Maple Valley Planning Commission recommends zoning code change to allow large retail fueling stations

Published 5:10 pm Tuesday, January 31, 2012

A change to Maple Valley’s zoning would allow big box stores such as the Fred Meyer under construction to add gas stations as well as allow businesses to put in electric vehicle charging stations in the city.

The amendment was unanimously recommended to the City Council by the Planning Commission at its Jan. 23 meeting.

The Planning Commission began studying the issue last fall, when Peter Powell, president of Bellevue-based Powell Development, requested a change in the city code to allow them to build a fueling station, which current code prohibits. Powell’s company is developing the property at Four Corners, Maple Valley Town Square, which will be home to Fred Meyer, a 10,000 square foot MultiCare facility, along with banks, restaurants and other businesses.

Powell argued a fueling station is necessary for them to effectively compete with Safeway, which has a fueling station.

The proposal has drawn criticism, however, from small gas station owners who claim a Fred Meyer fueling station would have a devastating impact on their businesses.

“It will affect every station in this valley,” said Eric VanRuff, who has owned the Chevron gas station and Wilderness Auto Service since 2005, located on Maple Valley Highway near Southeast 237th Street. “If you lose any one of those things, you lose everything. These box stores aren’t in the gas business. They’re making their money inside of the store.”

According to the Planning Commission’s proposal, the code revision would allow fueling stations as an accessory to large retail use. There are several restrictions. The stations must be located 150 feet away from any arterial streets and provide at least four electric vehicle charging stations, as well. Additionally, they are allowed only 12 fueling points.

Community Development Director Ty Peterson stated at the City Council meeting he believed there are two separate issues at hand.

“My point was this is for a code amendment,” he said. “That’s what the Council has the jurisdiction over. They can write the codes and regulations. What’s dangerous is everybody keeps making it a Fred Meyer issue. They were the organization that proposed the code amendment. The decision as to whether they get to build a fueling station is a separate decision as to whether fueling stations should be allowed.”

At the moment, Peterson said, the council is looking at the Commission’s recommendations.

“Once you decide they’re (fueling stations) allowed, that’s the council’s decision,” he said. “When someone wants to make an application for one, that’s a separate decision. Everyone talks about Fred Meyer as if the council is making a decision to allow Fred Meyer to build a fueling station when they’re deciding whether to allow fueling stations. They’re not proposing one. They could propose it anywhere. One’s a legislative (decision), one’s of a quasi-judicial nature. They’re not considering a development proposal for a fueling station.”