Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Plan commission approves Kroger fueling center with drainage condition
Summary
The Whitestown Plan Commission approved a concept plan and a development plan for a Kroger fuel center on a 1.24-acre site, with a condition that a drainage plan be submitted and approved.
The Town of Whitestown Plan Commission on the evening voted to approve a concept plan and a development plan for a Kroger fueling center on a 1.24-acre parcel along Center Drive, subject to a required drainage plan.
The vote came after a presentation by Anne McBride, attorney for the petitioner, and staff review. McBride said Kroger plans a fuel center opposite a proposed 123,000-square-foot Kroger Marketplace store in neighboring Zionsville, requiring demolition of the existing Big O Tire building. She said the proposed fuel center would include seven double-sided pump islands (14 fueling positions), a 277-square-foot kiosk, five parking spaces required by code, an enclosed dumpster area and a propane cage located outside the pavement area and landscaped. McBride also said the fuel canopy is 19 feet tall and the kiosk will be bricked with earth-tone materials to match the store. She said the project is part of a roughly $35,000,000 investment for the Kroger development and said it would "bring about 2, 3 50 new Kroger associates" (as stated in the presentation).
Staff told the commission the concept plan meets UDO section 11.6 and the development plan meets UDO section 11.8 and recommended approval. The plan required a prior special exception and variances from the Board of Appeals (granted March 6) for signage, the district minimum building size (2,500 square feet) and a 20-foot minimum building height where the planned canopy is 19 feet.
During commission questions, staff and the petitioner clarified access and operations: there will be a full-access driveway at the east end of the site and a right-in/right-out closer to a planned roundabout; a shared access to the neighboring Taco Bell will be maintained but landscaped to control circulation; outdoor merchandise displays are proposed to be located mainly under the canopy in enclosed containers; coolers and merchandise containers will be secured after hours; and the facility is intended for passenger vehicles and smaller trucks, not semi-truck diesel fueling (the station will have diesel but is not intended as a semi fueling facility).
The commission approved the concept plan (docket PC 25-029 CP) and then approved the development plan (docket PC 25-030 DP). The development-plan approval included the condition that a drainage plan be submitted and approved. The chair announced the motion results as "5-0." No individual roll-call vote by name was read into the record in the transcript provided.
The development plans also reflect landscaping placed to avoid utility easements, screening of rooftop mechanical equipment and brick-clad canopy columns, and outdoor propane storage placed outside the primary pavement area and landscaped. The petitioner provided a handout showing the proposed enclosed outdoor merchandising containers intended to be kept under the canopy, and staff noted outdoor storage must be marked on the development plan.
Next steps: The approved development plan moves forward with the drainage-plan condition; the commission did not specify additional implementation steps or dates during the meeting.
