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Plan Commission denies rezoning and tables conditional use for proposed gas station at Pennsylvania and Rawson
Summary
Commissioners voted to deny rezoning of parcels at 7115 and 7123 South Pennsylvania Avenue to B4 general business and tabled the conditional use permit and lot combination for a proposed multi‑tenant building and gas station after substantial resident opposition and traffic/safety concerns.
The Oak Creek Plan Commission on July 15 moved to deny a rezoning request for two parcels at the southwest corner of Rawson Avenue and South Pennsylvania Avenue and tabled the related conditional‑use permit and certified survey map for a proposed multi‑tenant commercial building with a convenience store and fuel sales.
Staff presented a combined package for three related requests: rezoning both lots to B4 General Business, a conditional use permit for fuel sales at a proposed convenience store with 10 pumps, and a certified survey map to combine the lots. The concept plan showed a roughly 6,000‑square‑foot multi‑tenant building (three tenants) with a 3,000‑square‑foot convenience store and fuel dispensing on the west side, 34 parking spaces and proposed hours of operation from 5 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
Commissioners and staff noted fuel sales would be restricted to passenger vehicles (no trucks over 10,000 pounds), and that the fuel operation must meet all vehicle‑related use standards in the municipal code. Several commissioners expressed safety and neighborhood‑compatibility concerns, specifically the proximity of fueling operations to an adjacent single‑family house and a busy intersection with a history of accidents; commissioners raised traffic flow, driveway placement and noise concerns.
Multiple residents who live immediately adjacent to the southern lot — including Blanca Cervantes (7131 South Pennsylvania Avenue) and Stefan Gonzales (7131 South Pennsylvania Avenue) — spoke in opposition, saying they were not contacted about the proposal, they recently purchased homes, and they feared noise, traffic, fumes and reduced property values. Commissioners said they had denied gas stations in similar contexts in the past and cited close proximity to residences as a concern.
The commission voted to deny the rezoning request for the two parcels and tabled the conditional use permit and the lot combination (CSM). Staff noted the rezoning will still go to the Common Council, and the tabling of the conditional use and CSM means those items return later for further study if the applicant pursues them.
