Wyoming planning commission approves gas station at 2375 28th Street despite neighborhood opposition

The Wyoming Planning Commission on June 16 approved special-use and site-plan requests to replace an abandoned retail building at 2375 28th Street SW with an eight-pump gasoline station and a convenience store, despite dozens of residents who testified against the project.

Staff told the commission the site — a former drive-through pharmacy that has been vacant for nearly three years — meets zoning and development standards for a B-2 commercial corridor. The proposal calls for demolition of the existing 10,910-square-foot building, consolidation of drive openings along Forest Grove and Byron Center, approximately 4,300 square feet of convenience retail and an eight-pump fueling canopy. Staff and the applicant said landscaping, a six-foot concrete wall along the residential edge, bollards, painted crosswalks and lighting controls are included in the plan and that underground fuel-tank permitting also requires state review.

Neighbors framed their opposition around traffic, safety, noise and property values. "Eight pumps — let's conservatively say there's 50 cars per pump — that's 400 cars," Bruce Bloch, who lives kitty-corner to the site, told the commission, arguing that many of those trips would funnel onto Forest Grove, a residential street. Rhonda Black, who lives across from the site, said past activity when the store operated "filled my yard with trash" and that she feared increased late-night activity and loitering.

Other residents raised related concerns: sight-line and left-turn backups on Byron Center Avenue during peak periods, additional light pollution in bedroom windows, and delivery vehicles accessing the site from the neighborhood. "This type of activity will diminish the quality of life for the residents on Forest Grove," resident Jonathan Christopher said.

The applicant's team and a consulting traffic engineer said the design reduces curb cuts and directs fuel-tanker maneuvers to Byron Center and 28th Street. "The turning template shows larger vehicles entering on Byron and exiting on 28th," said a representative for the applicant. Richard McMahon, the applicant's representative, told the commission tank deliveries would be scheduled outside peak hours and estimated a tanker visit "probably once every two days," depending on inventory needs.

Commission discussion focused on whether the site plan met zoning code standards, the adequacy of screening and the potential for cut-through traffic on neighborhood streets. Several commissioners suggested follow-up monitoring of Forest Grove traffic and asked staff to coordinate with public safety if cut-through movements or other nuisances increased after opening.

After debate the commission voted to grant the special-use request and to approve the site plan subject to the conditions in staff reports. Both motions passed on roll call. According to staff recommendations adopted by the commission, the approvals include required landscaping, screening, and conditions addressing stormwater, lighting and parking-lot islands.

The commission's approvals do not eliminate subsequent permit reviews. The applicant must complete engineering and building permits and satisfy state oversight for underground fuel storage before construction begins. The planning staff said it will monitor neighborhood reports related to traffic, litter and noise and suggested outreach to the city engineering office about curb-cut limits on 28th Street.

What happens next: the developer must secure all engineering and building permits and meet conditions listed in the site-plan approval. Staff recommended periodic monitoring of neighborhood traffic and liaison with police for enforcement of any cut-through or loitering problems.