Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning board recommends conditions for new gas station at 110 Towns Drive
Summary
The Beaufort Planning Board recommended approval of a special-use permit and site plan for a Minuteman gas station at 110 Towns Drive, asking the applicant to add larger street trees, a black vinyl-coated fence and a maintenance plan for the stormwater basin and landscaping before commissioners act.
The Beaufort Planning Board on April 20 recommended that the Board of Commissioners approve a special-use permit and associated site plan for a proposed Minuteman gas station at 110 Towns Drive, but asked the developer to add larger street trees, a black vinyl-coated fence around the stormwater pond and a written maintenance plan for landscaping and the pond.
Planning staff presented the application and said the site — at the corner of Towns Drive and Live Oak Street, near Food Lion and Beaufort Hardware — is zoned B-1 and allows gas stations as a special use. Staff described the proposal’s components: a retail store with indoor seating plus a drive-through, a fuel-island canopy, a tunnel car wash, 26 parking spaces, an access point on Towns Drive, stormwater controls and landscape buffers between the station and the adjacent townhouse development. Staff noted the stormwater design must meet state DEQ permit standards because the site is within a half mile of high‑quality waters.
The applicant, Greg Stewart, said the development team has gone through the town’s TRC review and believes the project meets the seven special‑use criteria. "We do believe we meet the 7 criteria for a special use permit," he told the board. Summit Engineering’s Seth Hepperson explained the stormwater design and said the permanent pool and treatment requirements — including an 18‑inch sand filter — drove the decision to locate the pond at the front of the property where the natural drainage already discharges.
Board members focused on visual quality and long‑term maintenance. One member, speaking as a landscape architect, pressed for assurances the grass and slopes would be maintained and suggested irrigation; the applicant said typical maintenance and DEQ‑enforced operation-and‑maintenance inspections will apply and offered to provide a routine maintenance plan for the basin and landscape. Several board members urged larger street trees along Live Oak to improve the gateway appearance; another argued the town’s street‑tree ordinance should be enforced.
Members also discussed safety around the pond and fencing. Staff noted the town’s LDO requires a fence around stormwater retention ponds; the board asked that the fence be a black vinyl‑coated chain‑link or equivalent meeting the ordinance standards.
After discussion, a motion to approve the site plan was amended to request that the applicant (1) consider larger street trees at the front of the property, (2) use a black vinyl‑coated fence around the pond, and (3) submit a maintenance plan for the pond and landscaping. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The planning board’s recommendation and the verbatim motion will be transmitted to the Board of Commissioners for the quasi‑judicial public hearing and final decision.
Next steps: the town will advertise and notify adjacent property owners of the required special‑use public hearing; only property owners with standing will be allowed to give testimony at that hearing, per the town’s quasi‑judicial process.
