Becky Shotwell, president and owner of Stop'n Go, presented her case for a new store near the intersection of College Street and S.R. 57 to City Council's Economic Development and Planning Committee on Thursday.
The city's Planning Commission has recommended the council not rezone two residential lots to commercial on the north side of College Street as a site for the proposed store. Shotwell owns the two lots along with one zoned commercial lot. She wants the residential ones zoned commercial to add to the commercial lot she already owns.
Using a series of photographs, Shotwell showed the condition of the buildings on the lots before they were demolished.
Shotwell told the committee she wants to replace the Stop'n Go, which has been at 500 College St. since 1968 with a new one that will include a convenience store, gasoline pumps and a car wash.
Neighborhood residents had voiced numerous concerns over the planting of the store in a residential neighborhood at meetings held earlier by Shotwell and at a public hearing held by the Planning Commission. Shotwell told the committee she has heard from a number of people who want the store built on the west side of Wadsworth.
Shotwell said she listened and revised the original plans based upon the concerns of the residents. Shotwell noted the company is willing to make a multimillion dollar investment in the community, and the city can expect to reap up to $25,000 yearly in benefits including taxes.
According to Shotwell, the new store is expected to add 26 new jobs with benefits, 13 of which may be full time.
At the end of her 20-minute presentation, Shotwell asked the committee where it should go from here. Committee Chairman Dennis Shultz said the Council will hold a public hearing on the rezoning Nov. 7. Shultz noted the Council is not expected to make a decision on the request at that session.
For Council to override the Planning Commission's recommendation, six of the seven council members will have to vote to approve the rezoning.
Planning Director Jeff Kaiser noted residential zoning is probably not appropriate for these lots, and Shultz asked what alternatives would be possible if the lots do not remain residential.
