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Staff opposes WT Harris gas-station rezoning; neighbors and District 5 councilmember raise consistency and notice concerns
Summary
A proposed gas station on East W.T. Harris Boulevard drew staff opposition and sustained criticism from District 5 Councilmember Marjorie Molina, who said notification was inadequate and that the site conflicts with the 2040 plan's Neighborhood 1 place type.
City planning staff recommended against a rezoning request for a proposed vehicle fueling facility on East W.T. Harris Boulevard (agenda item 20) during the Sept. 15 zoning meeting, citing site constraints and unresolved design and access issues.
Harold Johnson, the staff presenter, told council the 1.24-acre site faces utility easement limitations and layout challenges that make it difficult to meet the design standards intended for neighborhood centers. The petitioner, represented at the podium by Jordan, said the project would have four pump islands, a small retail area and a commercial kitchen and that the design includes a 12-foot multi-use path and dedication of right-of-way along both frontages.
District 5 Councilmember Marjorie Molina said she did not receive notice of the project and told council the parcel sits 0.4 miles from a nearly 28-acre public park Mecklenburg County is investing in. Molina said the area is "highly residential" and that adding another fuel-and-convenience operation next to a new park is inconsistent with the 2040 plan's Neighborhood 1 place type. She said the public meeting for the petition drew just three attendees from the neighborhood, which she described as insufficient for the scope of a land-use exception.
Jordan said neighbors asked for a wood fence and that the petitioner intends to operate a cleaning crew and security cameras. Staff and council asked for additional revisions to address transportation, site and building design issues; staff noted the petitioner missed the formal deadline to submit revised materials but that a revised plan could still be submitted for review ahead of zoning committee.
Councilmember Matt Driggs (listed in the transcript as Mr. Driggs) cautioned the petitioner that approval without staff support would be unlikely, calling the path "bumpy" and encouraging the petitioner to gauge community and staff support before incurring further expense.
A motion to close the public hearing was approved unanimously; no final rezoning decision was taken at the Sept. 15 meeting. Staff said it will continue to work with the petitioner, CDOT and community stakeholders to address the outstanding issues before the petition returns to committee.
