Circle K recently sent letters to community members signaling its intent to move forward with development on Seventh and Roosevelt streets.
The letters, sent by Suzy Peel, Circle K real estate development manager for the Arizona region, read:
“I would like to take this opportunity to officially inform you that Circle K is moving forward with its development plans for the southeast corner of 7th Street & Roosevelt. We encourage a meeting with you and your organization to review the updated site plan and operational procedures. Please contact me if you would like to schedule a meeting.”
The move, which was a major focus of a Wednesday night Evans Churchill Community Association meeting, would bring a larger, 16-pump station across the street from a current Circle K location on the northeast corner of that intersection.
Greg Esser, vice president of the board of directors for the Roosevelt Row Community Development Corp., said he feels Circle K will complete its project despite the community’s previous and continued opposition.
“We’re at an impasse in terms of the project happening,” Esser said. “The question is what will the impact be and what leverage or opportunities do we have to work with Circle K to be a better neighbor than they have been. They have a very poor track record in this area.”
Initial reactions from the community were overwhelmingly negative.
“That’s the gateway into downtown for thousands of people,” community member and activist Thomas Topero said. “That’s their introduction to downtown. By putting super pumps next to it, we’re basically saying that we have nothing special here.”
“I think it would be a disaster at that location,” community member Bill Scheel said.
Circle K attempted this move almost a year ago but stopped after withdrawing its application for a use permit.
“In the previous round, the use permit was approved by the hearing officer,” Esser said during the meeting. “It was appealed, and it was in the appeal it was withdrawn. There were about 10 to 20 stipulations attached to the use permit.”
Circle K is planning on holding a hearing for a liquor license later this month, according to a notice at the new location. A liquor license is necessary because of the change in location, and a use permit is required because the potential gas station would be within 300 feet of a residential zone.
In order to exercise control over the use permit, the city attaches stipulations that the holder of the permit must follow.
Community members are putting together a tentative meeting on Saturday to discuss the use permit, Esser said.
Topero said he thought blocking the use permit would be the only hope of preventing the larger Circle K.
“I don’t know of too many locations that don’t have alcohol that stay,” said Topero, who was also involved with the Circle K issue last year. “Even though they’ve never said that they need the alcohol to go in, if they didn’t pull out from requesting the liquor license they would have already been in and would have been in operation for a few months.”
Circle K was unavailable for comment following the meeting.
Contact the reporter at travis.arbon@asu.edu
