PL MINUTES 01151985 - Laserfiche WebLink

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_10- 1 When Commissioner Jones asked Mr'. ' Filippi whether.'the station could .be built with- 2 out a variance, the answer was. that the pumps could be slid back a couple of feet 3 and the canopy which was only provided as a convenience for the customers 4 eliminated altogether. The Nor-th. Star consultant also pointed out that he 5 perceived the pumps would be protected very well by their location on raised 6 islands with concrete bumper guards. 7 8 When Mr. Freberg mentioned that the new station would be open 24 hours a day, 9 Mr. Childs indicated that is allowed. by the City Ordinance. 10 11 The hearing closed at 10:00 P.M. 12 13 Commissioner Jones indicated he agreed-.with 'Mr. Freberg that traffic could be 14 dangerously increased on that busy *corner with- the new operation. He said he would 15 prefer to see the current operator continue in that spot because he doesn 't 16 perceive "the new facility would be .a real addition to the community". The 17 Commissioner indicated he was concerned that the "City might be held liable for 18 promoting a hazardous condition on that corner, but conceded he didn 't know how 19 the City could prevent the changes. 20 21 Commissioner Bjorklund agreed, indicating he perceived that by granting the 22 variance the City would be allowing a- more intensive use of-that busy corner which 23 coul d be perceived to be promoti ng .a' hazard: _'._,He sai d he woul d be voting agai nst .24 the variance in an effort. to force Amoco to downsize their operation if the 25 variances -weren 't granted. 26 27 Mr. Filippi responded by saying there. were 'many ways the station could be redesigned 28 to avoid the variances,' but he foresaw that the loss of the canopy would force 29 only a hardship for the customers and he said if the gas islands .are resited, it 30 is possible a hazardous .condition coul.d. be created on the site by squeezing the 31 same number of cars into' smal:ler spaces. The consultant indicated he perceived 32 that- reorienting the entrances would :.make the turning area easier. 33 34 Commissioner Bowerman said he had never noticed there was much of' a traffic con- 35 gestion problem near the Super America station further north at Silver Lake Road 36 and Mississippi' Street or near the Holiday Station on Central Avenue near the 37 White Castle which he passes almost daily. Commissioner Hansen disputed those 38 comparisons, saying he passes the St. Anthony intersection as well as the other 39 sites every day and believes the traffic- flow i.s at least double at the corner of 40 Silver Lake Road and -37th. As a matter-of fact,. the Commissioner reported, he 41. had witnessed an accident at the St. Anthony site only the previous evening. 42 Commissioner 'Hansen indicated he anticipated many problems for drivers trying to 43 get out on Silver Lake Road. 44 45 Commi,ssi.oner Bowerman said Commissioner Hansen might be right, but reminded him 46 that Amoco can still build the station .without variances from the City. 47 48 Commissioner. Jones indicated he was very uncomfortable with the provision of only 49 four parking spaces on the 'site, foreseeing that at least three more emplyyees 50 would be needed for the proposed operation and with the coolers, etc. out in front 51 of the store, parking could become. a-real problem, as it has for the Super America 52 just west on 37th Avenue N.E. The Commissioner said he had a real problem with • 53 the pumps being built so close to such a high traffic road. 54 55