Residents urge Bremerton to ban future gas stations, cite climate and health risks

Several Bremerton residents during public comment on May 21 urged the City Council to add language to the city’s comprehensive plan or enact a zoning ordinance or moratorium to prohibit construction of new gasoline stations.

"Approving any new future gas stations would directly undermine these policies," District 7 resident Charlie Michelle told the council, referencing Bremerton’s comprehensive plan language on sustainable development and climate action. "Every gallon of gasoline burned produces 20 pounds of climate-destroying CO2," Michelle said. He noted broader state and national trends toward electric vehicles and declining gasoline demand.

Carol Michelle, a Bremerton resident who followed, said toxic gasoline vapors can extend beyond station property and stressed that modern tanks and piping still leak. "Even state of the art tanks and pipes can leak through faulty seals, cracks, or accidents," she said, and urged the council to add comp-plan language or a zoning ordinance to bar new stations.

Council member Anna Mokler later noted there is an active conditional use permit application for a gas station on Kitsap Way proposing two 10,000‑gallon fuel vaults above Oyster Bay; she said the comment period for that application closes May 23. Other public speakers identified health and groundwater cleanup risks associated with leaking underground storage tanks and cited national and state examples where jurisdictions have limited new stations.

No council action on a moratorium or comp-plan amendment occurred at the meeting; the remarks were part of the public recognition period. City staff or councilmembers did not announce a follow-up policy process during the meeting.