LEXINGTON – The proposal for a new gas station in downtown Lexington hit a bump in the road during Monday night’s village council meeting.
Council received an official recommendation from the village planning commission, but a motion to approve it died after no one seconded.
Lexington’s village planning commission voted on Jan. 26 to approve a request by the Englefield Oil Co. to construct a gas station and service center at 15 E. Main Street.
The decision was based on the fact the request met all zoning requirements for Lexington’s central business district, which are established in the village’s codified ordinances.
“The village of Lexington Planning Commission had recommended the certificate of appropriateness and zoning approval for this commercial request, contingent upon satisfaction of additional requirements set forth by Richland Soil and Water Conservation and the Richland County Building Department,” the official recommendation stated.
Council President Robert Jarvis read the recommendation and moved to approve the commission’s recommendation, but no one seconded the motion.
Council traditionally sides with the village planning commission, which is charged with vetting commercial zoning applications.
“I don’t know what happens next,” Mayor Brian White said after the meeting. “This is a first.”
Lexington Law Director John Studenmund said the Englefield Oil Co. could appeal the decision, either through a request to reconsider or legal action.
Representatives from Englefield Oil were present at the meeting, but declined to comment after the vote.
The silent death of the motion came after 30 minutes of public comment. Residents expressed frustration about the prospect of another gas station.
“I’ve heard two reasons given for why this is going through. One is zoning, one is (the developer) will sue us. To which I say, ‘Let them sue us,'” resident Grant McDonald said. “Let them be the gas station that’s coming after a small village that wants to protect the look and feel of our town.
“Have the guts to make them sue you. They’re going to look evil, not you.”
Multiple residents addressed council regarding the accessibility of information regarding public meetings. Many stated that meeting times and agendas should be more visible on the village’s website.
One page on the village website states that “council meetings are held the first and third Mondays of each month in Council’s Chambers at Village Hall” at 7:30 p.m. However, the meetings are not listed on the calendar under the website’s events page.
Council meeting agendas are not available on the village website. However, Clerk of Courts Brenda Wilson said copies are made available at village hall.
Resident Mike Mitchell said he’d like to see agendas made available online prior to meetings.
“You have a website for a reason,” he said. “It is the most accessible method of the government notifying the people of what the town is doing, what the boards and commissions are doing, what the council is doing.”
One community member asked why the vote on the planning commission’s recommendation was not listed on the meeting agenda.
Studenmund said zoning issues are typically addressed during the village administrator’s report and are not typically listed as agenda items.
“There are very few rules on agendas in terms of what has to be on there specifically,” he said. “I’m not aware of any requirement for it to be on there.
“From a notice standpoint, is it helpful? Yes, but I don’t think it’s required.”
White indicated the village will consider the feedback from residents on the availability of public meeting information.
“I think we’ll take a look at their recommendations, they made some good recommendations,” he said.
White also told residents that while Lexington’s zoning laws allow the development of a gas station downtown, that could change in the future.
The village’s proposed comprehensive plan recommends rewriting Lexington’s zoning laws.
“We are in the process of getting a quote from our village engineer to help us rewrite an entire zoning package,” White said.
According to White, the last time Lexington’s zoning law was updated was 1996.
