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QuikTrip proposes large convenience‑store and truck fueling at US‑24 interchange; council delays decision 30 days
Summary
QuikTrip representatives presented a plan to rezone agricultural land to commercial, build a 7,300‑square‑foot store with auto and diesel fueling and 77 parking spaces. Council accepted materials but deferred action for roughly 30 days to review a new traffic study.
Waterville — QuikTrip representatives on July 28 asked the city to rezone an agricultural parcel near the US‑24 interchange to permit a QuikTrip convenience store, automobile and diesel fueling, and related development; council voted to table action for roughly 30 days to review additional materials, notably an updated traffic study.
The proposal calls for a 7,300‑square‑foot convenience store, a multi‑island automobile fueling canopy with eight double‑sided dispensers, a separate 3,200‑square‑foot five‑lane diesel fueling canopy for trucks, and about 77 total parking spaces (including oversized truck spaces). The applicant also proposed a single‑lane roundabout at the site driveway and signal changes on the nearby ramps.
QuikTrip project manager Paulie Bucharest said the company has a long corporate history and emphasized employee pay and local donations. “We give tuition reimbursement through master’s degree and PhDs level… part‑time employees, you’re looking at between $16 and $18 an hour,” Bucharest said, describing typical staffing and pay ranges at similar QuikTrip locations.
Planner Rob Sweet said the site is within the area identified by Waterville’s 2012 comprehensive plan for mixed commercial use and that the company wants to be a catalyst for west‑side development. “We feel our building architecture needs to meet the standard; we use brick architecture throughout… and we’re providing the minimal amount [of sidewalks] for eventual connections,” Sweet said.
Traffic engineer Robert Matko described an updated traffic impact study that reduced some operational concerns. He told council that many fueling‑site trips are “pass‑by” trips already on the adjacent roadway and that peak‑hour new trips are modest: “In the AM peak hour, additional 2.38 cars per minute… in the PM peak hour, you’d be looking at 2.5 cars per minute,” Matko said, and added the revised design (including a roundabout) would produce acceptable levels of service.
Council members raised questions about truck parking and overnight stays, impacts during school drop‑off/pick‑up, proximity to planned roundabouts on the corridor and whether the project would land‑lock neighboring parcels. QuikTrip representatives said the site is not intended for long‑term truck parking and that overnight parking is not part of the design; they said some QuikTrip travel centers do allow overnight parking by agreement where local communities permit it.
Because the developers submitted an updated traffic study shortly before the meeting, council agreed to defer action. Mayor and staff recommended tabling the rezoning and conditional use decisions about 30 days to allow staff and council time to review the late materials. Council moved and seconded the motion to table; members voted to defer further consideration until the August meeting.
Ending: The planning process will continue with a review by city staff and the planning commission; developers may revise plans and negotiate design and access features before council takes a final vote.
