a big company’s cheaper gas prices will eventually put some of the small business gas stations out of business. Small business people who have invested life savings in our community, employ local people, contribute to our economy, provide a living for their families and pay their fair share of taxes. Should part of this fabric of our village be allowed to be destroyed?
The new real estate tax evaluation should have increased the town’s revenues enough to make up the difference. I, for one, am on a fixed income but would gladly pay more real estate taxes to maintain our village atmosphere.
Maybe it’s time to put a moratorium on gas pumps in Standish?
P.S. How about a 10 percent across-the-board wage increase for all town employees. They do an outstanding job. They’re worth it and more.
Sincerely,
Peter Hessapelis
Sebago Lake Village
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