Good morning, Hopkinton! Welcome to the daily update we call Hopkinton Today — a quick recap of yesterday’s news, highlights of what’s on tap, and a photo of the day.

Developer pulls plug on proposed gas station/country store

As quick as it started, Wednesday night’s Board of Appeals meeting was over in the blink of an eye.

Neal Bingham, attorney for Rte 85 Realty Corp, requested that his client’s owner — Kevin Meehan — make an address to the board after chair John Coutinho opened the meeting.

Meehan and Rte 85 Realty first came before the Board of Appeals in August to obtain a use variance for a gas station and country store at 290 West Main Street.

Residents have been fighting the project, citing environmental concerns and traffic issues as undue burdens to abutters of the property.

Meehan’s remarks were brief.

“We’d respectfully ask the board to withdraw [our application] without prejudice,” he said.

He said he recognized that residents and the board were offering some room to develop the land so long as a gas station was not part of the development, but according to him, “That wouldn’t work for us.”

“[We] don’t want to prejudice the O’Connors [the current owners] from doing something with their land,” he added.

He closed his remarks by saying he hoped his company could come up with something people would like better in a different part of town.

Kevin Meehan (right) and counsel Neal Bingham address the Board of Appeals at Wednesday’s meeting. PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

Latest News

Remedying a possible point of order issue for the upcoming Special Town Meeting, the Planning Board voted Wednesday afternoon to recommend a zoning plan to the town that would satisfy the MBTA Communities Act.

The Select Board Tuesday night reviewed Hopkinton Police Chief Joseph Bennett’s performance over the past six months, noting his growth of the department, expansion of the HPD’s social media presence and assignment of a new school resource officer.

Citing potential damage to Hopkinton’s commercial base and a possible stifling of business growth in town, the Select Board voted not to split the tax rate for residential and commercial properties.

The Parks & Recreation Commission at its Tuesday night meeting debated which of its upcoming projects it should prioritize for Community Preservation Committee funding.

After learning wetlands replication work was complete at the Elmwood Farms III subdivision, the Conservation Commission on Tuesday night voted to release building permits to the developers.

This week’s Police Log features reports of a missing dog in Hopkinton State Park, a lawn mower catching fire and speeding complaints on Legacy Farms North.

Town meetings tonight include the School Committee (7) and the Community Preservation Committee (7).

Photo of the Day

The Hopkinton Garden Club, celebrating its 100th anniversary, recently donated books to the Hopkinton Public Library. Recognizing the contribution are (from left) library staff Jak Miller and Nanci Hill, and Garden Club co-presidents Pamela Campagna and Cynthia Blank.

PHOTO/KATHY HINDS