The Martha’s Vineyard Commission approved plans for a new fuel station, convenience store and car wash at the airport business park last week, immediately following a public hearing on the project.

The applicant, Depot Corner Inc, owned by Louis Paciello, was awarded a lease for lot 33 at the business park this year, following a controversial bidding process with the Martha’s Vineyard Airport commission. Mr. Paciello owns two other gas stations in Edgartown.

After failing to reach an agreement with Mr. Paciello for sale of the infrastructure, former lease holder Michael Rotundo demolished the Airport Mobil station he had operated on the site for 20 years.

Speaking to the commission last Thursday, attorney Sean Murphy, representing Depot Corner, said Mr. Paciello had hoped to buy the old station infrastructure, but also found advantages in beginning with a vacant lot.

“With this blank slate, it gives him an opportunity to create a gas station that works for everybody,” Mr. Murphy said.

He outlined the scope of the new station, which will sell Shell brand petroleum products.

It will have four pump islands with eight fuel dispensers, including diesel fuel available at all fueling locations.

The station will be self service, with a solar canopy covering the fuel islands.

The proposal calls for three new underground storage tanks for fuel, all double-walled fiberglass tanks with visual monitoring and containment systems in the event of a spill. The total capacity of the tanks will be 37,000 gallons.

The convenience store will be 2,435 square feet,1,125 square feet larger than the previous convenience store on the site.

A single bay car wash will have a water containment system, which recycles most of the water.

There are no plans to provide oil change service.

“This location is vital to the Island to have a gas station here,” said Mr. Murphy. “Whoever owns it, the Island needs a gas station at this location.”

The project will need additional state, federal and local permits.

Commissioner Doug Sederholm moved to skip the usual post-public hearing review by the land use planning committee and proceed directly to deliberation, and commissioners agreed.

“This is a highly, highly, highly regulated operation,” said Mr. Sederholm. “We don’t need to regulate it any more than everybody else.”

After brief deliberation and discussion, the commission unanimously approved the project.

Also on the agenda Thursday evening was deliberation and a possible decision on a permanent cell tower for Chappaquiddick, but there were not enough eligible commissioners present to form a quorum, so action was postponed.