Plan for Westminster gas station rejected Zoning change OK'd by council also make store unlikely

New district plan eliminates many uses

No gas station and convenience store will rise on the corner in downtown Westminster occupied by a closed farm equipment store.

The City Council unanimously approved last night zoning changes that will effectively terminate a proposal by a Westminster fuel oil dealer to build a gas station and convenience store on the former Farmers Supply Co. property at Liberty and Green Streets.

Stanley H. "Jack" Tevis III, president of Tevis Oil Inc. would be able to build his planned convenience store, sub shop and ice cream store under the new zoning rules for the central business district, but not the gas station. He did not attend last night's meeting, but has said several times that the project is not financially feasible without gasoline sales.

Mr. Tevis retains the approval he won in 1994 to build a Jiffy Mart -- his convenience store chain name -- gas station and Subway sandwich shop on a lot at the corner of West Main and Carroll Streets. The ordinance adopted by the council allows property owners who have already won city government approval to go ahead with their plans.

The new central business district zoning eliminates uses such as veterinary clinics, adult entertainment centers, circuses and liquor stores from the downtown retail center. The council wrote in a provision allowing a microbrewery in the central area.

The council adopted the changes in response to recommendations by consultants who assessed the Westminster market last year.