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City commission narrows Town Center distance rule, approves conditional allowance for corner store with gas
Summary
On second reading the commission approved Ordinance 2025‑O‑9 to allow limited gasoline sales for corner stores in the Town Center T5 transect subject to a 12‑fueling‑position cap and other code conditions.
The City of Winter Springs City Commission approved the second and final reading of Ordinance 2025‑O‑9 on May 12, granting a limited exception to distance requirements so that a corner store or neighborhood convenience store in the Town Center (T5 transect) may include gasoline pumps under tightly defined conditions.
The ordinance keeps the conditional‑use framework in place but creates a very limited exception to the Town Center distance requirements: the code now caps such facilities at 12 fueling positions when the exception applies. City Attorney Anthony A. Garbanese and staff said there were no substantive changes to the ordinance since first reading; commissioners asked about how “limited gas” is quantified, and staff confirmed the 12‑position limit in the ordinance text.
Public comment included a resident who said the city’s 1,000‑foot rule was adopted previously to avoid “Gasoline Alley” and urged the commission to either deny pumps or require high‑quality design that fits the Town Center appearance. Planning staff and the applicant described a final site and aesthetics package; staff and the planning and zoning board recommended approval with conditions.
Vote and next steps: The motion to approve the ordinance was made by Commissioner Victoria Bruce and seconded by Commissioner Mark Caruso. The roll call recorded Commissioner Paul Diaz voting no; Commissioner Victoria Bruce voting aye; Commissioner Sarah Baker voting no; Commissioner Mark Caruso aye; Mayor Kevin McCann aye. The ordinance passed. Building and access permits, a right‑of‑way vacation that is required for the overall Sutton Crossings development, and other site‑plan milestones must still be completed before construction.
Context: The vote affects a planned corner‑store project in Sutton Crossings (the site that will also include an Ace Hardware and a Chick‑fil‑A), and commissioners and residents signaled concern for circulation, safety of ingress/egress, and compatibility with Town Center design rules. Staff said the applicant will still need conditional‑use approvals for some tenant spaces and must meet conditions of the development agreement and water‑management permits before site work begins.
