Environmental Assessment: Proposed Construction of Army and Air Force Exchange Service New Day Street Shoppette

Abstract : The 42d Air Base Wing (ABW) at Maxwell Air Force Base (MAFB), Alabama and the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) have initiated a planning program at MAFB to construct a new AAFES shoppette to rectify various functional inadequacies within the existing shoppette and to expand AAFES services and functions at the shoppette. The proposed action is to construct a new 17,762 SF AAFES shoppette at MAFB, Alabama to replace the existing 8,345 SF shoppette (Building 1112), which is undersized, outdated, and no longer capable of providing adequate services to personnel and dependents associated with MAFB. The new shoppette would also accommodate a 2,172 SF restaurant with drive-up window service, an automated carwash facility, 12 multi-purpose fuel dispensers, and an eight bay car care center. The restaurant would either be operated by AAFES as a franchise or would be owned by AAFES. The three existing 10,000-gallon underground storage tanks (USTs) containing three grades of gasoline would serve 12 pump stations under a canopy on the north east side of the building. A drive-through service lane for the restaurant would be constructed at the south east side of the building. Approximately 98 parking spaces and site access roads encompassing approximately 127,000 SF of pavement would surround the building. The proposed action would require a total site area of approximately four acres. The proposed site is located at the existing Day Street shoppette, Building 1112. It is bounded to the north by West Selfridge Street, to the east by Air Base Boulevard, to the west by the existing shoppette parking lot and the boat and RV storage lot, and to the south by U.S. Highway 31 overpass and the railroad tracks. Access to the new shoppette from off-base would be through the Day Street Gate to West Selfridge Street. On-base access to the new shoppette would also be from West Selfridge Street.