7-Eleven planned for Lakewood Ranch fuels outrage

A 7-Eleven is being planned for the southwest corner of 44th Avenue East and White Eagle Boulevard in Lakewood Ranch to the dismay and disdain of many surrounding residents. 

The property’s zoning allows for a gas station and convenience store, so there will be no public hearing on the matter. 

The application is in the late stages of an administrative review. As long as the site plan complies with Manatee County’s land development code and the framework of the Development of Regional Impact, the county's staff must approve the proposal.

Nearly 70 residents attended a virtual neighborhood workshop May 19 held on behalf of the developer, RKM Development Corp.

Those against the plan called it an eyesore and a safety hazard for school children attending B.D. Gullett Elementary School and Dr. Mona Jain Middle School. Those residents threatened to boycott the gas station in the hope that it would go out of business. 

One person who attended the virtual workshop suggested the minimum standards for the lot were so low that the space next to it might as well be filled by a standalone gun store or a gentlemen’s club.

When another resident asked how her neighbors could prevent the gas station from being built, a planner on the project, Katie LaBarr, answered that nothing was going to stop the project. 

“We are the consultants who have been hired to prepare and process the site plan, and it is our professional opinion that what we have produced, and what we have submitted to the county, is in full compliance with the land development code, as well as with the DRI,” LaBarr said. 

Mallory Park resident Maryann Goetsch thought the meeting was a waste of time. 

“I didn’t feel our questions or concerns were heard at all,” she said. “They didn’t share the traffic report. They said, ‘You can get it yourself.’ It was just very frustrating.” 

Goetsch’s main concern is the proximity to two schools — not just traffic, but that alcohol and tobacco will be sold in the convenience store. 

Indigo’s Suzanne Henke repeated similar concerns. She said there’s a flaw in the design that could endanger school children and drivers alike. 

Henke pointed to where the underground fuel tanks are located as a major problem because they’re tucked into the corner of the lot, where tanker trucks will have to circle the building to access them. 

Courtesy image

Henke looked at the layouts of other gas stations in the area and noted that most have easily accessible fuel storage locations where the tankers have a straight in and out path. She fears the large trucks will be taking up more than their lanes getting in and out of the parking lot and many will choose to U-turn on White Eagle Boulevard. 

“If a kid is coming around the corner and that fuel tanker is in their lane, it’s not too far-fetched to think (an accident) could happen,” Henke said. “They need to rethink it.” 

Heather Felton, a member of the School Board of Manatee County, received several emails from parents after the neighborhood meeting. She understands the community's concerns, but said there's nothing the school district can do.

She encouraged residents to instead reach out to the Manatee County commissioners. 

"Even when it comes to our own property, we have to get approval for our own facilities through the county commission," Felton said.

However, in this case, even commissioners don't have a say. 

The DRI was established in 2007. LaBarr explained that everything within the northwest sector of Lakewood Ranch was planned, including roads, schools, residential and commercial uses. 

What’s in store

The convenience store will items such as food, beer, wine, tobacco and lottery tickets, and the gas station will include six fuel pumps. The hours of operation are slated to be 24/7. 

LaBarr noted that deliveries would not be allowed in the evenings to mitigate noise, but said she would ask about a reduction of operating hours after several residents expressed concerns regarding noise and lights during evening hours.  

The property is already buffered with fencing and landscaping on the south and west sides. The remaining two sides of the lot will feature a 15-foot vegetative buffer with canopy trees and 33 shrubs every 100 linear feet. 

The architecture plan was approved by the Lakewood Ranch Architectural Review Committee. LaBarr said the closest example of the final product is the 7-Eleven on University Parkway near Lakewood Ranch Boulevard. 

The goal is to start construction before the end of the year. Once construction starts, the 7-Eleven will take about eight months to complete.