Terrible’s Rezoning Bid Fails Amid Unusual Split Vote and Public Outrage

Maricopa’s Planning and Zoning Commission voted against a rezoning request for the proposed Terrible’s gas station and convenience store at Bowlin and Porter Roads. The decision marked a significant division among the commissioners.

The board ended with a 3-3 split, with Chair James Singleton, Vice Chair Alfonso Juarez, and Commissioner Ted Yocum supporting the motion. In contrast, Commissioners Bill Robertson, Robert Klob, and Maurice Thomas opposed it.

Commissioner Robert Brems, the potential tiebreaker, was absent, resulting in the failure of the motion.

Developers from Las Vegas sought to rezone the property from neighborhood commercial to general commercial to enable a car wash. The rezoning was recommended in a staff report, allowing for a service radius expansion from 1½ to 5 miles.

While the gas station and convenience store faced no pre-construction hurdles, the status of the car wash remains uncertain, offering a small victory for local residents who voiced their opposition.

Last month, city officials received four letters from residents expressing concerns over increased traffic, pollution, and crime related to the development. Three residents reiterated these fears during a public call.

Ron Angerame, a Glennwilde resident, articulated his worries about the impact on his property’s tranquility. He cited concerns about the presence of a sign for Terrible’s disrupting the peace of the neighborhood.

Brittany Pisola echoed safety concerns regarding schoolchildren in the area. Recent incidents where two elementary school students were hospitalized following a vehicle collision heightened her apprehensions.

Former mayoral candidate Leon Potter expressed alarm over potential traffic increases near two schools. He indicated that the proposed changes could exacerbate existing traffic issues.

While acknowledging the public’s concerns, Singleton emphasized that the focus was specifically on the rezoning. He pointed out that the developers have the right to proceed with the gas station regardless of this vote.

Mitchell Mastin, an architect associated with the project, clarified that the current zoning allows for the gas station and convenience store, with the rezoning merely intended to add a car wash.

Commissioner Robertson noted his internal conflict regarding the decision. He recognized the inevitability of future development in the area but expressed concerns about traffic and safety.

Klob stated that the approval of a gas station on that site was unavoidable under the current conditions. He stressed that the commission’s discussion was limited to the specifics of the rezoning.

Thomas cited concerns over noise from the car wash’s turbo dryer as a factor in his dissenting vote. Conversely, Yocum argued that the benefits of development should take precedence over personal views on potential visual disruptions.

He posed a rhetorical question about prioritizing community benefit over personal concerns, underscoring the divide in the commission over this controversial project.