Is a gas station like this what you want in your neighborhood? We are a group of concerned citizens in the Cottontown, Earlewood, Seminary Ridge and Hyatt Park/Keenan Terrace communities. We are raising funds to hire legal counsel so that we can appeal a decision by the Board of Zoning Appeals that would negatively impact our neighborhood.
On Wednesday, March 11, we met with the lawyers who will represent our case in court. They were cautiously optimistic about our chances, and they stressed a couple of things. First, it's important to fight back against the kind of reckless, thoughtless, anti-community development that this proposed gas station/convenience store represents. If we don't resist, they will think we don't care. Second, we will need more money than we had originally thought, so we have raised our goal to $10,000. Please help! Every donation counts, no matter how small.
The background: On February 5th the Board of Zoning Appeals approved by a vote of 3-2 the development of a large Murphy's gas station and convenience store at the intersection of North Main and Sunset Drive, where the Sonic used to be. The proposal would keep the existing Auto Money Title Loan business, just relocating it to another part of the property.
We oppose the proposal on the grounds that it conflicts with long-standing goals for the North Main Corridor. A City of Columbia Master Plan drafted 20 years ago envisioned the North Main Corridor as an area that is more walkable, vibrant and connected. It's impossible to see how a gas station/convenience store at one of our most important intersections complies with this plan, makes it more pedestrian friendly or in any way improves our community.
Our window is short - we have to file an appeal by March 31. Please consider donating to this effort to keep on improving North Main Street! All donations are tax-deductible.
Read more at: https://www.thestate.com/news/local/article314928666.html#storylink=cpy
