(Atlantic) Kwik Star has submitted a commercial site plan for a proposed gas station, car wash, and food service location at 1500 East 7th Street in Atlantic for review by the Planning and Zoning Commission. The Atlantic Planning and Zoning Commission will meet on Tuesday, November 10, at 5:30 p.m., at the City Council Chambers to review and take action on Kwik Star’s commercial plan.
The property is located in the C-1 Highway Commercial District, which allows retail and service businesses, including food preparation for off-premises sales.
The proposed development includes an 11,033-square-foot principal building and approximately 115,434 square feet of paved area. The site plan also accounts for parking by counting the fueling spaces at the gas pumps as legitimate parking spaces under the city’s zoning ordinance because fueling is a principal use of the property.
Because of the anticipated traffic activity along Highway 6 and East 7th Street, as well as the installation of fuel tanks, the plans were also forwarded to the city’s engineering consultant, Snyder and Associates, for review.
Several engineering-related items remain under discussion. Atlantic Municipal Utilities is being consulted regarding a backflow preventer and a new connection valve for the proposed water connection. Kwik Star has indicated it is willing to work through those items with the utility.
The Iowa Department of Transportation has not yet issued entrance permits for the proposed improved access points. The DOT recently completed its review of the traffic impact study and sent links to Kwik Star for completion. The permits will move forward once shared access with Casey’s is settled.
Snyder and Associates has also raised concerns about stormwater potentially bypassing intake CB#8 during heavy rainfall and flowing onto neighboring properties, including nearby storage units. Engineers would like an intake large enough to capture the design stormwater flows. Kwik Star has been responsive to the concern and is following up with its engineer.
According to the site plan review, all 17 required site plan elements have been fully satisfied through the submitted site plan and building permit. Those requirements include property information, building dimensions, parking, setbacks, landscaping, signs, utilities, paved surfaces, traffic circulation and a drainage plan.
Section 26.50(1) of the city’s Zoning Ordinance outlines the Planning and Zoning Commission’s responsibilities during site plan review. The ordinance states the commission shall approve a site plan if it conforms to all local regulations and ordinances. If a plan does not meet the requirements, the commission must identify the reasons for disapproval and return it to the applicant for revisions.
The revised plan would then be submitted to the City Clerk for presentation at the next Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.
