Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Pensacola planning board denies Circle K lot‑coverage variance but approves conceptual aesthetics for redevelopment at 400 E. Gregory St.
Summary
The Planning Board voted 4‑3 to deny a requested variance to increase maximum lot coverage from 75% to 85% for a proposed Circle K redevelopment at 400 E. Gregory St., citing insufficient proof of undue hardship; the board nonetheless granted conceptual aesthetic/site‑plan approval and urged concessions such as pervious paving, added landscaping and reduced brand color on the canopy.
The Pensacola Planning Board on Dec. 9 denied a variance request from MDM Services/Circle K to increase allowable impervious lot coverage at 400 East Gregory Street from 75% to 85%, finding the application failed to meet all required variance criteria. The denial came after the board voted 4‑3 against criterion 4 — that strict application of the code would impose an unnecessary and undue hardship on the applicant.
The project team, represented by Sandy Owens of MDM Services, proposed tearing out the existing gas station and rebuilding a 3,956‑square‑foot store with a new canopy and four fuel dispensers. Owens said the existing lot is about 98% impervious and that the redevelopment would reduce that to roughly 84.88% while enabling soil remediation funded by the Florida DEP. “We are asking for a reduction of the maximum impervious area, to be able to increase it to 85% from 75%,” Owens told the board, adding Circle K is planning substantial investment in the corner.
Why the variance failed
B…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
