ExxonMobil Makes Pitch To Town
Oil giant seeks approval to build station in Patterson
By Michael Risinit
The Journal News
PATTERSON - ExxonMobil Corp. tried to convince town zoning officials last night
that Patterson Auto Body, which annually sells a million gallons of gasoline,
isn't a gas station.
Representatives of the world's largest oil company made the argument in hopes of
getting a zoning variance so ExxonMobil could proceed with its plans for a gas
station and convenience store on Route 22.
The proposed facility at the Haviland Hollow Road intersection would sit across
from Patterson Auto Body. Patterson's zoning code states that gasoline stations
can't be located within 2,000 feet of each other. The two parcels' property
lines are only 60 feet apart.
Richard Cantor, a Poughkeepsie-based lawyer representing ExxonMobil, argued that
the town zoning code definition of a gas station excludes auto body repair.
"Since Patterson Auto Body engages in both the sale of gasoline and automotive
body repair, it is not a gasoline station," Cantor said.
About 35 people listened to Cantor's arguments during the public hearing in
Patterson Town Hall. Most seemed to laugh at the lawyer's assertions.
Cantor, who was joined by two ExxonMobil consultants, submitted at least a dozen
affidavits and exhibits in support of his contentions. In addition to the zoning
board's secretary, ExxonMobil supplied its own stenographer to record the
meeting's proceedings. The board is expected to hold open the public hearing for
at least three months before ruling on the matter.
Residents had voiced concern with the oil giant's proposal. An unsigned flier
distributed in town expressed worry that Route 22 was turning into a
conglomeration of gas stations, fast food establishments and other businesses.
ExxonMobil was just looking for a loophole in the town's code, some audience
members said.
"When I'm pulling into the gas station, I'm not thinking I'm pulling into an
auto body shop for my gas," Annette Pullman said.
Edie Keasbey, another Patterson resident, thought ExxonMobil was wasting its
time. "They've been spending all this time trying to get in here when our code
says no," Keasbey said.
Ed O'Connor, zoning board chairman, said resolving the issues would rest more on
legal factors than public sentiment. He said the board would carefully review
the documents submitted by the oil company.
In addition, ExxonMobil is seeking relief from three other zoning ordinances.
The company wanted the distance between any structure and the property line to
be reduced from 65 feet to 30 feet. The company also asked to put up a 90-
square-foot, free-standing sign, compared to the 25-square-foot sign allowed by
the zoning code. Plus, ExxonMobil wanted to put a 26square-foot sign on its
building, and the maximum allowed by the zoning code is 100 square feet.
The proposed station would join another Mobil On the Run gas station-convenience
store in Patterson, two miles away at Routes 22 and 311.
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(c) The Journal News Thursday, December 21, 2000
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