Community Corner
Too Many Gas Stations? Bloomingdale Patch Readers React
Patch asked, "How many gas stations are enough?" Readers responded.
How many gas stations are enough?
The question was posed April 8 on Bloomingdale-Riverview Patch in reference to a comment made April 5 at the southeast corner of Kings Avenue and West Lumsden Road, where activists protested the proposed development of a RaceTrac gas station and convenience store on wetlands.
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- See Commissioners To Consider RaceTrac Proposal Today (April 9)
Edith Stewart, a retired county employee, was among the activists holding signs that read, "Deny 12-0263," in reference to the application number for the proposed RaceTrac development. She noted that Bloomingale Avenue had already become a "gas pan alley."
Patch readers posted comments in agreement.
Find out what's happening in Bloomingdale-Riverviewwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"There are plenty of gas stations in Brandon/Valrico," wrote Jen Frost, who noted the upcoming Thorntons at State Road 60 and Lithia-Pinecrest Road, across the street from an abandoned BP gas station at State Road 60 and Kingsway Road.
She noted as well the proposed "supercenter" development near the Bloomingdale Regional Library, "down the street" from an abandoned Sweet Bay supermarket." Also, that new gas stations are "being placed across the street from existing gas stations."
"We are just wasting valuable, usable space," Frost concluded.
Lisa Rodriguez urged due diligence.
"All I can say is if you don't want more of the same popping up all over town, you better send an email to your county commissioners for tomorrow morning (April 9) they are voting on the RaceTrac station at Kings Avenue and Lumsden Road," she said. "This one is expecially bad because it affects the wetlands area there and will set a precedent for our entire county."
Lily Fernandez said she wonders why Hillsborough County Commissioners "don't see the big picture."
"If we would require that every new business at the very least landscape and maintain their fronts, it wouldn't look like 'gas pan alley,' " she said. "Why don't the commissioners set aside some land for parks? Whatever happened to beautiful Florida?"
Ferdnandez said she lives near Ulmerton Road, where the vista has become "horrible."
"There's nothing beautiful about driving through there," she said. "Yes, it's great to have conveniences, but why can't we have beauty as well? We're thinking of moving to the Bloomingdale area because if reminds me of old Florida. Not sure how long that will last."
Not all readers were opposed, though.
"I don't have a problem with the amount of gas stations," wrote a reader identified as "Ally."
"What I don't understand is why we can't get one on the north side of the street," she added.
Patch shot photographs of the eight gas stations and convenience stores open and coming on a 4.5-mile stretch of Bloomingdale Avenue, from U.S. Highway 301 to Lithia-Pinecrest Road. Only one is on the north side of Bloomingdale Avenue, although the upcoming Wawa, across the street from Hess at Lithia-Pinecrest Road, will have access both on Bloomingdale Avenue and Lithia-Pinecrest Road.
- See How Many Gas Stations Are Enough? (Includes a photo gallery of gas stations on Bloomingdale Avenue and on State Road 60/Adamo Drive/Brandon Boulevard, from U.S. Highway 301 to Lithia-Pinecrest Road.)
Too many gas stations?
A reader identified as "LT" said it "doesn't make any difference," not "when it comes to getting a Wawa."
"I moved here from Maryland and can tell you that a Wawa is a great place for a cheap meal that tastes great," the post concludes. "I look forward to the food as much as I do the low prices on gas."
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