STEWART’S

tween residential and commercial businesses before hitting the Upper Union Street Business District.

“City land use policies don’t support this proposal,” said Carey, who asked the Planning Commission to table the decision in order to further review the plans.

The city, he said, is required to weigh how the project will mesh with the city’s Comprehensive Plan 2020, a document outlining goals and growth strategies in each of the city’s neighborhoods.

Carey urged Stewart’s to consider alternate sites on underused parcels along the Eastern Avenue corridor.

“It will have adverse traffic impacts and won’t help those underutilized parcels,” Carey said.

Under the proposal, the Jones Funeral Home will be demolished, and the site would remain branded as Sunoco, Andrews said.

In its current incarnation, plans for the new store would shrink the pavement from the existing 52 percent of surface area to 26 percent, he said.

The city Planning Commission unanimously approved shuttling the zoning request over to City Council — with the caveat that Stewart’s meet with community groups and neighborhood associations in an attempt to assuage their concerns.

“I would strongly encourage you to reach out to the neighborhood associations to show them your plans as you move forward,” said Wallinger, who also urged City Council to review the city’s comprehensive plan.

Stewart’s is in the midst of an aggressive modernization strategy to update stores and add new ones. The company spent $245 million on new or rebuilt locations over a recent five-year period.