Council tables Murphy’s USA convenience‑store and fuel station applications to May 19 after resident concerns over hours and proximity

The Greenacres City Council on April 21 tabled two quasi‑judicial items relating to a proposed Murphy’s USA convenience store and fuel station at 6270 Forest Hill Boulevard and directed the applicant and staff to return on May 19.

Staff described the project as a redevelopment of a 1.17‑acre commercial parcel and said the proposal included a 2,824‑square‑foot convenience store, an overhead canopy serving six dual‑sided pumps (12 fueling positions), and 15 parking spaces (14 required). Gianni Galli, assistant director of Development Services (DNS), said the project includes enhanced landscaping and a taller buffer wall on the east side to screen the adjacent Palo Verde Apartments. The project is zoned Commercial Intensive and received planning‑and‑zoning and DRC recommendations with conditions.

Nicole Santana, the applicant’s engineer, said the landscape area would cover roughly 33 percent of the lot and that the master sign plan and photometrics comply with city code. The planning and zoning board previously approved a variance from the city’s 1,500‑foot separation requirement between fuel stations to accommodate this site; staff said the closest existing station is about 768 feet to the west.

Several council members expressed concern about the applicant’s request to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Staff pointed to a condition that allows the city manager or designee to reduce operating hours if operational problems arise, and staff noted that state or city code requires cooling/beer‑cooler restrictions—specifically that beer coolers must be closed between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m.—regardless of store hours. Galli said notices for the special exception and variance had been mailed to properties within 300 feet; staff reported one inquiry and no formal objections in the file.

Council Member Tharpe said he was “definitely opposed to 24/7.” Other council members and public commenters raised compatibility and safety concerns given the adjacent unincorporated residential properties. After discussion, Council Member Tharpe moved to table Resolution 2025‑15 (special exception) with hours modified so the store would be required to close from 2 a.m. to 7 a.m.; the motion was seconded by Deputy Mayor Diaz and passed unanimously. The companion item, Resolution 2025‑16 (site plan and master sign plan), was also tabled to the May 19 meeting with a motion by Tharpe and second by Diaz and carried unanimously.

Staff said tabling the items would allow time to refine hours‑of‑operation conditions and other compatibility measures before the council’s next review. Staff also reminded the council that denial would prevent the applicant from reapplying for 12 months under the local code.