Talk about the Cumberland Farm in Centerbrook getting a new look has been underway since May. With the Essex Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) granting Cumberland Farms four variances, the company can now move forward with the redevelopment of the site at 82 Main Street in Centerbrook.

The variances are as follows: to allow for 100 percent of the parking places to be in the front of the building, to have the impervious surface be more than 70 percent of the property, to have less than the typically prescribed amount of landscaping for the size of the property, and to allow for the expansion of the underground storage tanks within the water resource district.

“It has been a good experience working with Cumberland Farms as they have listened to what the town wants and to what the residents are interested in,” said Essex Zoning and Inland Wetlands Enforcement Official Joe Budrow. “I am interested in seeing what the final plan will be.”

With a few more hurdles to clear before the final plans are solidified, Cumberland Farms will go before the Zoning Commission on Monday, Dec. 21, at which time it’s most likely that a public hearing will be set.

Currently, the Cumberland Farms building, which was constructed in the ‘50s, is 1,800 square feet. The expansion project proposes that the new building be enlarged to 3,742 square feet, replicating one that has been built in Chatham, Massachusetts, in a Colonial style, with dormers to fit into the aesthetic character of the area.

The property was purchased by Cumberland Farms in 1986 and transformed into a convenience store and gas station. The reason given for the expansion project is that currently the store is cramped and the dumpster is exposed. In addition, Cumberland Farms representatives have pointed out that the septic needs replacing, and there is a tight configuration for pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

The new plan will not only remedy these existing problems, Cumberland Farms representatives said, but it is hoped that it will enhance the aesthetics of the site, as well as the streetscape and sidewalk area. It will also reduce the number of driveways from four to two, and include new sidewalks and new LED, down-lit light fixtures.

The project will also replace underground gas storage tanks with new double walled fiberglass tanks, with a safety alarm if there is a leak. The 20,000-gallon tanks to be installed are broken up into a 12,000/8,000 gallon split, separated by a bulkhead. The larger tanks will allow for fewer deliveries to the site.

Centerbrook resident Strict Hyde stated at the October ZBA meeting that he approves of the Cumberland Farms’ proposal.

“It is time for a change and time to update this business,” said Hyde.

Ken Bombaci also stated his approval for the Cumberland Farm expansion project. He said he was born and raised in Centerbrook and he recalls when the original gas station went up.

“This will be a good asset for the Centerbrook section of Essex. A lot of the local people go into Cumberland Farms and purchase coffee and it has become a favorite among the early morning work forces,” said Bombaci.

Resident Kathy Bishop stated her opposition to the proposal. She said that Cumberland Farms is a big-box convenience store, one of the largest in the United States. The company had 39 violations in Vermont in 2013 because of their fuel tanks, she said.

“This business is worth $300 billion, it is a big box store, and there is no hardship associated with this proposal,” said Bishop. “This store should not be expanded.”

The Dec. 21 Zoning Commission meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall.