The Circle K gas station at 8199 Manchester Road in Brentwood wants to go from being open 6 a.m. – midnight to a 24 hours a day. Customers who support that can sign a petition in the store, but there’s also a petition going around the neighborhood behind the store that opposes the change.
One of the neighbors is Leroy Russo, who resigned from 20 years on the Brentwood Planning and Zoning Commission over the issue a month ago.
Russo said the store asked the city for longer hours and it was approved, but never went to planning and zoning, and letters of notice weren’t sent to houses within 300 feet of the business, which he said was required.
Russo said he called city planner Justin Wyse about it, and after that the store went back to its old hours.
This is the statement from the city, supplied by administrator Bola Akande.
A complaint was made that the property had increased the intensity of their use to 24 hours a day. Under the City’s zoning regulations, this now requires the property to seek a Conditional Use Permit for the use and extended hours of operation.
According to Circle K employee Raven Ballard the store was open about a day before Russo called the city.
“Brentwood is not enforcing its ordinances,” Russo said. “After 20 years I give up. I’m tired of banging my head against a wall. The new administrator and the new city planner are not doing what they’re supposed to do, and Mayor Kelly is backing them.”
Russo said he’s against the longer hours and so are his neighbors on both sides of the street. “The lights shine their house,” he said. “You’re going to have cars 24 hours a day pulling in and out. We’ve got enough 24-hour stations.”
Mayor Pat Kelly responded to a resident at the mayor’s coffee on Friday that he hadn’t heard about the issue, and acknowledged that he doesn’t return calls to 40 South News.
hey John Nuernberger – where were you on this one? You mister code of conduct, judging others, did you fall down on the job?
This is a disgrace from P&Z.
If you don’t like an ordinance you folks at P&Z can just ignore? Seriously and you get on these posts telling others they are in the wrong.
Our city needs to be cleansed and needs a new cast of citizens who will follow the rules.
Larry
I am not affected by this one way or the other, I do not shop there and it is not near my home. Just because I speak up on issues I feel strongly about and it does not mean I have a position on everything or any control of what happens in Brentwood. If you must know this would be matter of enforcement which any member of P&Z nor I has any oversight of, Call you alderaman to get action. When this gas station was approved for hours of operation, mostly likely 30 or more years ago very few were 24 hours and I was not on the commision. It is up to the city staff to enforce code violarions. Leroy was alway a passionate spokesman for the area where he lives when he was on the commission,.
Yes!!! John said: “I am not affected by this one way or the other, I do not shop there and it is not near my home.”
This would explain his thought process when he supported the grand plan of installing a group home on Madge Avenue, in a NEIGHBORHOOD where people have made their HOMES for decades.
Great job Einstein.
Live nearby on Melvin Ave. and frequent Circle K for convenience. Agree with Mr Russo that allowing Circle K to be open 24 hour/day is a bad idea for local Brentwood residents, especially those living within 300 feet of Circle K. By the way, cars exiting the Circle K lot to the West onto Louis Ave. frequently do not look out for cars heading North on Louis. Sure to see accidents here in the future as Circle K lot needs Left Turn Yield Sign at Louis. Sorry Leroy Russo resigned from Planning and Zoning Commission over hours open issue as it seems we need more advocates like Mr. Russo defending property rights of Brentwood citizenry.
It seems like we have city officials that don’t know the laws and rules of the city. It also appears that officials of the city are keeping events and goings on in committies, from getting to the city administrator.
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