I sat in on the public hearing more out of curiosity than anything else. I live deep inside Jubilee and access to a minimart/gas station, whether the existing Arco at Marvin Rd and Hawks Prairie Rd or the proposed one being fought over, is pretty much of equal interest (or disinterest) to me.
The arguments presented by the Meridian residents were powerful. McDonald, the developer’s rep, hardly said anything and his case supportive of the gas station/minimart was non-existent; he let the City of Lacey’s reps carry the load. The City’s justification for the project was tepid at best. I left the hearing feeling that the Meridian residents are completely justified in their opposition, and I have emailed the City of Lacey to that effect.
Two arguments made by the opposition seemed particularly relevant to me.
First, the developers have made application to Lacey for a conditional use permit to build the gas station, which means that local conditions reflect a pressing need for the station, much like the FDA’s emergency use approval for the COVID vaccines before they went through the full approval process. Yet, as one resident so eloquently pointed out, two of the three entry points for residents into the neighborhood already host 4 gas stations – the two at the intersection of Martin Way and Meridian Rd and the two along Marvin Road at its intersections with Britton Parkway and Hawks Prairie Road.
Second, the developers in their application to the City, apparently stressed the need for a neighborhood market at the proposed site. Some would argue that such a market is truly needed and I suggest that many Meridian residents wouldn’t object to that. However, the developer has apparently indicated that a gas station is also necessary at the site to make a market viable. Yet the City has already determined that a market on its own would generate significant walk-in traffic. So, it seems to me that the developer is using the prospect of the market as a carrot to justify the gas station which, I gather, would be, of the two, more profitable for them.
It will be interesting to see what the Lacey City Council finally decides. Will it support the residents that it ostensibly serves or an outside moneyed interest? If it comes down on the side of the latter, I will be suitably disgusted but not surprised. Money talks; we’ll see.
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