Belmont approves Quality Plus convenience store and gas station with traffic-signal mitigation and fence condition

Belmont’s City Council on May 4 approved a conditional zoning amendment that will allow Quality Oil Company to build a Quality Plus convenience store and gas station at 6915 Wilkinson Boulevard, contingent on several traffic and screening safeguards.

The project site is a 1.3-acre, double-frontage corner lot in the Wilkinson Boulevard highway corridor overlay. Planning staff described the plan as a 685-square-foot convenience building, five fuel dispensers serving up to 10 vehicles, a stormwater basin, and limited on-site parking. Because the lot is under the code’s two-acre threshold for automotive services within the overlay, the applicant requested multiple reliefs including a 15-foot buffer in lieu of the usual 30-foot HC-to-residential buffer, allowance to use Hardy board materials, and adjustments to street-tree placement to avoid existing utilities.

Traffic mitigation was a central point of the hearing. Consultant Justin Bansson of KDSON reported the site’s raw trip generation at 1,720 daily trips and a net new external-trip estimate of roughly 688 daily trips after pass-by adjustments; his analysis identified a justified mitigation: installation of a traffic signal at Wilkinson Boulevard and Browntown Road. "The installation of a new traffic signal was identified as the mitigation at that location," the consultant said, and staff added that the applicant agreed to construct the planned signal and to complete the westbound right-turn lane. The project team said a payment-in-lieu (bond) previously set aside for that turn-lane work is approximately $359,000 and the applicant agreed that it would assume any construction cost overages beyond that amount.

Neighborhood and council members pressed staff and the applicant about signal timing and corridor impacts; NC DOT division staff and the city emphasized that final timing and synchronization are handled through Division 12 (and its Raleigh office), but that city staff will advocate for coordination so the new signal does not create unintended bottlenecks along Wilkinson.

The applicant, represented by Wes, emphasized community outreach and said Quality Oil would install a six-foot wooden privacy fence along the northern property line if the buffer reduction is approved. He also confirmed the proposed store hours (building staffing 6 a.m.–10 p.m.; fuel pumps available 24/7) and said the company would handle utility relocation costs if needed.

Council action: Councilmember Jim moved to approve the amendment as amended to add the six-foot fence condition and require the applicant to assume extra costs for the westbound turn lane if construction exceeds the existing payment-in-lieu; Councilmember Charlie seconded. The motion passed by voice vote; required findings that the amendment is reasonable and consistent with the comprehensive plan were adopted.

What’s next: The applicant will proceed with final engineering, obtain any required DOT approvals for the signal and turn lane, and complete municipal permitting. Staff said if adjacent property owners decline to adjust obstructions that affect sight lines, the city could require a payment-in-lieu or ask the applicant to return for an amendment.

Ending: Council’s approval is conditional on the listed mitigation and the applicant’s commitments; staff will monitor approvals and work with NC DOT on final signal timing to limit corridor impacts.