Bell Stores proposes 16‑position fueling site with two‑bay car wash; commission requests more landscape and architectural detail

Representatives of Bell Stores (Campbell Oil) presented a major site plan Sept. 22 for a new convenience store with an 8‑canopy dispenser (16 fueling positions), a two‑bay car wash and roughly 39 parking spaces. Jeff Lanchard of CESO and Billy Phillips (Bell Stores/Campbell Oil) reviewed elevations, truck circulation diagrams and preliminary photometric and utility plans.

Why it matters: The proposed store fronts a new public roadway and will be visible from Cherry Street and State Route 3; commissioners focused on building façade treatments facing primary roadways, interior landscaping and site circulation to ensure the proposal fits the city’s gateway goals and does not create safety or operational problems.

Presenters said the design includes canopy columns with brick, a tile roof accent and bollard lighting. Commissioners complimented the overall concept but requested design refinements to break up large brick walls facing Cherry Street and Route 3 — for example, adding glazing, deeper brick relief or additional architectural features — and asked for a clearer and larger landscape plan, especially where utility easements limit planting.

The team explained truck circulation and fuel delivery routing and said bollard and canopy lighting would be shielded to limit spill; commissioners asked for verification that lighting foot‑candles at the property edge meet code. Staff and commissioners also asked for confirmation that bus or vehicle queuing will not block through traffic on the adjacent roadway and requested that near‑road dumpsters be screened or relocated if possible.

No vote was taken. The applicant said it will submit final development plans with more detailed landscaping, refined elevations and clarified circulation diagrams for engineering review and commission consideration at a later meeting.