Council approves 7‑Eleven site plan after trash orientation change; neighbors pressed for more buffering

The council voted 4–3 to approve a site plan for a 7‑Eleven at Robeson Ranch and Gibbs Road after the applicant revised the dumpster enclosure and truck access to reduce direct backing toward adjacent homes. Planning and Zoning had recommended denial over concerns that the original dumpster orientation forced trash trucks to back toward residences with warning beeps; the applicant presented an alternate layout that reorients the enclosure away from homes and sets it back about 200 feet from the public right‑of‑way.

Engineering and applicant representatives said the revised plan met parking, fire access and circulation requirements while minimizing impacts on the neighboring Ridge community. Council members and residents raised questions about landscape buffering and the potential for service‑vehicle activity and construction staging to use the back area; staff noted an existing 8‑foot screening wall and utility constraints that limit planting options, and the applicant said friends and developers would explore additional softening measures where feasible.

Council emphasized the town would continue to press for mitigation where possible and requested the developer consider relocation of noisy elements such as air pumps. The motion approving the alternate orientation passed 4–3; staff noted approval does not preclude continued negotiation on additional buffering before or during construction.