HomeMy WebLinkAboutCumberland Farms proposed gas station convenience store-- My thoughts and feelings as a resident of Cape CanaveralDear Mayor Randels,
I am a resident and property owner at Cape Shores, and I wanted to
express to you my concern that the proposed Cumberland Farms gas
station/ convenience store, to be located on A-1-A between Dollar
General and Sunseed Co-op, can have a negative impact on the area and
will not be compatible with the City of Cape Canaveral Vision Statement.
By way of background, I moved to Cape Shores in June 2010, and was
attracted here by the quiet, beautiful setting, with lots of palm and
oak trees and the Banana River.
A major gas station/ convenience store just outside of Cape Shores on
A-1-A could change things in the area, in a negative way, I believe.
As you know, the lot of land for the proposed gas station/ store is
wooded, shaded and has at least 12 beautiful specimen trees-- see
pictures below.. At least 6- 7 specimen oak trees would be removed to
make way for the gas station's large parking lot, which all new gas
stations have so you can buy gas and then park your car to go inside for
food, beverages, cigarettes etc.
Our Vision Statement for the City of Cape Canaveral cites the
importance of trees, shade and green space several times, and the Vision
Statement is always at the top of the City's weekly updates, so it must
be important.
There would be a major increase in traffic in and out of the gas
station, so Cape Shores residents and other motorists on A-1-A would
have difficult driving conditions getting onto A-1-A and in and out of
the gas station.
Having a major gas station next door to a 200 unit complex at Cape
Shores would also put a dent in the beauty of that section of A-1-A,
with the beautiful trees on the proposed lot for the gas station, and
also including Brevard's best known organic grocery, Sunseed Food Co-op,
which is adjacent to the proposed Cumberland Farms location.
There also is the potential for increased toxic runoff into the Banana
River/ Indian River Lagoon system, just a short distance away...
I understand the logic that Port Canaveral is expanding rapidly, so
Cumberland Farms feels they can serve a growing number of travelers on
A-1-A, but there are already 8 other gas stations in Cape Canaveral,
including a large Racetrac as the 1st gas station coming south from Port
Canaveral into Cape Canaveral. And the proposed location is especially
bad for traffic in an already congested part of A-1-A in Cape Canaveral.
Even if Cumberland Farms still wanted to locate in Cape Canaveral,
there are other possible sites, which wouldn't be next door to a 200
unit residential complex with traffic congestion already and which
wouldn't involve cutting down a large number of specimen trees.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Alex Penn
190 Cape Shores Circle; Unit J
Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
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