Convenience stores galore
Kokomo Plan Commission green lights development on east, west sides; downtown hotel delayed another month
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The community is one step closer to having two new convenience stores a new mini-warehouse facility. The Kokomo Plan Commission considered three separate developments on Jan. 10 that would add these businesses on the east and west sides of the city.
The commission first considered approval of primary and final plat for a convenience store to be located at the northwest corner of the intersection of Dixon and Zartman roads.
Developer Wyatt Johnson explained that easements were established at the lot lines to provide access to both the convenience store and a proposed mini-warehouse storage facility which will surround the convenience store lot. This limits “curb cuts” or access points along Dixon Road, which was cited as a concern earlier in the development’s approval process.
The mini-warehouses will encompass two lots – one along Dixon and one along Zartman. It, too, sought primary and final plat approval. Both developments were approved by the commission, bringing the developments one step closer to a construction date.
The commission’s eyes then turned to the southeast corner of Boulevard Street and Goyer Road, where another convenience store development sought development plan approval.
Johnson also serves as the development on this project. He explained that the project will encompass two acres, including a 6,250 square-foot convenience store and five gasoline pump islands. The store will have a drive-through on the south side of the building. The final building design is not finalized
There was a drainage issue with the site, as a regulated drain and a city sewer both occupy a portion of the lot. This caused the developer to seek approval from the Howard County Drainage Board prior to plan commission approval. Part of that process involved the developer agreeing to reconstruct approximately 270 feet of the regulated drain at no public expense and ensuring that nearby drainage basins remain in place.
A single remonstrator spoke to the project. Nearby resident Wayne Albright raised concerns
“Boulevard is pretty busy,” said Albright. “My concern is there are several children and residents in nearby apartments along Goyer Road. Is there going to be a way for them to get across Boulevard safely?
“I’m not opposed to the development. I’m just concerned about people who may want to walk over there.”
Kokomo Director of Engineering Jon Pyke sought to allay Albright’s concerns by explaining what steps the city has planned to address pedestrian safety in the area.
“We have a project planned for Goyer Road that will take foot traffic into account,” said Pyke. “We can adjust the signal timing and things of that nature, and we plan to put sidewalks along Goyer Road and Boulevard to help make that connection.”
Pyke explained that the city plans to install sidewalks along both sides of Goyer from Markland to Boulevard in 2025. The board approved the development plan.
One project that originally was scheduled to be heard was the downtown hotel and conference center at 119 E. Superior St. Plan commission director Greg Sheline explained that the developer asked for primary and final plat and development plan approval on the project to be postponed.
“We got an email from the developer asking to continue this in light of coming back from the holidays,” said Sheline. “They couldn’t get everything together in time, so they asked to continue it until February.”
In other actions, the commission re-elected Mike Besser as its president and elected Misha Jefferson as its vice president. Plan commission director Greg Sheline will continue as the commission’s secretary.
I understand the city doesn’t create these developments, and they can only work with those private companies that bring proposals to them. But I sure do wish we could get just one more grocery store in town.