Shelby Votes Against Construction of New Kroger Gas Station

There will be no discounted gas stations on the southeast corner of 25 Mile and Dequindre roads after the Shelby Township Board of Trustees voted against request to build a gas station in the parking lot of the present store.

“I have shopped many, many times and parking is always a problem … I am really opposed to this gas station,” said Clerk Terri Kowal.

At Tuesday’s Board meeting, cheers erupted in the crowd when the board unanimously voted down the mega store’s request to build a 12 pump station.

“I know what this corner looks like and I know the safety issue is way up there,” said Shelby Township resident Ron Churchill.  “I commend this board for finally once having a head on your shoulders. “

Another resident raised safety concerns telling the board the intersection is full of pedestrians and bikers as paths from the Macomb Orchard Trail, Stony Creek and Paint Creek run through or near the area.

A nearby gas station owner told the Board that a Kroger gas station attracts many people looking for discounted gas and a potential extra 60,000 vehicles could pass through the intersection a month to get to the gas station.

Shelby Township residents also raised concerns that the new gas station would further decline their property values.

After the Planning Commission met with several dozen residents at a public hearing on Sept. 11, Director Glen Wynn recommended the Board deny Kroger’s special land use request based on the following reasons:

• The placement of the fueling station does not meet all required setback requirements applicable to this zoning district.
• The design of this additional use lacks appropriate landscaping and building design elements that are compatible with residential neighborhoods proximate to this site.
• This proposed use has the potential to create nuisances for the nearby residential uses. 
• The amount of traffic generated by a fueling station here would create safety issues for bicyclists and pedestrians.
• The adequacy of public access of this site

Several residents who could not make the public meeting sent in letters expressing their opinion on the proposed gas station.

“A fueling station would be totally detrimental to the natural beauty of the area and a high potential risk for environmental pollution of soil, water and air,” wrote Geraldine Barneuvo and Diego Cevallos.

Tracey Zukowski, who lives on the west side of Dequindre Road in Rochester Hills, thanked the Shelby Board for allowing her to express her opposition to the fueling station.

Kroger already has one gas fueling station in Shelby Township on Hayes Road between 23 and 24 Mile roads.