If you need a Slurpee you will soon have plenty of options in north Manteca.

The Manteca Planning Commission on Thursday approved plans for a 3,440-square-foot 7-Eleven convenience store with gas pumps along with 59,965 square feet of retail space in three different buildings for the northwest corner of Union Road at Lathrop Road.

It is immediately east of where a 136-unit three-story apartment complex is now under construction.

The approval came as work is underway on the city’s fourth 7-Eleven location on the northeast corner of  Louise Avenue and North Main. It is where a La Estrella location operated for years in the former building housing a Long John’s Silver.

There is already an existing 7-Eleven at Northgate Drive and North Main Street less than a half mile to the north of the  new site at Louise and Main. Southland Corporation representatives have indicated there is no plans to close the Northgate store that is owned by a franchisee adding there is ample demand in the area for two 7-Elevens based on varied traffic patterns.

The latest approved 7-Eleven is part of the West Woodbridge retail project across Lathrop Road from Union Square that’s anchored by Raley’s.

It is just over a mile from the Northgate 7-Eleven. And like the 7-Eleven at Northgate and Main the location currently under construction and the one now just approved will have gas pumps.

During Thursday’s meeting several nearby residents questioned the wisdom of approving more commercial in the area especially with gas pumps.

They pointed to a mandate handed down by the Newsom administration that new fossil powered vehicles will not be sold in California after 2035.

One speaker added that a growing number of Bay Area cities are “forward thinking” and not allowing any more gas stations to be built within their jurisdictions.

They also noted that Union 76 is reportedly part of a commercial project on the southeast corner of Union and Lathrop roads where a house has been demolished. That project may also include an auto parts store.

Speakers also slammed the city for “allowing” not just more gas stations but also stores selling liquor as well as not bringing in businesses that don’t have to struggle. Staff noted that the city has no power to dictate specific uses under California law beyond general uses that are allowed in zones the city adopts for land.

Manteca with six 7-Eleven locations will have three more such stores than Tracy, a city that is 10,000 residents larger.

Stockton, a city with a population four times larger than Manteca, has 13 7-Eleven locations.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com