ZBA approves variances for 7‑Eleven/Speedway rebuild at East Wooster Street with expanded signs and lighting

The Zoning Board of Appeals approved a package of variances that will allow redevelopment of 1650 East Wooster Street by Speedway (now part of 7‑Eleven) to proceed with a new convenience store, fuel canopy and an expanded sign package.

Planning staff said the property is now zoned Interstate Commerce (IC) under the city’s updated zoning code, which sets a 60% maximum lot coverage (Table 13), outdoor‑lighting limits under canopies of 5 foot‑candles (Table 27, §150.81), and sign rules (Table 28, §150.84). The applicant sought variances to allow 76% lot coverage, canopy lighting with an average of about 35.86 foot‑candles and peaks to roughly 43 foot‑candles under the fuel canopy, and a total sign area of 550 square feet (the code limit is 336 square feet) along with seven wall/canopy signs where the code allows three.

City staff provided a…