Fifth District City Councilman Darrell Curls has asked the City Council to extend the gas station moratorium 60 days, ending on October 8. The 6-month gas station moratorium was expected to end August 8, but was delayed due to setbacks.
The moratorium was enacted by the City Council after neighbors in Hickman Mills fought the development of a convenience store around 92nd and Blue Ridge Blvd., citing an overpopulation of gas station/convenience stores, often selling liquor, in the area.
During the moratorium, no gas station plans can be approved or permitted by the City while staff investigates whether there is a correlation between crime and gas stations, according to Curls. Upon completion, an advisory board will be established that will include the police department and members from the community.
In the meantime, a liquor store moratorium enacted by Curls is set to expire August 5th. Curls says research during the moratorium suggests that free-standing liquor stores be built 3000 feet from each other and that residents who vote on the establishment of a liquor store include those who are 750 feet from the proposed business. Currently that distance is 300 feet.
Finally, Curls’ study on whether Cerner was living up to its TIF agreements to the surrounding community has come to the end of its 30-day study. “Much to my chagrin, Cerner has lived up to its TIF commitments,” says Curls. Cerner, now Oracle, has built the required amount of square footage for both office space and retail specified for this juncture. The agreement was approved in 2015.
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