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Trustees question proposed fuel station
(by Linda Dillman - March 04, 2010)
Turkey Hill is scratching at the surface of Urbancrest property in hopes of building a gas station/convenience store and, despite a thumb's up from the village, they must also garner the approval of Jackson Township.
Township trustees are not as quick to join the Turkey Hill bandwagon, citing concerns with access to the two-acre site off Hyde Road, which falls under township jurisdiction. The parcel is located at the northwest corner of Harrisburg Pike and Centerpoint Drive.
The Turkey Hill chain is one of five convenience store chains owned by the Kroger Company. It accepts the corporation's customer loyalty card and stocks products carried by the parent company.
"Urbancrest was going to build the gas station with two entry and exit points, but they revised it with one access drive off Hyde," reported township Administrator Mike Lilly during a March 2 caucus session. "ODOT (Ohio Department of Transportation) said it meets design standards."
The site plan calls for a 3,936 square-foot store bordered by parking spaces. East of the store is an eight-pump fuel station. West of the store is a proposed car wash, with main access to the complex off Centerpoint Drive.
Skilkin company developer Seth Dorman represented Turkey Hill during a presentation to the trustees during their regular meeting. He said a traffic study showed access to Hyde Road would not generate a lot of traffic.
Despite Dorman's statements, trustees expressed concern regarding any increase in traffic, the potential for wear and tear on the road, and the safety of access to Harrisburg Pike. When Trustee Stephen Bowshier asked if there was little or no use via Hyde Road, why the company still included it in the plan, he was told it was needed as a potential "release valve" for access.
Automatic Temperature secretary Lucia Ely, whose employer is located on Hyde Road across from the proposed gas station, called the plan as presented a "safety hazard."
"I'm not opposed to using Hyde Road, but I think the set-up is hazardous," contended Ely. "You have an intersection at an interstate and people aren't familiar with the area. I feel it's a danger. I would like to see this not have a curb cut."
Trustee David Burris said he planned to take a closer look at the proposed site before the next trustees' meeting on March 16, 7 p.m.
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