Hayden Enterprises Gas Station Special Permit

Summary

Hayden Enterprises has applied to the Planning Board for a special permit to build a gas station, convenience store, and five apartments at the intersection of Worcester Road and Old Worcester Road. The application has drawn extended review over traffic, fire access, water pressure, lighting, fencing, hours of operation, and whether at least one of the five apartments will be designated as affordable housing.

Status

As of the September 2, 2026 Planning Board meeting, the board held a lengthy return hearing and moved toward drafting a formal decision with KP Law, with a push to require at least one affordable unit. Proposed hours are 5am–11pm. (A separate Freedom Enterprises gas station application was also on the schedule but only appears in continuances so far.)

Conservation Commission side resolved September 22 (order of conditions issued). The September 22 Conservation extract describes the Planning Board as having approved earlier, but no Planning Board approval vote has been logged on this page; verify. MassDOT curb-cut review could still force a redesign.

Log

2026-09-22 — 2026-09-22 - Conservation Commission Meeting

Conservation Commission closed the hearing and issued an order of conditions (special condition: no land disturbance until a land disturbance application is filed). DEP file 128-2015: 4.75-acre lot with ~2.5 acres of previously disturbed gravel, 5 fuel pumps, two 20,000-gal double-walled fiberglass tanks, work ~40 ft from bordering vegetated wetland, Graves peer review (36-38 comments) addressed. Old Worcester Road access to be gated emergency-only; the matter may return if MassDOT curb-cut review forces changes. A Stevens Road resident asked about contamination risk citing the former gas station site.

2026-09-02 — 2026-09-02 - Planning Board Meeting

Lengthy return hearing on the special permit for the gas station / convenience store / 5-apartment project at Worcester Road and Old Worcester Road. Board covered traffic, fire access, water pressure, lighting, fencing, and proposed hours of operation (5am–11pm). Discussion turned to writing a formal decision with legal counsel (KP Law), with a push toward designating at least one of the five apartments as affordable housing.

2026-07-15 — 2026-07-15 - Planning Board Meeting

Continued hearing. Gas is by right; the special permit covers the drive-thru and mixed use (convenience store plus 5 apartments). Discussed fence/arborvitae screening, double-wall tanks, a hydrant pressure test scheduled July 21 (40 psi benchmark), and MDM traffic review (MassDOT likely to require a narrower/scored entrance, longer island, snow plan, and a gate on the Old Worcester gravel link). Hours ~5am-11pm; decommissioning bond suggested; conditional on Conservation Commission. Continued to September 2.