WADSWORTH – In order to keep the redevelopment of the Speedway gas station on Akron Road moving along, planning commission has recommended a rezoning.

City Planner Jeff Kaiser explained the property owned by Speedway on Akron Road was annexed into the city last year and was given city zoning a short time later. Part of the property was zoned C3 commercial and part was zoned residential.

“We are kind of reaching maximum capacity in terms of traffic with the proposed development and felt it was best not to zone any more land commercial than what was needed for the project,” Kaiser said.

Under the original plan, Speedway was going to purchase some additional land from an adjacent property owner to provide a bigger footprint for the new, modern fueling station.

“That deal did not work out and the site plan was pulled from the agenda back in January,” Kaiser said.

The applicant returned to planning commission asking that the remainder of the land they own off Akron Road be rezoned from residential to C3 commercial.

“Should this rezoning take place they will have a much bigger lot on which to construct this gas station,” Kaiser said. “The current land they own that is zoned C3 is very tight and there is no way the redevelopment could be done without several variances for setback issues. They are currently working on a revised site plan. What they have before us is a concept drawing and they will need to meet with us again to further discuss the site plan and they will also have to redo the traffic study because the points of ingress and egress have changed.”

Kaiser told members of planning commission that he would recommend the proposed zoning change.

“We are well aware that the existing Speedway is approaching 50 years old and I think it has outlived its useful life,” he said. “This would give the applicant a decent size of land on which to construct the new gas station.”

The applicant was represented by Rob Sweet, an urban planner with McBride, Dale Clarion. He said the rezoning would allow the project to move forward.

“The redevelopment would improve the aesthetic of the site and also provide a key service for travelers,” he said.

The plan would include a 4,400 square foot convenience store and a canopy complete with 16 fueling locations for cars as well as an additional canopy that would have room for as many as three semi-trucks to fuel. The current Speedway has eight fueling stations for just cars.

William Coler, who lives on the southwest corner of Medina Line and Akron roads, said he is in favor of the redevelopment.

“People have asked me when we are going to get rid of that eyesore,” he said.

But Coler also asked planning commission to carefully study plans and make sure there is proper planning of land use to be sure additional commercial development would work well in the area in the future.

Richard Stewart, who owns land across the street from the Speedway, said he is also in favor of the redevelopment, but is concerned about the entrance of the redeveloped property and wants to make sure it doesn’t negatively affect his own property.

Planning Commission Chairman James Cummings said the body has yet to see the site plan, but added they would take that into consideration.

While planning commission has recommended the rezoning, the final decision is up to council. They will consider the rezoning in the future.