Planning board recommends approval of laundromat permit for 1248 Wells Avenue

The Planning and Zoning Advisory Board voted to recommend approval of Resolution 2026-08, a special-use permit to convert the former gas-and-convenience site at 1248 Wells Avenue into a laundromat.

James Fry, city planner with Community Development, presented the application and site plan, noting that the property — most recently a convenience store with fuel tanks — lies in a mixed-use zoning district where laundromats require a special-use permit. “Please note that the existing gas tanks and canopy are scheduled to be removed,” Fry said, and staff recommended the board move to recommend approval to the city council.

Board members questioned environmental and traffic issues before the vote. A member asked if there would be soil testing after the tanks are removed; Fry said the applicant is working with the agency referred to in the record as “FEP” and will obtain required permits and provide copies to the city. He said remediation methods would be determined by environmental review: “That would be determined by any kind of environmental review or what FDP recommends.”

Members also pressed about ingress and egress and “cut-through” traffic. Fry said the civil engineer has shown limited north and south access on the site plan and that public works can add signage or other controls to limit unsafe cut-through movements. The project architect offered to install city-standard curbing to narrow and formalize the access.

Board members raised concerns about placing a new laundromat adjacent to an existing laundromat; staff clarified this application would add a separate laundromat, not replace the one behind the commercial building.

Members also discussed landscaping, lighting and removal of a damaged sign. Fry confirmed that landscaping and lighting to city standards are part of the plan. The architect said he was “more than willing to continue the curbing with the city standard curbing that was required there” to meet established standards.

After discussion, a board member moved and another seconded recommending approval of Resolution 2026-08. The board voted in favor with no opposition recorded; the recommendation will be forwarded to the city council for final action.

The board’s deliberations focused on ensuring that environmental permits and any necessary contamination remediation are completed before redevelopment proceeds, and on design measures to control access and reduce safety risks. The staff packet for the item included the resolution, location and aerial maps, the special-use site plan and a newspaper notice.

Next steps: the Planning and Zoning Advisory Board’s recommendation is advisory; final approval of the special-use permit is subject to city council review and action.