ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. – A proposed Gate gas station in Atlantic Beach has some residents upset. They say the store doesn't fit in their small beach town, that it will lower property values and will make the small roads surrounding the property unsafe.
The protesters are afraid the store will be extremely large, similar to one near the St. Johns Town Center.
But Gate Petroleum representatives said that's not the case.
They said the proposed station, which would be built on property next to Beach Diner, would have seven pumps and a 6,400-square-foot store. They said that's considerably smaller than the building currently on the property.
"Atlantic Beach was voted one of the top 10 places to live in the country because of our unique culture of residential beach community,” resident Tom Foppiano said. "The problem we've had is, a lot of people think it's a done deal, but it's not. It's a David and Goliath thing. They think, 'Oh Gate, there's no way you're going to stop Gate.' Well, right across the street we stopped Walmart several years ago. So if we can stop Walmart, I think we might be able to stop Gate."
A spokeswoman with Gate said it's listened to feedback in the community and even modified the renderings to include seven gas pumps and a design that is consistent with the charm and character of the community.
The company issued a statement Thursday:
"Gate strives to be a good neighbor in each community it serves. In Atlantic Beach, through each step of the process -- before purchasing the property, during the design of the proposed store and station, while plans were pending, and currently -- Gate has continuously communicated in public meetings about its intentions."
Susan Perry, who lives down the street from the proposed gas station location, believes property values will be damaged if the station is built.
“The townhouse over there recently appraised for $200,000,” Perry said. “If Gate comes in, that's the highest it will ever go, and it will continually plummet because who wants to live across from a gas station."
Atlantic Beach Cares, the group protesting the station, said it is concerned about the surrounding roads. The group members said they can't understand how an 18-wheeler or a semi-truck is going to be able to navigate the roads safely.
Gate says any increased traffic will come from the Atlantic Boulevard side of the station.
Perry's not buying that. But both sides agree on sitting down to talk facts.
"Let's vet the whole thing. Let's not try and do it in the shadows, like this was done. Get full representation from everybody. I'd welcome Gate to talk to us point-by-point about that,” Foppiano said. “And I'd like to talk to other people that have had Gate as a neighbor and say, 'Hey, what kind of a neighbor have they been?'”
Gate is holding a public forum from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 5 at the Adele Grage Cultural Center to get feedback from neighbors and talk about the project.