Gas station a no-go: Meijer denied again by Boardman zoning commission

At Tuesday's virtual zoning commission meeting, commissioners sided with the overwhelming majority and denied the grocery chain's request. The recommendation now goes to the township trustees, who can approve or overturn the commissioners' decision with a majority vote.

It was Meijer Stores Ltd.'s second request for two parcels at the corner of Lockwood Boulevard and Tippecanoe Road — which are currently zoned residential and business — to be rezoned commercial so the grocery chain could build a gas station. The zoning commission denied the first application in January. Rather than moving forward and trying to convince township trustees, Meijer withdrew its first application and returned to the commission with an altered plan.

The revised application reviewed Tuesday attempted to address residents' concerns about increased traffic and commerical creep. The site plan includes more buffer space between the possible future gas station and residences nearby.

Meijer purchased two additional properties north of the lots in question and would landscape the areas and secure deed restrictions, which "would stop that developmental creep from going any further north," said Brian Smallwood, a project manager with Meijer.

But the extra green space did not appease Meijer's neighbors, who argued the development would alter the character of their neighborhoods and decrease home values.

"There is nothing to offer except a pack of cigarettes or a gallon of milk, which is already available on the corner," said Adnan Qutail, who lives on Rosewood Drive. "We do not need another gas station in our backyard."

There is already a Shell gas station at the corner of Lockwood Boulevard and U.S. Route 224. Qutail also noted both Sheetz and Speedway are building nearby gas stations.

The outcome of this zoning squabble will not affect the grocery store construction. If you've driven past Lockwood Boulevard in recent weeks, you've probably noticed progress being made on the future 157,000-square-foot store.

Maintaining her neighborhood is more important than ever, said Carol Markovich, who lives on Tippecanoe Road.

"[Our homes] are our safe haven," said Markovich. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, "many of our homes have become our offices, schoolrooms and social halls."

In discussing the application, commissioner Frank Centofanti said the proposed zoning change is incompatible with the area and "totally against our land use policy."

Trustees will make the final decision on Meijer's application at an August meeting.

As commissioner Peter Lymber pointed out at a January meeting, "Meijer has had better luck with the trustees than the zoning commission," referring to the fact that the commission denied Meijer's original zoning request to build the grocery store, but that decision was overturned by the trustees.

This story was originally published July 28, 2020 at 8:56 PM with the headline "Gas station a no-go: Meijer denied again by Boardman zoning commission."