MISHAWAKA – A test of the city’s will to protect the new $40 million Juday Creek water well field from future chances of groundwater contamination is playing out with a developer’s request to build a gas station at Fir and Douglas -weigh.
SEC Investments LLC is asking the city to rezone 2.3 acres at the southeast corner of Fir and Douglas roads from the general commercial C-1 to the commercial C-10 gas station for a Casey’s convenience store and gas station.
The problem: The land is in an area the city considers essential to thwart the risks of potential contamination of groundwater that could find its way into the city’s water sources off Veterans Parkway near the Juday Creek Golf Course.
Development questions: Are there enough safeguards to keep New Carlisle water clean as the industry grows?
Landowners, developers and the city explained their positions to the Common Council during an information meeting on Thursday evening. However, the rezoning petition will have a second reading, public hearing and vote at Monday night’s council meeting. The council will meet in the council chambers of City Hall, 100 Lincoln Way W, at 6 p.m.
What is ‘One year of time and travel?’
Much of Thursday night’s discussion focused on a map the city created that shows an area officials believe they want to protect against potential risks of groundwater contamination. It’s called the ‘A Year’s Time and Travel’ and shows the distance from the new well field that a molecule of water pollution can travel in a year before reaching the well, contaminating the city’s water source.
In the city planning department’s analysis of the petition for the gas station, officials said the land for rezoning falls in that area.
But Stephen Studer, an attorney representing Casey’s request, said there is a Family Express convenience store and gas station at the northwest corner of Fir and Douglas roads. That project was approved in 2015, just months before the city entered into an agreement to purchase the Juday Creek Golf Course land for the new putting field in 2016.
He said both the country’s and Casey’s representatives were unaware that the land in question was in a well protection zone.
To reconcile concerns about water monitoring, Studer said Casey’s proposed having two wells installed to monitor groundwater conditions between the new development, the well field and even the Family Express.
Those wells can be tested and monitored as the city sees fit, he said.
Meanwhile, Richard McMahon, senior site development manager at Casey’s, explained the company’s many methods, monitoring equipment, underground tank design and technology, and local and corporate monitoring of tanks for leaks.
He said the latest tank construction has a double-walled design with monitors inside the two walls to detect moisture if it leaks.
McMahon said Casey’s, which has 2,500 retail stations in 16 states, has a monitoring station at its headquarters near Des Moines, Iowa.
But Ken Prince, director of planning and community development, reiterated the city’s position that it wants to protect the new well field from any risks of groundwater contamination.
He acknowledged that the Family Express station was planned before the Wellfield project started. He praised Casey’s for its efforts to serve as a reputable operator.
“We just had a whole presentation about what they’re doing to mitigate risk and yes, they’re doing wonderful things,” Prince said. “But I can also tell you that our well field near 12th Street was closed in 2012 due to a leaking tank.
“And I understand that technology has improved tremendously since then, but petroleum is still a risk.”
Prince said the Planning Commission, Mishawaka Utilities water division manager and the government oppose the rezoning application.
“And it’s not like we’re against Casey’s,” he said. “We just want them to find another site.”
Email Tribune staff writer Greg Swiercz at gswiercz@sbtinfo.com
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Casey’s seeks repurposing for gas station near city’s well field
