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City makes decision against QuikTrip

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According to QuikTrip real estate manager Brandon Forshee , QuikTrip has been approached by the owner of an adjoining lot of their 10-acre property, with a possible arrangement of relocating the gas station along 290 right next door to their present denied location...

During their City Hall hearing on Sept. 10, the Dripping Springs City Council, voted to keep the Conditional Overlay in place which denies QuikTrip the right to locate their convenience store on a 3-acre corner of the 10-acre property they purchased at U.S. 290 and Sawyer Ranch Rd. The CO prohibits gas stations and dry cleaners from locating at this corner.

Although 17 neighbors from the Sawyer Springs subdivision (aka Blue Sky Ranch) signed up at the public hearing to protest removing the CO, QuikTrip real estate manager Brandon Forshee gave a visual presentation of what the corporation wished to offer them as compensation should they accept the convenience store at this location. 

“Knowing that I can’t make the residents happy, since 73% of those we talked to are opposed, I want to at least show everyone what concessions we would like to offer,” Forshee said. 

His presentation showed how QuikTrip proposed to double the setback along their property and Rugged Earth Dr. to 2.5 acres of natural environment, and add to that another 2.5-acre patch of land for a drainage pond. “This is a total of 5 acres of land which is not protected in the current GR zoning, but we will keep it open as a no-build zone,”Forshee said. The QuikTrip corporation also offered to build a “trash fence” around its convenience store lot, and not ask the City for any variances to the ordinance in place.

Although two neighbors who spoke at the hearing felt the drainage problem sloping into the subdivision from U.S. 290 was enough incentive to change their minds and accept QuikTrip’s proposal to help, the majority of residents in attendance remained firmly against removing the CO, which would allow QuikTrip to build its gas station.

Representing the majority residents present at the meeting, Todd Simmons of Rugged Earth Dr. said, “I came here with my family and neighbors to tell you how important a home purchase is to us. The CO prohibits gas stations which have a heavy impact on pollution, lighting, and traffic 24/7.  We do not want to raise our family behind a gas station.”

DS City Council members present at the meeting, Wade King, John Kroll, and Travis Crow (absent were Taline Manassian and Bill Foulds) expressed their respect for QuikTrip as a well-intentioned good neighbor. 

“They have offered the best concessions I have ever seen from a business,” said Council Member John Kroll before he motioned to deny removal of the CO in order to honor the agreement the City had previously made with the Sawyer Springs residents.

According to Forshee, QuikTrip has been approached by the owner of an adjoining lot of their 10-acre property, with a possible arrangement of relocating the gas station along 290 right next door to their present denied location with the CO. If properties change, since QuikTrip needs to relocate, the neighbors will not be subject to any of the offered benefits.

                 

Dripping Springs Century-News

P.O. Box 732
Dripping Springs, Texas 78620

Phone: (512) 858-4163
Fax: (512) 847-9054