Pontiac City Council voted Nov. 10 to postpone consideration of Carnival Investments LLC’s appeal of a Planning Commission denial for a proposed automobile filling station and retail center at the northwest corner of Walton Boulevard and Giddings Road.

The project would include six double-sided pumps (12 fueling positions), a combined convenience store and a separate retail building with a drive-through; the applicant and its planning consultant estimated the development at roughly $8 million with 70–75 jobs. Planning staff and an outside planning consultant provided a preliminary report recommending approval if appropriate screening and lighting were included. The Planning Commission, however, denied the special exception permit citing one of the ordinance’s standards: that the proposed use “shall not be hazardous or disturbing to existing or future uses in the same general vicinity.”

At the council meeting, residents and several council members cited traffic volumes, Giddings Road safety, school proximity, restricted neighborhood egress and potential concentration of gas stations as reasons to delay a final decision until an adequate traffic impact analysis and the planning file materials could be provided to the full council. Councilwoman James said she was not prepared to overturn the Planning Commission without reviewing the traffic study; several other members pressed for a Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA).

The applicant, represented by attorney Tom Callis and owner Jason AR, said planning consultants recommended approval and emphasized economic benefits and prior community engagement, saying the corner is commercially zoned and the applicant owns the land. The applicant offered to commission a traffic study if council wished, but staff noted such a study typically requires consultant time and cost and may not be ready immediately.

Council voted 5–1 to postpone the appeal to the Nov. 18 meeting to allow staff to compile the planning commission materials and any traffic analysis and to give council members and residents time for review. Council members encouraged the applicant to meet directly with nearby residents as part of that interim process.

The postponement does not decide the underlying special exception; if the council later overturns the Planning Commission, final site plan, engineering, and any county road‑commission approvals will still be required.