In early August, residents of Willow Grove in Schertz, TX contacted CEDS about a gas station within a thousand feet of 72 of their homes and 350 feet of the elementary school many neighborhood children attend. While it is always regrettable to oppose a new business, the close proximity to homes and a school made the location too risky especially due to the lack of measures to resolve the potential health impact.

In August, Willow Grove residents had just won a recommendation from six of the seven Planning & Zoning Commissioners that the City Council not approve the Specific Use Permit the project required.

In September they then convinced all six City Council members to deny the Specific Use Permit.

The leader of this effort wrote the following to CEDS president Richard Klein “I can’t say thank you enough times!  We may be back at this in 6 months but for now, we have a win. A 6 to 0 win at that!  I truly hope that you have a blessed week ahead and again, thank you for what you do.”

For further detail see the CEDS impact letter for the proposed gas station which is posted at: https://ceds.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TX-Schertz-11786-Schaefer-Rd-Proposed-Gas-Station-Potential-Health-Impact-8-17-2024.pdf.

Also, see the CEDS How to Stop Poorly-Planned Gas Stations & Convenience Stores webpage at: https://ceds.org/gasstation/. And see the CEDS How to Fight Special Exception, Conditional Use & Special Use Permits webpage: https://ceds.org/se/.