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Kroger revising  its plan for fuel center

Gas station kiosk ‘cheapens downtown,’ councilman says.

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By Eric Robinette, Staff Writer 6:47 PM Wednesday, February 8, 2012

FAIRFIELD — Kroger wants to install a gas station at its Fairfield location, but city officials’ objections to the plans have caused the project to stall for the moment.

Late last year, the company presented its plans to the city’s design review committee and to the planning commission, but both groups rejected the plans, objecting especially to a kiosk-style building that would be on the property, similar to the Liberty Twp. Kroger Marketplace.

Tim Bachman, the city’s development services director, said Feb. 2 that Kroger has “appealed to council” and that the plans for the proposed gas station are “evolving and changing.”

According to the minutes of an October planning commission meeting, Kroger had planned to develop the site for seven fuel pumps, a canopy and the kiosk. When the Fairfield Kroger on Wessel Drive was built in 2002, “they were interested in constructing a fuel center, but the city did not want to see it in Village Green. Fuel has become a very important part of their business model, and they are willing to work with community guidelines to accomplish establishing a fuel center.”

The small kiosk would conflict with the city’s building code.

Councilman Jeff Holtegel said it was his understanding Kroger was in the midst of revising the building plans but had not heard from Kroger about it.

The planning commission was also concerned with the full access curb cut on Nilles Road because a motorist would have to cut across five lanes of traffic to go north on Pleasant Avenue.

Rachael Betzler, a public affairs manager for Kroger, said the grocer was “still in talks” with the city’s planning director and was working on modifications to satisfy all parties.

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