Vt. Superior Court judge denies attempt to close Costco gas pumps

Costco will be allowed to continue pumping gas under limited hours as the legal battle over an Act 250 permit for a major VTrans project at Exit 16 in Colchester continues in court.

A Vermont Superior Court judge on Wednesday sided with Costco after competing gas distributor R.L. Vallee, the owner of Maplefields, asked for a temporary restraining order to shut Costco down after it opened Tuesday with a state land use permit allowing the limited hours

Vallee claims Costco broke a promise it made in 2014 not to open until traffic improvements have been made to the Exit 16 area.

In its ruling, the court says the evidence doesn't support the restraining order and instead requested a hearing to discuss issues in Valle's complaint.

It's the latest twist in a decade-long legal battle by Vallee and the Conservation Law Foundation to prevent Costco -- and the $8 million VTrans project -- from impacting water quality in a nearby stream. Vallee has also argued Costco's increased traffic will impact his business.

The opening of the Costco pumps has triggered a price war. The Maplefields lowered its prices Tuesday to $1.59 to match Costco. Gasbuddy.com reports Costco's price Thursday went down to $1.49