ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- The St. Augustine Planning and Zoning Board sent a message with Tuesday’s vote that it doesn’t really want gas stations along the city corridors, according to a report in the St. Augustine Record.
At its regular meeting, the board approved an ordinance that would limit gas stations on three major streets to eight fueling stations. In other words, no more than eight vehicles could pump fuel at any one time.
The ordinance comes amid the controversy of a proposed 7-Eleven gas station/convenience store along one of the thoroughfares. The proposed store would have 12 fueling stations.
The new ordinance must be approved by the City Commission and comes too late to affect the 7-Eleven development, which has already submitted an application, according to the report.
Should the commission approve the ordinance, it would not prevent other gas stations, but it would certainly discourage them.
Also included in the ordinance are conditions that gas stations be confined to corner lots and lots of at least 25,000 square feet. They must also have a 3,000-square-foot retail store or restaurant.
“I don’t think you’re going to see anyone build a gas station with eight pumps,” board member Carl Blow said. “I think it’s a good ordinance.”
There was little dissension among the board members. The only discussion involved whether the ordinance actually goes far enough.
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