Troy's Planning Commission Recommends New Gas Station Standards to City Council

Vol. IV, No .59 - New UDC Standards for Gas Stations Could Be Put In City's Existing Zoning Code

Yesterday, the Troy Planning Commission heard public comments on the proposed Unified Development Code. Roughly a dozen residents offered thoughtful and respectful comments about the new development regulations, but the commission’s final action could have the most immediate impact.

Near the end of the meeting, the city’s service and safety director, who also serves on the Planning Commission, made a motion to move the UDC’s proposed gas station regulations forward for immediate adoption into the city’s existing zoning code.

The previous proposal would have allowed a gas station only as an accessory use to a commercial establishment with at least 50,000 square feet of floor space. That requirement would have effectively limited new gas stations to grocery stores and other large retailers.

During the meeting, revised standards were announced. The minimum building size was reduced to 10,000 square feet, with at least 51 percent of the building devoted to a grocery store or restaurant. The limit on the number of gas pumps was also removed. Pumps would have to be located behind the building unless traffic engineers determined that doing so would create unsafe access conditions.

Overall, the revised regulations appear less restrictive.

Representatives of a proposed gas station development, who had previously voiced opposition to the city’s gas station moratorium, expressed support for the revised standards. They also indicated that they were prepared to move forward under the new rules.

The Planning Commission ultimately voted unanimously to recommend incorporating the proposed gas station regulations into the city’s existing zoning code. This would allow qualifying gas station developments to move forward while the commission, and eventually City Council, continues deliberating the remainder of the Unified Development Code.

So, what does this mean for the gas station moratorium currently before City Council?

The special council meeting announced by the mayor Monday night did not take place, but council must still dispose of the moratorium ordinance. Most likely, the ordinance will be tabled indefinitely, which is a more humane way of killing legislation than voting it down outright.

In its place, council will likely consider an emergency ordinance adding the new gas station standards to the existing zoning code.

The parties most directly affected by these regulations, including gas station developers, went out of their way to support the revised standards. That makes adoption appear likely, although the ordinance must still move through a council committee before being presented to the full council for a final vote.

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