Livingston Activists Don’t Want Exxon Station To Become 7-Eleven

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Will one of Livingston's gas stations soon become a 7-Eleven? That’s what a GoFundMe campaign launched earlier this week is claiming.

The campaign – titled “Livingston United” – alleges that the owner of a local Exxon station has decided to sell the property to a New York company for $10 so it can build a 24-hour 7-Eleven in a residential neighborhood.

While the campaign doesn't specify which Exxon station is allegedly on the market, if such a project went through, it would be the third 7-Eleven and the fifth convenience store in Livingston, it claims.

According to organizers:

“Many years ago, Exxon obtained a variance to build a gas station in our residential neighborhood against the wishes of the residents that lived here. In other words, we temporarily let Exxon use our residential land for its commercial purpose.”

Campaign organizers allege that two fuel storage tank leaks have “contaminated the property, as well as the surrounding land and water.”

The campaign continues:

“The convenience store would add more traffic, more noise, more light pollution and more opportunity for crime in our otherwise quiet and clean neighborhood. Maybe more importantly, it would likely prevent the site from ever being returned to the condition we gave it to Exxon in. Please help us help our town managers make the right decision this time and deny the variance so better options for the land can be explored.”

As of Thursday afternoon, organizers have raised almost $900. See the full GoFundMe campaign here.

EXXON: 'WE DON'T OWN IT'

On Thursday, a representative with ExxonMobil told Patch that the company does not own or operate any retail fuel stations in the United States.

"Exxon and Mobil stations are supplied by authorized independent branded wholesalers who either operate the stations directly or have a contractual relationship with an independent owner/operator," the spokesman stated.

Patch has reached out Livingston’s town manager for comment on the campaign and alleged sale plans. We will post a follow-up article if we receive replies or additional information.

File Photo: Flickr Commons

Send local news tips, photos and press releases to [email protected]