The Planning Commission recommended approval, 7–0, of a conditional use permit for 7‑Eleven at 7912 Halpern Drive. The application would convert a vacant retail building to a convenience store with gasoline sales, off‑premise alcohol sales and sales of smoking/vaping products. The applicant revised the site plan to flip the building so pumps would be shielded from Halpern Drive and traffic flow would avoid backing up onto Halpern or East Little Creek Road.
Staff said the applicant has agreed to place a deed restriction on the property to prevent the nearby grandfathered 7‑Eleven on Halpern Drive from reopening as a convenience store selling off‑premise alcohol or vaping products. The plan was found to meet the commercial and mixed‑use pattern book design recommendations, the briefing said. Letters of opposition were submitted by the Roosevelt area and other neighbors, largely raising traffic concerns.
A council member (unnamed in the transcript) described prior closures in the area, said property owners had received above‑market lease payments for years and argued the redevelopment could shift trips toward Little Creek Road rather than Halpern Drive. That council member said they were working with the applicant and expected additional outreach to the civic league; staff agreed to try to provide a traffic analysis for the neighborhood.
The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to City Council for formal consideration; no final council action occurred in the work session.