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Council tables Kwik Trip gas‑station plan amid Old Town design and signage concerns
Summary
Council members expressed reservations about whether the proposed Kwik Trip convenience store fits Midlothian’s Old Town architectural expectations and flagged excessive signage; staff supported variances for trees and signage given utility easements. Council tabled the item to the April 28 meeting 6–0 to allow design adjustments.
The Midlothian City Council on March 24 tabled a request to amend Planned Development (PD) 179 to allow a Kwik Trip gas station and convenience store on roughly 1.7 acres at the southwest corner of West Main Street and the US‑67 southbound service road. Staff described a detailed site plan, elevations, landscape and sign plans and recommended approval with conditions, including a parking cap not to exceed 41 spaces with a designated truck bay.
“Staff does recommend approval since it is consistent with the future land use map, compatible surrounding zoning and land uses,” a city planner said during the presentation. The applicant’s project manager, Brandon Osmire of Kwik Trip, told council the plan “outperforms the recently approved competitor” and stressed truck circulation and additional landscaping, saying, “We did plant 44 proposing to plant 45 trees compared to the required 19.”
Council debate centered on architectural fit with the PD’s Old Town requirement and the number and placement of signs. Councilmembers raised concerns that the proposed canopy and façade signage—and multiple building signs—would exceed the ordinance’s intended design pattern and contribute to visual clutter from the elevated highway. “I’m not a fan of the sign variance at all,” one councilmember said, urging the applicant to reduce lighting and overall signage massing.
After extended questions about parking, tree planting near utility easements, and elevation articulation, Councilman Weaver moved to table the proposal to the second April meeting (April 28) to give the applicant time to adjust elevations and signage; the motion passed 6–0. No public speakers addressed the item during the hearing.
