Arnold continues hearing on new gas station after opposition from residents

Arnold Council delayed voting on plans for a gas station and convenience store along Freeport Road, a proposal that was met with opposition from nearly three dozen nearby residents.

The delay gives Yashvi Oil and its owner, Mike Thakkar of Cranberry, time to provide more detailed documents about their proposal.

Council gave Thakkar 30 days to provide an engineering plan and an updated site plan for its review before making a decision.

That will occur at 6 p.m. April 12 at the public safety building, when a zoning hearing that was recessed Monday will reconvene.

Thakkar wants to buy, remodel and convert the former Affordable Auto repair shop at 1610 Freeport Road. It lies between Warren Avenue in Arnold and Woodberry Road in New Kensington, which are primarily residential areas.

His proposal met with opposition from about 35 residents, mainly from the surrounding neighborhood, who attended the hearing.

The property had previously been a gas station, but Affordable Auto did not sell gasoline and did only repair work.

A gas station would be allowed again as a preexisting, non-conforming use in the boulevard-commercial zoning area, according to Rick Rayburg, Arnold community development director.

Uses such as bars and restaurants, barber and beauty shops, banks and libraries are permitted in that area, he said.

But because Thakkar proposes to use the old garage bays to sell snacks, drinks and tobacco products, a conditional use approval is needed, Rayburg said.

“It’s going to be the existing building,” Rayburg said. “They’re not going to expand in any way.”

Thakkar, who owns four other stations in New Kensington, Lower Burrell and Harrison, said gasoline would be sold at a two-pump island.

Operating hours would be from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

Although he does not own the property, Thakkar previously said he plans to buy it if the city approves his plan.

Residents such as Sean Shirey oppose the proposal, raising concerns about increased traffic and potential parking problems that could pose safety hazards, as well as fears about an increase in crime.

“The issue I have is parking,” said Shirey, a Warren Avenue resident.

He said that although yellow no-parking zone lines would be painted on Freeport Road in front of the station, people will ignore it and park along Freeport Road anyway, increasing the potential for accidents.

Thakkar said there would be parking for eight cars. A loading zone for fuel trucks making deliveries could provide more parking when not in use.

“According to our code, they have to provide 12 spaces for the size of the building and an off-street loading zone,” Rayburg said, adding that those spaces are supposed to be permanent, not temporary.

“The idea of 12 cars being able to park on that property, that would be a crowded lot,” Shirey said. “I just wish you guys would listen to what we all said tonight. It’s just a bad spot.”

Both Rayburg and Thakkar were surprised by the opposition.

Rayburg said he probably had only a couple of calls beforehand regarding the proposal and the hearing. Thakkar said he thought his plans to clean up the property would be welcomed.

“None of my stores have a problem with the parking and we try to keep them as clean as possible,” he said.