Burlington planning board OK with Shell station near Mackintosh on the Lake subdivision
Burlington’s planning and zoning commission has endorsed a request to rezone a 3.16-acre lot at the juncture of Danbrook Road and Bonnar Bridge Parkway, near the Mackintosh on the Lake subdivision, as a prelude to the construction of a Shell gas station in this location.
The commission voted in favor of this request on Monday after attorney Matt Wall presented the proposal, which calls for a change in the property’s allowable use from medium density residential to light industrial development.
“This request is consistent with the land use map and it complements existing uses in the surrounding area,” Wall told the commission that evening.
Wall went on to recount his efforts to inform neighboring property owners about the proposed change.
“We had a neighborhood information meeting,” he said, “and I noticed letters to adjoining property owners as well as nearby property owners.”
Wall didn’t specify the proposed use for this property during comments to the commission. The city has nevertheless received a letter from local real estate developer Amar Patel revealing that the plan is to develop a Shell gas station on this corner lot.
During Monday’s meeting, area resident Curtis Bral objected to the “last minute disclosure” of the lot’s anticipated use.
“I’m not necessarily opposed to the project as the way it was been handled,” Bral added. “There was very poor notification to my neighborhood about what this was going to be.”
The city also received a letter of opposition from Wannetta Mallette of Kenross Drive, who feared the noise, lighting, and traffic from the proposed development would be detrimental to her quality of life.
Chad Huffine, an engineer in the property owner’s employ, stated that issues like lighting and traffic flow will be addressed once a specific development plan is sent to the city. Huffine added that he doesn’t expect the project to require much in the way of traffic improvements other than a driveway and perhaps a turn lane.
The commission’s members voted 7-to-0 in favor to the request after it obtained an endorsement from the city’s planning staff.
