Plans for a 7-Eleven gas station at the current Anthony’s clothing store in Key Largo were shut down by the Monroe County Planning Commission at an April 28 meeting at the Murray Nelson Government Center.
Developers were seeking to construct a 4,730-square-foot gas station with 11 fueling stations and a 24/7 convenience store in the median at MM 98.2. It needed the planning commission’s approval for a major conditional use permit in order to proceed.
Concerns over traffic and public safety by the public and several commissioners, however, culminated in a 4-1 vote to deny the applicant’s request. Chairman Joe Scarpelli was the lone “yes” vote.
A county staff report stated the application to develop the property into high-intensity commercial retail complied with criteria when examining the county’s land development code. Staff received written protest by more than 20% of surrounding property owners. As a result, the request for a major conditional use permit needed four commissioners voting in the affirmative. The vote wasn’t close to a supermajority — residents inside the Murray Nelson Government Center auditorium who were concerned with the proposal applauded the end result.
Residents said a 7-Eleven could mean more potential accidents on a portion of U.S. 1 that’s prone to bad crashes. Grand Street residents noted the difficulties crossing U.S. 1 to go south.
“If you allow this to go in, we’re going to have more deaths, said Chef Buck Donnelly, Grand Street resident. “We have 10 pounds of slurpees in a 5-pound bag that’s bursting at the seams.”
Jason Green, planner with Axis Infrastructure that designed the project, said the location is appropriate for a 7-Eleven gas station and convenience store — a Marathon gas station with nine fuel stations sits next door. Green noted that zoning allows gas stations and that the project would be the “best looking thing up and the corridor.” He also said such a use doesn’t cause traffic accidents.
“Any successful business that’s a magnet will have those issues, but it’s not a gas station that will cause or create those issues,” Green said.
Joy Martin, resident of Rock Harbor for more than 30 years, said the 7-Eleven would create congestion and increase risks for pedestrians crossing the highway, like workers trying to catch the Miami-Dade bus.
“It’s just the nature of the beast with that type of development coupled with the fact it’s next to another gas station,” Martin said, referencing the Marathon gas station next to the proposed 7-Eleven.
Attorney Ty Harris, who represented the developers, noted county staff recommended approval of the major conditional use permit as the project met all the criteria.
“I’ve been in a position where staff has been where there’s so much pressure to recommend denial, yet we meet criteria and we were approved,” Harris said. “Without the criteria, what’s the point of going through the process?
Planning commissioner David Ritz said the 7-Eleven structures aren’t “Keysey in any way, shape or fashion” and didn’t believe it would fit Key Largo’s community character. Rosemary Thomas, planning commissioner for the Middle Keys, said she’s seen what the 7-Eleven did to her community.
“It’s been a disaster,” she said.
Scarpelli, chairman who supported the request, said the 7-Eleven parking lot wouldn’t be seen by surrounding neighborhoods due to the exceptional landscaping plan.
