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Board approves additional fuel dispensers at 104 West 20th Avenue despite one dissent
Summary
The Board approved a variance to allow additional fuel dispensers/island configuration at a convenience store site at 104 West 20th Avenue; Commissioner Butler voted no while the other commissioners voted yes.
The City of Covington Board of Adjustments approved a variance allowing an altered pump/island configuration at the convenience store property at the intersection of West 20th Avenue and North Jefferson Avenue.
Case number 25‑01‑03 asked the board to permit a dispenser and island layout the petitioner said would increase queuing capacity and reduce the chance of vehicles stacking into the public intersection. The petitioner described the request as an interpretation and reconfiguration of how the ordinance’s allowance for two “islands” (up to four dispensers) is applied on this constrained site and asked for four single‑row dispenser positions to form eight vehicle positions.
Why it matters: Commissioners and neighbors voiced concerns about traffic stacking on 20th during peak periods. The applicant said additional dispensers would reduce intersection backups and queuing on the site by allowing more cars to refuel without blocking inbound/outbound circulation. A resident commenter said the site had operated previously with similar configurations and “it worked just fine.”
Petitioner representatives explained that, on this constrained parcel, the practical effect of the ordinance language limited safe queuing. “If you have only 2 pumps…they're gonna wait in line. They're gonna wait behind that guy,” the applicant warned, arguing that an additional dispenser would “help just maneuver everybody in and out and for the safety” of the site. Another speaker described removing the adjacent car wash and reorganizing parking to create circulation space.
The board took a roll‑call vote that recorded Commissioner Butler as opposed and Commissioners Gilley, Williams, Lucas and Romage in favor; the motion carried, and the buffer/landscape and associated site adjustments will be governed by the permit process and any DOTD approvals required for access changes.
Votes at a glance: Case 25‑01‑03 — variance to allow additional dispensers/island configuration at 104 West 20th Avenue. Motion: approve variance to allow four dispensing positions (configured as requested). Outcome: approved (4–1).
