GREENFIELD — A new gas station is one step closer to being reality in Greenfield as the planning commission approved the design review and conditional use permit for alcohol during its April 6 meeting.
Amendments were also passed for the proposed gas station and convenience store to coordinate their security camera system with the city’s police and have the monument-style sign location reviewed by public works.
The gas station with a 3,100-square-foot fueling canopy would be located on property near the existing Arco gas station on Walnut Avenue.
One feature of note for the gas station is that its attached restaurant would have a drive-thru component, which developer Peter Singh said was in large part due to the Covid-19 pandemic. If shutdowns happened again, the restaurant would be able to operate without sit-down service.
One concern brought up was the impact to traffic along Walnut Avenue, but Singh said he has planned to remove delivery trucks from impacting traffic flow both in the streets and on the site by having designed a special loading area for trucks.
“Walnut Avenue is getting so congested, people can’t even get out of the shopping center because there’s so many people coming through there,” said Commissioner Robert Urquidez.
Singh noted that in addition to the 30-foot loading zone, his gas stations have a policy to take deliveries at night, an effort to further reduce traffic impacts.
According to Commission Chair Stephanie Garcia, the congestion in the area is already becoming evident. Garcia reminded the envisioned city design guidelines called for a strong street edge to facilitate social encounters as the Walnut Avenue streetscape was developed.
The design proposal included bus and RV parking, four bike parking spaces, a 15-foot setback from Walnut Avenue and fencing only around the trash area. There would also be a solar panel component to the design. For vehicles, there are 26 parking spaces planned.
This early in the design process, Singh said he hasn’t finalized plans for which gas company, convenience store or restaurant would move in.
“I’ve always been an advocate of anything that creates jobs or generates tax revenue and this will do both,” said Commissioner Ernie Gallardo shortly before the vote for approval.
