West Lebanon — BJ’s Wholesale Club wants to build a gas station on the site currently occupied by a former Friendly’s restaurant, providing drivers with the only gas service along Route 12A south of Interstate 89 in the busy commercial strip in West Lebanon.

Massachusetts-based BJ’s has filed a site plan with the Lebanon Planning Board that will be taken up at the board’s regular meeting on May 9. The plan also requires approval from the city engineer because the site falls within the Connecticut River flood plain.

The Friendly’s and BJ’s Wholesale site is owned by the Korpela Family Trust, a major property owner in West Lebanon.

BJ’s Gas, as the station would be called, would include six self-serve gas pumps and a retail kiosk, according to the plan. Anyone can purchase gas at BJ’s, although only customers who have purchased a BJ’s membership are eligible for discounts.

The southbound lane on Route 12A has been without a gas station since the Irving Oil gas closed during a major overhaul of the Exit 20 interchange in 2010.

Posted online Wednesday at 4 p.m. Find a full report in the upcoming Sunday Valley News.

John Lippman is a staff reporter at the Valley News. He can be reached at 603-727-3219 or email at jlippman@vnews.com.