Santa Feans vent anger over plan for diesel island
Neighbors of an Airport Road gas station near N.M. 599 met Wednesday with their two city councilors and a top city administrator to ask questions and complain about the Shell station owner’s plans to add a self-service diesel filling island.
Residents of the Vista Primera subdivision and the Rancho Carrera Apartments were angry the city had not notified them of the expansion plan, which complies with the property’s zoning. They also expressed fears that the new pumps on the 2-acre lot will lead to increased noise, pollution, crime and traffic, especially from trucks.
Councilors Roman “Tiger” Abeyta and Chris Rivera, as well as city Land Use Director Carol Johnson, tried to assuage their anxieties, explaining that the property, owned by Brewer Oil, has been zoned for commercial use for nearly 20 years.
The city code designates “filling stations” as a permitted use on a lot zoned C-2, general commercial. Plans for a permitted use require only a staff review, not a public hearing.
But many of the two dozen or so people who attended the gathering at Rancho Carrera Apartments still were angry and fearful.
“It’s simply crazy,” one man said. “One wonders if someone took someone to lunch.”
After a similar comment from another man, Rivera said, “I don’t think accusing our staff [of wrongdoing] is the proper way to deal with this.”
Another man said that once diesel trucks start using the new pumps, “you’ll see more people from Vista Primera moving out and property values going down. There will be more traffic. I don’t see how the three of you can stand there and tell us it’s going to be OK.”
A woman said the fact that the filling island will be a 24-hour self-service operation will bring “untold crimes” to the area.
When residents began contacting New Mexican reporters about the development last month, many suspected it was related to the controversial Pilot Flying J truck stop off Interstate 25 and N.M. 14 south of the city, plans for which had been rejected by the County Commission earlier this year.
On Wednesday, some at the meeting insisted Brewer Oil’s project is indeed a truck stop.
“This is not a truck stop,” Johnson responded. “Truck stops usually have weigh stations, showers and often a restaurant.”
At the suggestion of area resident David Brown, who moderated the meeting, the city officials agreed to set up a meeting that also will include representatives of Brewer Oil — who were not present Wednesday — and more city administrators familiar with streets, traffic and other issues.