New Speedway gas station at Miller and Maple wins approval from Planning Commission
A proposal to demolish a vacant gas station at the corner of Miller and Maple to pave the way for a new Speedway is on its way to the Ann Arbor City Council for final approval.
The Planning Commission voted 6-0 Tuesday night in favor of the site plan, which calls for razing a vacant 1,500-square-foot Marathon gas station that dates back to the mid-1950s. The developer plans to build a new 3,968-square-foot Speedway gas station in its place.
The new gas station and convenience store will have five gasoline-dispensing pumps capable of servicing 10 cars at a time, according to plans.
The site of the new Speedway gas station
Courtesy of City of Ann Arbor
The new building will stand 18 feet tall, 4 feet higher than the existing structure. There are four curb cuts leading to the site now, two of which will be removed.
There is no stormwater management system for the site now. Plans show a new stormwater system will be located under the parking lot along the Maple Road frontage.
There are eight Speedway locations in Washtenaw County. There is a location a few miles south of the Maple and Miller intersection on West Stadium Boulevard.
Ohio-based Speedway LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Marathon Petroleum Co., and all Speedway locations are corporately operated.
Commissioners Evan Pratt, Wendy Woods and Tony Derezinski were absent for the vote on the Speedway project.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.
Comments
Goodphotographer
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 4:22 p.m.
The existing building is one of the last original baby boom style gas stations that were here when I was in grade school. It would be nice to see this station preserved as a tribute to an historic era, the family owned and operated gas station. It was fun growing up in the area with the Fox family station on the corner. I could be wrong however, Marathon may have owned it all along. Fond memories of smiles, bike tire air, cheap pop, candy and chips. Many of the stations in town from this time period were converted. I guess Miler ave will only have two such converted stations. How many of you remember one of those old gastations like the one on South University or Hill & Packard or Miller & Spring or Huron & Chapin? Just to name a few.
treetowncartel
Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 6:52 p.m.
@ Michigan, don't forget about Tuomy Hills, or the other two full service gas stations at Packard and Stadium. Weavers marathon and balnking on the name of the Gulf station across the street.
Michigan Reader
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 10:08 p.m.
@Goodphotographer--Here are a few more---the Clark station on N. Division (still standing) and the Super Test at the intersection of N. Main and Summit. (Also still standing). There was one on the northeast corner of Division and Huron, where a fast food shop is now, and I think there was one on the northwest corner of that same intersection where Ahmo's is now. One more comes to mind, though it predates my time in the city, is at the northeast corner of 4th and Huron.
jcj
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 5:37 p.m.
In the mid 50's before it was a gas station, there was a little family store called Reed's there.
treetowncartel
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 5:33 p.m.
Fox was a Sunocco outlet at one point in time I believe.
bunnyabbot
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 3:55 p.m.
when will they breakground? when do they expect it to open? getter done
bunnyabbot
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 3:51 p.m.
Yippie!!!
xmo
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 12:50 p.m.
Hoo ray! More business for Ann Arbor! I just love that carbon based fuel, it is organic and the most effiecient source of energy on the planet.
Dog Guy
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 12:44 p.m.
The 12 bicycle parking spaces won it.
townie54
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 11:10 p.m.
ha good one dog guy.But now they will have to make maple 2 lanes instead of 4 so the bikes can get in and out of those spaces better
Mike
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 12:43 p.m.
Gasoline is a bad word in this town. Maybe they should build an electric recharging station powered by solar panels and windmills of course. One problem the same people don't want to see the windmills and have passed ordinances against them and the solar arry would be so large they would complain about that too. Just can't make people happy anymore...........
brimble
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 12:15 p.m.
This is a plus-plus. However many gas stations there might be in the city as a whole, there are no others near the Maple / M14 interchange, and nothing at all further north on Maple, so this becomes a smart location for Speedway. The site gets rehabilitated, and maybe something happens on the opposite corner. Whether Maple Cove, more or less directly across Maple from this property, will also be an improvement is up for debate. But it still speaks to transformation for this area, and that is sorely needed.
jcj
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 11:49 a.m.
Wasn't there supposed to be a subway at Miller /Maple? Tim Horton's at Maple Village? The wheels of "progress" sure move slow
jcj
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 11:38 a.m.
Ryan, do we know if it will be open by 2015?
Lisa
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 10:38 a.m.
It sure would be nice to have a gas station there again, but what about the man that gave his life sayings to operate the little store near by. How many gas stations, party stores , restaurants do we need.How many teen and senior programs are in-the area???????? Hows many in all of Ann Arbor? I would like to see how many gas stations do we have in Ann Arbor already ! How many restaurants do we have ?how many party stores and what and where are we teaching and providing for our seniors and youths?????????
bunnyabbot
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 3:54 p.m.
if the man with his life savings nearby had a decent business that people wanted to go to then he wouldn't have a problem with Speedway coming next door. He might want to start thinking about plan b for the business and move in another direction.
Madeleine Borthwick
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 2:31 p.m.
Lisa, would you rather see it sitting empty?????becoming more and more of an eyesore??????????????HUH????????????????????????????????????????????????
a2gretta
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 1:36 p.m.
There is property across the street for other businesses. Having a gas station again (yay!) doesn't preclude other options for that intersection.
Arboriginal
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 1:09 p.m.
Ummmm.....save the whales?
JimmyD
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 1:07 p.m.
I'm not sure what the problem is here. It's just capitalism. If it meets zoning code, etc., and will make a profit people will build it and provide jobs which provide taxes for things like the programs you mention. Vacant, derelict buildings don't build communities.
Mike
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 12:40 p.m.
There is no gas station on that side of town. What are you talking about?
Pizza Man
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 11:18 a.m.
For the record, there are less gas station then there were, say 15 years ago.
Homeland Conspiracy
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 11:12 a.m.
What?? 2.0
jcj
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 11:06 a.m.
What??
Pizza Man
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 10:29 a.m.
It will be nice to have something take that spot that has been vacant for all these years.