ROCK SPRINGS – A local convenience store got the go ahead to expand their services, but the width of the adjacent road is still causing problems.
The expansion request was from the Exxon Station located at 1640 Elk St. Along with changes to the automobile service station portion; the expansion will also include adding to the convenience store. Rock Springs City Planner Jennifer Shields explained the convenience store is a permitted use in a B-2 zone, so it is being handled as a minor site plan. The reason it was brought in front of the Rock Springs Planning and Zoning was because the service station is a conditional use in a B-2 zone which needs approval from the commission.
“Because it is being re-configured, a new Conditional Use Permit is needed,” Shields said about the gas station portion.
The problem involved White Mountain Drive. On Dec. 17, owner of RHO Properties, LLC., Jay Schneider and members of JFC Engineering approached the Sweetwater County Commissioners to discuss the road.
White Mountain Drive has been a source of discussion for many years now. Currently, the road is under county ownership. The group asked if the commissioners would look at possibly widening the roadway. The commissioners voted no, pointing to the city, telling Rock Springs they need to take ownership of the road.
Shields said the city will not take ownership because it does not meet the city standards for roadways. Rock Springs Councilwoman and liaison to the Planning and Zoning Glennise Wendorf also pointed out the city did debate a widening of White Mountain Drive, and if they did widen it to city standards, residents would have lost their homes. She said this is why they did not take ownership of the roadway.
Along with a utility review, the company also had to do a traffic study because of all the traffic on Elk Street. The Wyoming Department of Transportation did report the traffic study. All the minor issues from the utility review were also worked out.
With all the changes and debate on White Mountain Road, the company had to take out the compressed natural gas pumps. Board member Kent Porenta questioned this stating natural gas is the way of the future.
Schneider said they also did not like taking the pumps off the site. He said it was necessary to keep the traffic flow moving on site.
“That’s too bad,” Porenta said.
The only public comment came from Mark Anselmi, owner of the Outlaw Inn. He said Red Horse Oil has been a great neighbor through the years, and he fully supported the plan. So did the Planning and Zoning Commission, unanimously approving the project.
