Planning Commission approves redevelopment of Buchanan & 36th gas station with expanded convenience store

The Planning Commission unanimously approved a special land use and site plan to redevelop an existing gas station at Buchanan Avenue and 36th Street Southwest into a 4,120‑square‑foot convenience store with an eight‑pump canopy and consolidated parcels.

Staff reported the site is already zoned for the proposed use in the B‑2 general business district and characterized the project as a redevelopment that will replace an aging canopy and building, merge three parcels, improve access and increase on‑site parking. Staff’s site‑plan findings noted that engineering and public safety reviews found proposed ingress/egress and emergency vehicle access adequate and recommended a masonry screening wall of at least five feet where the site abuts residential property; landscaping, drainage and erosion requirements were included as conditions of approval.

During public comment, resident Dan Jones raised broader concerns about roadway damage from heavy construction and persistent on‑street parking problems that complicate snow‑plow operations; he urged the commission and staff to ensure road repairs and to consider parking impacts from increased activity. The applicant’s design engineer said the plan adds parking, improves traffic flow through the site, and will add landscaped street frontage. The property owner said the renovated store will likely operate 24 hours and include interior restrooms.

Commissioners voted to grant both the special land use and the site plan subject to staff conditions, and recorded unanimous affirmative roll calls. Conditions include meeting the city’s screening and landscaping standards, final engineering approval of stormwater and circulation, and conformance with the site plan conditions in the staff packet.