Veneta planning commission approves US Market gas station and grants variance for Territorial Highway access

The Veneta Planning Commission voted 4–1 on April 7 to approve a conditional-use permit, site-plan review and a variance (file numbers CUP-25-3, SR-25-4, V-26-1) for a proposed gas station, convenience store and coffee shop with drive-through at Territorial Highway and Jeans Road. Commissioner Craig Soderberg moved the approval with conditions; Commissioner Paula Phillips seconded. Commissioner Alan Blyther voted no; the motion carried.

The approval includes two key conditions: the commission required the applicant to seek county approval to install a median on Territorial Highway to prevent left turns from the slip lane (the condition would not apply if the county denied permitting) and required curbing modifications at the end of the slip lane to discourage sharp right turns into the twelve-foot buffer space behind the fueling positions. Associate Planner Daniel Findlay also recommended a condition requiring revised circulation plans that show traffic flows from all access points before building permits are issued.

Commissioners and staff cited competing constraints in their deliberations: city and county engineers and the applicant’s traffic consultant agreed the design represented the best achievable mitigation for the site, that the intersection would continue to decline without large-scale improvements, and that the development would pay systems development charges to fund future transportation projects. Chair Len Goodwin said he personally opposed the development but felt bound to apply the city’s land-use criteria to the record when making his decision.

“The design represents the best achievable mitigation,” Daniel Findlay told the commission, noting both Lane County and ODOT staff had reviewed and provided input on the proposal. Architect Ron Ped emphasized the project team had submitted auto-turn templates demonstrating fuel-truck maneuverability and that night deliveries could be used to reduce daytime conflicts if needed.

Next steps: the applicant must provide revised circulation and signage plans, meet any county requirements for median installation if imposed, and address building-permit-level details such as truck-turning radii and final landscaping and signage dimensions. The commission scheduled routine calendar items and adjourned at 8:26 p.m.