Lakewood City Council unanimously passed an ordinance limiting the opening of new gas stations and car washes in the city. The new measure requires a half-mile buffer between new gas stations and existing ones and imposes zoning restrictions to reduce potential areas for new stations. This move aims to prevent an overabundance of these businesses in the city and address air quality concerns.
The ordinance also mandates that new gas stations must offer at least three electric vehicle charging stations, with one featuring rapid charging technology. Similar restrictions are expected to be introduced by the Denver City Council. Despite these efforts to regulate gas stations and car washes, existing businesses in Lakewood are not affected by the new law.
While some council members believe the measure is necessary to address environmental and safety concerns, a representative for QuickTrip Corp. argued against the ordinance, stating that gas stations are essential for meeting the public’s transportation needs. The company fears that the restrictions will severely limit market entry for new gas stations.
Lakewood currently has 52 gas stations and 27 car washes, with no immediate impact expected on these existing businesses. The new law reflects a growing trend among cities in Colorado to regulate the opening of gas stations and car washes to manage urban development and environmental impact.
Source
Photo credit www.denverpost.com