Owner of New 7-Eleven to Reappear Before Zoning Board

Some residents may be left disappointed after tonight’s zoning board meeting as the owner of the new 7-Eleven on Lacey Road is seeking to make amendments to the site plan, including the removal of the drive-through window.

The 7-Eleven was originally The convenience store would have been one of the first in the country with the window, site owner, Waseem Chaudhary of Shaan Realty, LLC previously said.

Chaudhary was hoping to open the convenience store by Jan. 1 but there were , including no drive-through window. Monitoring wells were also paved over.

To avoid returning to the zoning board, the applicant would have had to add the drive-through window, Nicole Casale of the Board’s office said.

As for the monitoring wells, Chaudhary may have to discuss the issue with the Lacey Municipal Utilities Authority, Casale said. The wells may have to be dug up and have caps put on them.

If the state Department of Environmental Protection confirms that the wells are not active, Chaudhary can proceed, LMUA Chairman Jim Knoeller said.

The drive through and monitoring well problems had to be addressed prior to opening; otherwise Chaudhary would have had to reappear before the Board of Adjustment.

The and auto repair garage, also located on the site, will remain open. But the convenience store, which was previously located in between Shell’s pumps, was demolished.

Another change Chaudhary made in the plans was to adjust the size of the booth where the gas attendant would sit. Because this modification is not a site change, Chaudhary was able to proceed, Casale said.

Chaudhary is still waiting on permits for the Shell, which will have six gas pumps. The gas station and 7-Eleven must open together, Casale said.

The store and gas station will be open 24 hours, seven days a week. Chaudhary has previously stated that he will be holding a “big grand opening” once the store opens.