Lexington gas station proposal stalls again
LEXINGTON — The Englefield Oil saga continues in the village.
At least one person wants it to be over.
Based in Heath, Englefield is seeking a conditional permit for a convenience store and gas station, along with a certificate of appropriateness.
The business would be located at 15 E. Main St. in the former East of Chicago plaza, beside Nickel & Bean coffee shop.
Property owner Andrew Meade blasted village officials toward the end of Lexington Planning Commission's Wednesday night meeting at the Depot.
"Why are we here? Why are we being delayed?" Meade asked. "Who's responsible for that? I would say the village."
Meade said Englefield has answered all questions and met requirements.
"No other businesses (along Main Street) have had to do traffic studies," he said, adding the village has been "disrespectful" to Englefield.
Planning commission previously recommended approval for business
In January, Lexington Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval for Englefield.
The next month, however, when the recommendation came before village council, it died when no one seconded a motion for approval.
A meeting had been scheduled for March 16 to allow members of the public to attend. That was postponed, though, to allow Englefield to do a traffic study.
About 20 people attended Wednesday's meeting, but they were not allowed to speak. The purpose of the meeting was to allow applicants to testify. Planning commission took no action at the end of the meeting and scheduled another session for 6 p.m. June 23, also at the Depot.
The public will be allowed to speak then.
Mike Whitehead, an attorney representing Englefield, called four witnesses, the first being John Gordon, vice president of construction for the company.
He reviewed changes the village wanted made.
"We want to be part of your community," Gordon said.
He said Englefield has 128 similar businesses throughout Ohio, including two in Bellville. One is in the downtown, the other at the intersection of Ohio 97 and Interstate 71.
Gordon showed renderings of the prospective Lexington business. The front would be all brick to cover one recommendation.
"Originally, I presented a canopy in front of the store that was red," Gordon said. "I was asked to tone that down."
The new canopy would be all white.
Gordon said the business would feature a concrete floor and an exposed ceiling.
Englefield VP talks about access to business
Regarding access, he said Englefield would have one entrance for Main and Plymouth streets. Gordon said that would allow better traffic flow and cause less confusion for the customer.
Lexington Planning Commission also requested reducing the entrance from 50 to 35 feet.
"We want to be part of your community," Gordon said at the close of his presentation. "We are good stewards throughout Ohio."
He said the business would bring jobs to the village and increase the tax base. Gordon also said Englefield gets involved in communities.
"We're just here because we want to be here," he said. "That's all we're asking."
Village Law Director John Studenmund followed with a few questions for Gordon. He asked if there would be an air pressure pump station. Gordon said there will be.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Englefield added pickup windows, allowing customers to order online or call and pay in advance.
Studenmund asked if the pickup window is a drive-thru lane. Englefield said it was not, adding there is no menu board.
"It's all about convenience and safety," Gordon said.
Mayor Brian White, a member of planning commission, asked about pedestrian access. Gordon said there would be a striped walkway on the property.
Engineer reviews traffic study
The final witness was Michael Schweickart, president of TMS Engineers. He is a traffic engineer.
Traffic is a concern because the main intersection in the downtown is often congested.
Schweickart said he has prepared at least 100 traffic studies a year in the last 10 to 15 years, adding he has done about 50 for gas stations in the last decade.
He covered a list of comments by Burgess & Niple, which conducted an independent review of the traffic study.
Regarding traffic counts, Burgess & Niple noted those were done on Sept. 21. Lexington Local Schools went to remote learning for a couple of weeks because of a COVID outbreak.
"New counts should be conducted on a day when schools are open to ensure the impacts of school traffic are included in the capacity analysis," Burgess & Niple wrote.
Schweickhart said he utilized the methodology required by the Ohio Department of Transportation.
The traffic study was designed for the 30th highest hour of the year. Schweickhart said there are 8,000 hours in a year.
He added the study looked 10 years into the future and considered the highest 15 minutes in the design hour.
To answer another question, Schweickhart said the pickup window would not impact traffic.
Burgess & Niple's review noted the school district will be consolidating the three existing elementary schools into a single building in the next few years. The school will be near the existing Central Elementary School, just south of Main Street.
The independent review said the school should be assumed to have 1,300 students.
Schweickhart said he would need a forecast from the school district, adding the traffic would impact every business along Main Street.
He also said there were no traffic crashes involving people making turns in the last three years.
Village law director asks questions of traffic engineer
When it was his turn to ask questions, Studenmund refuted that number. The law director showed three reports from the Lexington Police Department regarding crashes on Feb. 11, May 18 and May 19 of this year.
Schweickhart said he did not contact police.
"You want a whole year to be statistically significant," he told Studenmund.
The law director also asked about the impact of a consolidated school. Schweickhart said he did not consult the school district.
"That would be part of their impact study," he said.
After the meeting, commission member Bob Jarvis said members may vote on the issue at the June 23 meeting, or schedule another session.
Any recommendation would go before village council.
mcaudill@gannett.com
419-521-7219
Twitter: @MNJCaudill
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Lexington Planning Commission consider request for new business
