Council members discussed a perceived local increase in proposed gas-station and convenience-store developments and directed staff and city advisory bodies to review possible zoning tools that could manage future siting decisions.

Councilmember Cotton opened the discussion by describing national retail trends and arguing Valparaiso is already denser in fueling stations than the national per-capita average. Cotton said the council could ask the Plan Commission to review sample ordinances used by other municipalities to consider features such as minimum separation between fuel stations, setbacks from residences, and decommissioning plans for underground tanks.

Several council members said the issue should be folded into the city’s forthcoming comprehensive-plan and Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) update, which will be performed by a consultant, but others expressed urgency because prospective operators have indicated expansion plans and some proposals are already in the local review pipeline. Council members asked that the Planning Department, the Plan Commission and the Environmental Advisory Board analyze the regulatory options, cite state rules (noting underground storage tanks are regulated by the state) and return with specific recommendations about whether additional local permit layers (special-use reviews, spacing standards or decommissioning requirements) are warranted.

Environmental advisory-board members and planning staff were asked to review the health, noise, light and groundwater risks and to prepare options for council consideration. Council members asked staff to provide best-practice examples and technical analysis to be considered at the next council meeting; no ordinance was introduced that evening and no final action was taken.