A proposal to open a convenience store across the street from a preschool on Goffe Street in New Haven has prompted pushback from neighbors who say they do not want or need another convenience store in the area.

Concerns About the Proposal

The applicant, Kanya Kanh, and her boyfriend Albert Boria, presented their plan to the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) at City Hall on Tuesday night. The proposed store would be located roughly a block away from the Dr. Reginald Mayo Early Childhood School and next to St. Luke’s senior housing.

According to their application, Kanh and Boria intend to sell basic food items, cleaning supplies, sweets, and non-alcoholic beverages, and do not plan to sell alcohol or tobacco. However, neighbors expressed concerns about the potential impact of the store on the community, citing previous denials of similar proposals in the past.

Community Reaction

Some neighbors, including Dwight Alder Frank Douglass, expressed opposition to the proposal, citing concerns about the number of convenience stores in the area and the potential impact on the neighborhood. Others, including Boria’s mother, Christina Davis, spoke in support of the proposal, arguing that the store would provide a needed service to the community.

The BZA did not take a final vote on the zoning-relief application and instead referred the matter to the City Plan Commission for review. The BZA will then take the application up for a final vote next month.

Original reporting: New Haven Independent — read the source article.