Residents and neighborhood coalition urge council to halt CVS gas-station zoning at 10022 Madison Ave

Residents and neighborhood advocates urged Cleveland City Council to block a proposed CVS gas station at 10022 Madison Ave, saying local boards and voters have rejected the proposal.

Stephanie Thomas, introduced as a Ward 11 resident and recovery-house operator, told the council the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) “unanimously denied the variance for the gas station” and that the property owner did not attend the hearing. She said her West Boulevard recovery residences warn new residents to avoid a nearby BP because of drug solicitation and that the community “doesn’t want another gas station.” Thomas asked the council to “please table the gas station legislation.”

Fauzi Badour of the Coalition for Better Cleveland told the council the Planning Commission also denied the project and said neighborhood voters opposed the site in a September primary. He asked Councilman Danny Kelly to honor a reported agreement with Mayor Bibb to table the legislation; Badour said “we will not stand for it” if the agreement does not exist.

Why it matters: Speakers said the site sits near schools and the Cadell recreation center and that a gas station could harm people in recovery and children who use nearby facilities. The transcript records appeals to elected officials to delay or withdraw spot-zoning legislation; there was no recorded council vote on the item during the meeting.

Supporting details: Thomas said her operations have housed 63 people on West Boulevard in two years and currently house 15 tenants, including a sober residence. Badour cited the address 10022 Madison Ave and said the BZA and planning commission denied approvals; he noted local primary voters opposed the gas station. The transcript does not show council action to table or remove the legislation at this meeting.