Planners Table Request For Gas Station
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
The Kroger Co.'s proposal to install a gas station on its Center Street property was tabled by Warsaw Plan Commissioners Monday.
After lengthy discussion regarding vehicular and pedestrian traffic patterns and the number of parking spaces at the former Sav-a-Lot building, the commissioners referred the development plan to the traffic commission for its recommendation.
The gas kiosk is designed to have four pumping stations under a canopy at 2101 E. Center St. The station would be in the northeast corner north of the old Sav-a-Lot building between Cleveland and Harrison streets.
Kroger attorney Mike Quinn explained the company plans to replat the area, combining lots 15, 16 and 17 of the first community amended addition into one lot.
The company also is prepared to vacate the alley behind the Liquid Assets liquor store and the half block commonly used as Fort Wayne Street behind the Sav-a-Lot store.
There are two street cuts into the Sav-a-Lot parking area now and Kroger plans to move the western cut to the west about 50 feet. The relocation is necessary to accommodate fuel trucks.
The company also is requesting a new driveway on the east side of the property.
The commissioners expressed concern about increased traffic on Center Street, estimated at about 17,000 cars and trucks per day.
They said they couldn't see how restriping would solve any problems on a stretch that is already very congested.
Quinn said he doubted there would be a serious increase in traffic.
"We're providing this as a convenience to shoppers at the Owen's store (on the east side of the property) as many of our competitors are doing," he said.
Plan director Jeff Noffsinger said there are already too few parking spaces at the site.
Commissioner Jeff Grose expressed his concern about removing more spaces to install the gas station, especially if a business leased the former Sav-a-Lot building.
Quinn said patrons could park at Owens and walk over to the other business. Even if the Sav-a-Lot building is sold, Kroger would guarantee cross easements so everyone could use the parking lots.
Grose said that's what bothered him because of all the traffic lanes, curbs and grassy stretches customers would have to cross.
Tony Silveus, owner of several gas stations in Warsaw, approached the board as a remonstrator saying there are already 16 gas stations in a town of 12,000; about 750 customers support each station.
He played a video produced by Sprawl-Busters against placing a gas station in parking lots that has previously been shown at a city council meeting when Murphy Oil Co. presented plans to build near the Wal-Mart SuperCenter on Ind. 15.
He reminded the board the environmental issues hadn't been addressed, either.
Joe Thallemer said the plan commission did not conduct environmental hearings, that it was done at the state level.
Quinn reminded the board the developmental plan for a gas kiosk was a permitted use in a C-3 zone.
Commissioners are Joe Thallemer, Jeff Grose, Dewey Lawshe, Richard Keeven, Lacy Francis and Alan Clingman. Jim Gast was absent. [[In-content Ad]]
The Kroger Co.'s proposal to install a gas station on its Center Street property was tabled by Warsaw Plan Commissioners Monday.
After lengthy discussion regarding vehicular and pedestrian traffic patterns and the number of parking spaces at the former Sav-a-Lot building, the commissioners referred the development plan to the traffic commission for its recommendation.
The gas kiosk is designed to have four pumping stations under a canopy at 2101 E. Center St. The station would be in the northeast corner north of the old Sav-a-Lot building between Cleveland and Harrison streets.
Kroger attorney Mike Quinn explained the company plans to replat the area, combining lots 15, 16 and 17 of the first community amended addition into one lot.
The company also is prepared to vacate the alley behind the Liquid Assets liquor store and the half block commonly used as Fort Wayne Street behind the Sav-a-Lot store.
There are two street cuts into the Sav-a-Lot parking area now and Kroger plans to move the western cut to the west about 50 feet. The relocation is necessary to accommodate fuel trucks.
The company also is requesting a new driveway on the east side of the property.
The commissioners expressed concern about increased traffic on Center Street, estimated at about 17,000 cars and trucks per day.
They said they couldn't see how restriping would solve any problems on a stretch that is already very congested.
Quinn said he doubted there would be a serious increase in traffic.
"We're providing this as a convenience to shoppers at the Owen's store (on the east side of the property) as many of our competitors are doing," he said.
Plan director Jeff Noffsinger said there are already too few parking spaces at the site.
Commissioner Jeff Grose expressed his concern about removing more spaces to install the gas station, especially if a business leased the former Sav-a-Lot building.
Quinn said patrons could park at Owens and walk over to the other business. Even if the Sav-a-Lot building is sold, Kroger would guarantee cross easements so everyone could use the parking lots.
Grose said that's what bothered him because of all the traffic lanes, curbs and grassy stretches customers would have to cross.
Tony Silveus, owner of several gas stations in Warsaw, approached the board as a remonstrator saying there are already 16 gas stations in a town of 12,000; about 750 customers support each station.
He played a video produced by Sprawl-Busters against placing a gas station in parking lots that has previously been shown at a city council meeting when Murphy Oil Co. presented plans to build near the Wal-Mart SuperCenter on Ind. 15.
He reminded the board the environmental issues hadn't been addressed, either.
Joe Thallemer said the plan commission did not conduct environmental hearings, that it was done at the state level.
Quinn reminded the board the developmental plan for a gas kiosk was a permitted use in a C-3 zone.
Commissioners are Joe Thallemer, Jeff Grose, Dewey Lawshe, Richard Keeven, Lacy Francis and Alan Clingman. Jim Gast was absent. [[In-content Ad]]