LAFAYETTE, IN — Gas station developments in the city will see stricter requirements moving forward, after the Lafayette City Council’s unanimous approval of a zoning ordinance amendment born out of its own inquiry into the matter.
The council requested the Tippecanoe County Area Plan Commission conduct a study on zoning earlier this year, citing a significant uptick in gas station developments in recent months. During the September APC meeting, staff members presented their proposal to limit the types of zoning that allow the construction of gas stations, adding requirements on building structure, distance from homes and distance from rights-of-way.
Additional language in the ordinance amendment requires decommissioning plans for not only gas stations, but for oil change businesses and car washes, too.
Lafayette City Attorney Jacque Chosnek said the gas station separation requirements, requiring new construction not be within 5,500 feet of an existing gas station, would not be required for gas stations that are accessory uses for larger developments, such as a big box store.
The passing of the ordinance amendment creates several legally non-conforming gas station locations in Lafayette, Chosnek said, because of their current zoning and design. If one of the gas station properties were to see more than 50% damage done to its structure, Chosnek said, they would then run into issues in the rebuilding process if they chose to do so.
“All three of those (legally non-conforming) gas stations did receive a specific notice from my office that explained the changes and that this would be considered tonight,” Chosnek said. “So, they are aware that they will become legally non-conforming. They could choose to apply for a rezone, but that would be up to the council.”
Gas stations that have been approved and are already in the works, Chosnek said, will not be affected by the newly amended ordinance.
West Lafayette City Council opted to postpone its vote on the amended ordinance until November’s meeting, citing a desire to see how Lafayette’s council would ultimately vote.
The Tippecanoe County commissioners voted to reject the proposed amended ordinance. County commissioner Tom Murtaugh said looking at the unincorporated areas of the county, the ordinance is not as needed as it is for Lafayette.
Jillian Ellison is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. She can be reached via email at jellison@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Uptick in number of Lafayette gas stations leads to stricter requirements
Reporting by Jillian Ellison, Lafayette Journal & Courier / Lafayette Journal & Courier
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