SANFORD, Fla. – Neighbors in Sanford are pushing back against a proposal to build a gas station and convenience store near their homes.
Plans submitted to the city of Sanford show where a 7-Eleven would be built near E. Lake Mary Boulevard and Skyway Drive. Documents show the applicant believes the proposed convenience store and gas pumps would support the nearby Boombah Sports Complex, airport, and neighborhoods.
If approved, the store would be built along with eight gas pumps and a stormwater pond, along with the landscape and buffering required by city code.
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But neighbors in the Parkview Place subdivision have concerns about the project. Shanique Sisk reached out to News 6 through our Neighborhood Network.
“It’s right outside our door,” said Sisk. “It’s right next to the gat that we leave out every morning and come in every afternoon. Those of us that do, you know, travel to and from school and work every day. There have been many times I sat at that gate for nearly 5 to 8 minutes.”
Sisk says she worries traffic will get worse as more land is developed around her neighborhood. She and her neighbors also expressed concerns about noise and light pollution, and more.
“We’re talking about 80 ft,” said Danica Christiansen. “From my yard we would be smelling the fumes.”
Danica Christiansen said the plans include an 8-foot wall that would be built between the 7-Eleven and the neighborhood, but most of the homes in Parkview Place are two stories.
“I’d be looking at it every day,” said Christiansen. “I could see it from my bedroom window. We could see the lights, the sounds.”
“There’s not much that an 8-foot wall is going to do for noise and light pollution when our bedrooms are on the second floor,” added Amy Meister.
Amy Meister showed our News 6 crew the notices the neighborhood has received about public meetings so far, and the proposed plans.
“I was very upset, because I thought this is the last thing that I would want developed right next to my home,” said Meister.
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News 6 reached out to the city of Sanford to ask for their perspective on the project. The planning director said no formal action has been taken yet. There is a public hearing scheduled before the City Commission on Monday, March 9.
The agenda packet includes various emails from neighbors along with insight from the applicant about the plans and potential impact. It notes that the proposed development would “provide additional revenue and impact fees for the City, and other governmental bodies which will directly benefit residents” and tax benefits that would include additional funding for fire and police services.
Before the 7-Eleven could be built, the Commission would need to approve several changes, including the future land use.
You can find the agenda for Monday’s City Commission meeting here.