7-11 proposed for Stacy Green development
Allen’s Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday approved a specific use permit for a planned 7-11 fuel station and convenience store at the southwest corner of Central and Stacy Road in the growing Stacy Green development. The City Council’s 2017-approved concept plan for the site included a fuel station, but to execute that plan, the city needs to approve a Specific Use Permit for the site.
Commissioner Sandeep Kathuria asked if electronic vehicle chargers were planned for the site. Drew Donosky, an engineer for the project, explained that the station will be “future proofing,” so the plan doesn’t have charging stations to start with but will allow space and infrastructure for them to be accommodated in the future.
I spoke with Jordan Caudle, a planner for the city for some clarification on when an SUP is necessary (apart from uses like alcohol sales and sexually-oriented businesses). Caudle explained that an SUP alters the zoning on a subject property such that a use that is simply different from the base zoning can be allowed. The zoning for the 7-11 site is Planned Development 45 with a base zoning of shopping center. Specific Use Permits are issued when cities need to approve a use for a property that could be hazardous or in some way negatively impact the surrounding properties. Basically, SUPs allow the city to take a look at specific uses individually as they come through. The Planning and Zoning Commission approved the change, and it heads to council for a stamp of approval next.
