Tutor Time and Quik Trip receive Planning and Zoning approval

Maricopa Planning and Zoning commissioners approved the site plans Monday for both a Quik Trip gas station and convenience store and Tutor Time, a daycare facility. Both will be located off Edison Road. Quik Trip’s site will be on the northwest corner of John Wayne Parkway and Edison Road; Tutor Time will be located north of and adjacent to Quik Trip.

Quik Trip, a corporation that does not franchise, plans to develop a 24-hour convenience store with gasoline sales. The facility will reflect the “look” of other Quik Trips in the metro Phoenix area.

Planning and Zoning commissioners (from left) Dave Zaiser, Vice-chairman Anthony Smith, Chairman Joe Hoover, Rebecca Molus and Marquesha Griffin hear from the Quik Trip representative.

According to Planner Brandy Schade, “This is a project we’ve been working with for awhile.” The applicant and the planning department have reached agreement on a right turn only access point; however, the applicant asked for a modification in lighting to substitute 400 watt lights under the gasoline canopies for the originally designated 250 watt lights. The overall wattage would remain the same, but fewer fixtures would be needed. “Nearby residents would not be affected by light spillover,” noted Schade.

The second modification sought by the applicant was the omission of fire sprinklers under the canopies, since water added to gasoline in the event of a spill would cause the gasoline to spread, creating a bigger problem.

Commissioner Dave Zaiser agreed, “I have been a firefighter, and it’s true that water causes gas to spread.”

Although the city planning staff recommended the sprinklers be installed, a fire district recommendation will be sought. Any revision would go before the city council.

Commissioners also approved Tutor Time’s 25,744 square-foot daycare facility, including a suggestion from Commissioner Rebecca Molus that a block wall on the Quik Trip side of the building replace view fencing. “You never know who people are or what they’re doing,” Molus said, expressing her concern for the safety of the children on the Tutor Time playgrounds.

Tutor Time’s site plan (above) and its proposed elevations (below). The daycare facility will be located adjacent to Quik Trip’s gas station and convenience store at the northwest corner of Edison Road and John Wayne Parkway.

Attorney Jordan Rose, Rose Law Group, spoke on behalf of Tutor Time. “They are excited to be coming to Maricopa. This is a state-of-art facility,” she explained.

The planning department and Director Amy Haberbosch recognized present chairman Joe Hoover and the first chairman of the commission, Dave Zaiser. “We appreciate your leadership and dedication,” she told the two, neither of whom will be seeking another term on the commission.

The public hearing on the storage facility in the Seven Ranches area was tabled due to the need for submission of revised preliminary and final plats.