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Redevelopment

Old could become new for Queen Creek Circle K

Posted 12/26/23

A 35-year-old Circle K built before Queen Creek was incorporated could be demolished and redeveloped as a larger store that fits the look of the nearby Downtown Core. At its Dec. 13 meeting, the …

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Redevelopment

Old could become new for Queen Creek Circle K

Posted

A 35-year-old Circle K built before Queen Creek was incorporated could be demolished and redeveloped as a larger store that fits the look of the nearby Downtown Core.

At its Dec. 13 meeting, the Queen Creek Planning & Zoning Commission voted to recommend approval of a proposal from Land Development Consultants LLC on behalf of Circle K Stores Inc. to rezone approximately 0.64 acres of land from rural estate district to general commercial to allow for the expansion.

The commission also approved a site plan and conditional use permit for the redevelopment and expansion of the gas station and convenience store at the northeast corner of Ellsworth and Ocotillo roads into a new 5,200-square-foot convenience store and 3,264-square-foot, five fuel-pump station on a 1.21-acre site, according to a staff report.

“Circle K believes the proposed project will bring new, enhanced consumer products and services to the town of Queen Creek. As with all new Circle K facilities, this project will include masonry construction of the building and canopy, extensive landscaping and exceptional service, products and security for the residents of Queen Creek and the surrounding communities utilizing the store,” a narrative from Land Development Consultants stated. “The proposed development will bring a new and aesthetically pleasing facility along two highly traveled roads in the town.”

The commission’s decision now moves the requests for the rezoning, site plan and conditional use permit to the Queen Creek Town Council for final approval.

The existing Circle K is just outside of the town’s Downtown Core district. It was built in 1988, a year before Queen Creek was incorporated on Sept. 5, 1989.

The site is bound on the north and east sides by property that is a part of the QC Village Center. To the south it is bound by Ocotillo Road and the Old Ellsworth Brewing Co. zoned Downtown Core. To the west, the site is bound by Ellsworth Road and existing businesses zoned Downtown Core, the staff report stated.

The site plan proposes modifying the existing driveway access on Ocotillo Road by moving it about 75 feet east and shifting the existing driveway on Ellsworth Road approximately 40 feet north.

“There is a proposed new access point at the northeast corner of the site that would connect the Circle K site to the commercial center to the north,” the report stated. “The applicant is in discussions with the property owner to the north to execute a cross access agreement to establish the easement.”

The style and theme of the buildings will be consistent with those of the commercial center surrounding the site. (Land Development Consultants LLC)
The style and theme of the buildings will be consistent with those of the commercial center surrounding the site. (Land Development Consultants LLC)



Architecturally, the style and theme of the buildings will be consistent with those of the commercial center surrounding the site and will include stacked stone, stucco, metal awnings and landscaped green screens. All rooftop mechanical equipment will be fully screened from view, the report stated.

The current convenience store does not provide any landscape buffer along Ocotillo Road “and the proposed site redevelopment and additional landscaping are an improvement on existing condition,” the report stated.

Among the conditions of approval for the project is the removal of the existing nonconforming Circle K pole sign.

“There will be a 11-foot-high monument sign on each street frontage,” the Land Development Consultants narrative stated. “Materials and colors will be compatible with the architectural elements of the store and fuel canopy.”

All signs must be reviewed and approved by the Planning & Zoning Commission and the town council under separate permitting.

We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org. Janet Perez can be reached at jperez@iniusa.org.

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