An application proposal to build an AM/PM ARCO convenience store/gas station on the southeast corner of Pillsbury Road has been withdrawn.
Nearby neighbors have voiced adamant opposition to the project that would anchor a neighborhood commercial endeavor that included a proposed quick serve restaurant.
It also has given them an opening to make sure a gas station is never built on the corner given the City Council in December has given them the ability to leverage their neighborhood concerns into a citywide issue in an election year.
The council in December directed staff to come back with options regarding a gas station moratorium and/or tweaking current zoning to reduce the possibility they could be built adjacent to residential.
Given the application was already submitted and being processed, there was a general consensus — even among those that sympathized with the neighbors such as mayoral hopeful Jacob Naven — the city would open themselves to litigation they would likely loose if the council changed the rules for an active application.
Now that the application has been withdrawn, it provides a window for neighbors to pressure elected leaders to address their concerns through an outright moratorium or zoning tweaks.
The handful of other California cities that have pursued gas station moratoriums of some sort included jurisdictions that put an urgency measure in place for “x” number of days to not accept new gas station applications until possible changes could be vetted.
As such, it has now become a political issue if nearby neighbors force the issue.
To be clear, the council majority in December never said they would agree to a moratorium or to add restrictions on where gas stations could be located in relation to other uses, but they did say they wanted to examine possible options.
“Talk is cheap,” said Naven, who is challenging Gary Singh who is running for re-election on Nov. 3. “If they (the council) are going to do something, they need to do it now.”
Singh on Tuesday confirmed staff is ready to bring back the moratorium information to the council tentatively on June 16.
A commercial real estate expert indicated the fact a Super Walmart is locating within a half-mile of the Pillsbury-Woodward site complete with low-cost gas has likely changed the market dynamics for a neighborhood gas station in the established part of southeast Manteca.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
