North Ridgeville Council approves Circle K gas station despite community concerns

The City of North Ridgeville held its regular City Council meeting on May 19, 2025, addressing several key agenda items, including the approval of a new Circle K gas station, amendments to zoning regulations, and financial appropriations for the upcoming year.

The meeting commenced with a discussion regarding the proposed Circle K gas station. Councilwoman Awig expressed reservations about the project, noting a preference for alternative developments. However, it was highlighted that Circle K met all zoning, building, and EPA requirements, leaving the council with limited legal grounds to deny the proposal. Councilman Abens pointed out the potential legal ramifications of rejecting the project, emphasizing that Circle K has a history of pursuing legal action in similar situations. Ultimately, the council voted on the motion to approve the planning commission's recommendation, which passed with a vote of 5 to 2.

Following this, the council moved to address several resolutions and ordinances. The first was Resolution 2025-78, which involved amending a previous resolution to facilitate the development of a traffic roundabout. The mayor proposed dispensing with the second and third readings of this resolution, which was seconded and approved without opposition. An emergency clause was also added to expedite the process, allowing the city to resolve ongoing court cases related to property acquisition.

Next, Ordinance 2025-79 was introduced, proposing a change in zoning for specific parcels from light industrial to residential. This ordinance was referred to the Planning Commission for further review.

The council then discussed Ordinance 2025-80, which involved appropriations for the fiscal year 2025. Similar to the previous resolutions, the council voted to dispense with the second and third readings and adopted the ordinance with an emergency clause, ensuring timely financial operations for the city.

The meeting concluded with the introduction of Ordinance 2025-81, which aimed to create new positions within the city’s administration, specifically a Human Resource Coordinator and an Administrative Law Clerk.

Overall, the meeting reflected the council's ongoing efforts to manage city development, financial appropriations, and administrative enhancements, with a focus on adhering to legal and procedural requirements. The next steps will involve further discussions on zoning changes and the implementation of the newly adopted ordinances.