Kwik Trip Viewed As One Too Many

The ancient philosopher Cicero once said, “Never go to excess, but let moderation be your guide.”

Residents opposed to a Kwik Trip development at Lilly Road and Silver Spring Drive urged the Plan Commission Tuesday to let moderation be their guide, and commissioners listened.

Convenience Store Investments proposed rezoning a vacant parcel of land in the High Point Commons shopping center to allow construction of  a 5,900-square-foot Kwik Trip convenience store and gas station.

The store would operate 24 hours a day, and would include gasoline, a grocery section, hot and cold food and beverages, and a separate liquor department and a car wash.

Residents told commissioners there already are an abundance of gas stations and liquor stores that offer the same services within two miles of the proposed site. A new store, they said, would saturate the area and create unnecessary competition for existing businesses.

“It’s starting to feel like that area will turn into the booze corner outlet,” said Brenda Nogalski.

Currently, 22 gas stations and convenience stores offer gasoline, alcohol and food within 2 1/2 miles, said Bhupinder Grewal, co-owner of Paul’s Mobil, located across the street from the proposed site.

Prior to the meeting, residents submitted 14 petitions with 700 signatures of those opposing the project. The village also received nine letters objecting to the proposal.

“The majority of the neighbors don’t want it. I paid my taxes for 31 years in that area,” said Steve Ottosen. “We don’t want it. The neighbors on Carroll Drive don’t want it.”

The Plan Commission concurred with residents, voting unanimously to recommend the Village Board deny the rezoning request.

“Our responsibility and our charge is to look at the best possible use of every single piece of property in this community,” said Commissioner Michael McDonald. “I would really be disappointed if this is the very best possible use for this land Menomonee Falls can attract, even in a very down real estate environment.”

McDonald said he would vote “no” when the rezoning requests reaches the Village Board as well.

Jerry Erdmann owns the property Kwik Trip was looking to build on. He said it has been a struggle for four years to attract a business to that location. Some residents suggested building a family-oriented restaurant on the site rather than a Kwik Trip. Erdmann said he tried, to no avail.

“We’ve spent a considerable amount of time and effort to market this property and it has been tough,” Erdmann said. “We’ve tried for four years to find a family restaurant, but we haven’t been able to.”

Erdmann said several potential tenants are interested in space in the High Point Commons shopping center, but they were awaiting a decision on Kwik Trip before moving forward.  Erdmann added that increased competition in the area shouldn’t be a reason to stop the development.

“From a competition standpoint, I think competition makes everybody better,” Erdmann said.  “If what the other store owners is saying is true, that it will close them down, it means the consumer in Menomonee Falls made a choice.”

In the end, it wasn’t about competition or the company, according to commissioners. Rather, it was simply a matter of excess.

“I am a free enterprise person, but I am also somebody that doesn’t want to saturate an area just to put another building up,” said Village President Randy Newman. “I don’t want to see a strip of gas stations running down Silver Spring.”