The Maple Valley Planning Commission won’t have a recommendation anytime soon for the City Council about a proposed zoning amendment for fueling stations.

According to Ty Peterson, director of community development, the commission’s Oct. 5 meeting merely highlighted the division between residents, a division which is also reflected on the commission.

“It became increasingly clear that nothing would be decided anytime soon,” he said.

Peterson’s sentiment is also shared by Glenn Akramoff, who chairs the commission.

“I’m sure we don’t have any consensus on what we should do,” he said. “We’re all over the place.”

Akramoff added that although they are set to vote on several amendments, including the fueling station issue, at their Oct. 19 meeting, they have set it up so that there will be room for them to discuss it further.

“We heard from many folks who think it should be granted and many folks who think it shouldn’t be for a number of reasons,” Akramoff said.

Of the 15 people who spoke during the public hearing at the Oct. 5 meeting, eight favored the amendment, while seven spoke in opposition.

“It was pretty split down the middle,” Peterson said.

Yet, according to Akramoff, those who opposed the proposal were not against it for the same reason.

“A number of them focused on competition, which is not what we’re focusing on,” he said. “We’re focusing on land use.”

The proposal would allow retail fueling stations as an accessory to large commercial uses exceeding 100,000 square feet, under a number of stipulations. The station would have to be at least 150 feet away from any major arterial, have a minimum of four electrical vehicle charging stations and a maximum of 12 fueling points.

“To me, it’s a complicated issue,” Akramoff said. “It goes to the root of the challenge in Maple Valley right now. It goes to how much growth, what do you want, what do we not want. There’s not a consensus on the commission, a consensus on the council, or a consensus in the community.”