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Ingles revives Asheville Highway Gas Express request
Ingles Markets is seeking the city's permission for a variance to add a third driveway for access to a new Gas Express at its Asheville Highway grocery store.
Ingles is taking another crack at winning permission for a Gas Express at its Asheville Highway supermarket.
The Hendersonville City Council in June of 2013 authorized a permit for a new Gas Express at the Ingles at 1980 Asheville Highway but turned down a third entrance that the supermarket’s engineers said was needed for orderly traffic flow.
Two years ago the council in a 3-2 vote defeated a motion by Councilman Steve Caraker to allow the third entrance with a dedicated right-turn lane. Councilman Ron Stephens joined Caraker in voting yes while Mayor Barbara Volk and councilmen Jerry Smith and Jeff Collis voted no. Since then, with the election of Jeff Miller and defeat of Collis, the council has taken a more pro-business turn. If Miller votes yes, Ingles could move ahead with the Gas Express. Under city code, developments on an entry corridor are allowed to have two driveway cuts. Ingles says all of its stores with a Gas Express have three driveways.
Land planners who submitted plans for Ingles also want the city to grant a variance from the parking requirements. The 64,500-square-foot grocery store should provide 323 spaces, according to city code. Ingles wants to lower that by 100, to 223.
The supermarket plans eight fueling stations, a 3,024-square-foot canopy and a 400-square-foot kiosk. Its request is scheduled to go before the city Planning Board in May.
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