Commissioners approve rezoning for shopping-center parcel at Maysville and Stellhorn over neighbors' objections to gas station

The Allen County Commissioners voted June 13 to rezone 9.91 acres at the southeast corner of Maysville and Stellhorn from R-1 single-family residential to SC shopping center, allowing a commercial development that includes a committed Casey's General Store tenant.

Nathan Shaw of the Department of Planning Services said the applicant described the proposal as a service to nearby residential areas, and the development plan itself passed unanimously at the planning commission. "The plan consists of 5 development sites, and they do have 1 committed tenant of Casey's General Store," Shaw said. He added the comprehensive plan designation is suburban residential, which the staff considered "potentially compatible."

Shaw said several local residents remonstrated at the public hearing, expressing concerns primarily about traffic and the nuisances a gas station could bring to the neighborhood. "There was a monstrous, from several folks. They had concerns on existing burden of traffic. Most of their concern was about the gas station use itself on the corner," Shaw said.

Because of those concerns, the planning commission did not issue a positive recommendation on the rezoning petition and advised the commissioners with a no recommendation; however, at the county meeting a commissioner moved for approval and the motion carried.

Shaw noted there were no written commitments from the applicant beyond abiding by zoning ordinance standards — residential mitigation, lighting standards and canopy location — and that the development plan (distinct from the rezoning) had passed unanimously. Commissioners approved REZ2025-0015 following discussion. The transcript does not record a roll-call tally or specific conditions beyond standard zoning requirements.