Lakewood’s City Council has passed new rules restricting gas stations and car washes to improve air quality and manage business growth
The City Council voted unanimously, 9-0, during their meeting on Monday. This move comes just as Denver is gearing up to discuss similar restrictions. They’re set to vote on it soon.
A couple of years back, Louisville capped the number of gas stations allowed in the city to six. Now, Lakewood is requiring a half-mile distance between new gas stations and existing ones. They’re also zoning areas to limit where new stations can pop up.
Councilman Jacob LaBure mentioned that the goal is to avoid being overwhelmed by these types of businesses. He pointed out that they can be risky and hurt air quality in the area.
However, QuickTrip Corp. isn’t thrilled about the new rules. A rep from the company argued that gas stations are essential for public transportation needs. He feels the new ordinance is too restrictive and could block new businesses from entering the market.
If new gas stations do open, they’ll need to have at least three electric vehicle charging stations, including one with super-fast charging. The same half-mile rule applies to new car washes too.
Currently, Lakewood has 52 gas stations and 27 car washes, and none of these will be impacted by the new law.
