McKinley Industries LLC is shown demolishing three buildings that are on the site of a proposed gas station and convenience store in Masury. All of the buildings have now been razed.
Following the lead of the Brookfield trustees, Trumbull County Planning Commission has denied a variance request for the developers of a gas station and convenience store on South Irvine Avenue/Route 62 in Masury.
What this means for the future of the project is unclear. Developer Nasar Alwanni declined to comment.
Alwanni, who is with IN LLC of Niles, asked for the variance that would allow motorists to use Dutch Lane, an alley, for access to and from the property. The Ohio Department of Transportation is only allowing right turns on to and off of the property from Irvine, and is requiring that the property have a second access.
The property is between May’s Auto and Circle K.
The trustees voted April 4 to oppose the variance.
“We don’t want to take an anti-business stand in Brookfield,” said Trustee Dan Suttles. “We certainly aren’t that. But, we had some concerns with this.”
Those concerns include increased traffic, including delivery trucks, on Dutch Lane, which is only 20 feet wide, and its intersection with Addison Road and Brookfield Avenue; and sight distance due to the proposed convenience store being only four feet from the alley.
“I can’t imagine how all the traffic on 62 would navigate,” said Trustee Mark Ferrara. “I cannot support it.”
Trustee Ron Haun said Trumbull County Engineer Randy Smith also opposes the use of Dutch Lane.
“It’s a huge safety issue,” Haun said. “That’s why we oppose it.”
The planning commission acted April 12.
“If the county engineer and the (township) road superintendent state that Dutch Lane doesn’t have the capacity to handle that drive-through service and that additional traffic, and it’s gonna cause a safety concern, then, of, course, we’re going to accept their recommendation,” said planning commission Executive Director Julie Green. “It’s unfortunate, because we want to see that developed. Hopefully, they’re able to find another solution.”
