Louisville will cap the maximum number of gas stations within the city, although the City Council admits it is only a small step toward reducing Louisville’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Before the City Council unanimously passed the ordinance Tuesday night, Community Development Director Rob Zuccaro spoke, saying the ordinance would allow only six gas stations within the city.
Five gas stations are in the city, plus one that was recently approved at McCaslin Boulevard. Zucarro clarified that automobile repair and service shops are distinct and are not part of the ordinance.
The ordinance also requires gas stations to be 1,000 feet away from one another. The ordinance states that special use approvals for existing gas stations will expire if that gas station is closed for over a year. The site will need to apply for a special use permit again if it continues to be a gas station.
The ordinance will also require installation of electric vehicle charging stations for any new or modified gas station. There must be enough charging stations to equal 20% of the number of gas pumps at the station, with a minimum of two charging stations available.
The ordinance allows for an exception and will allow a seventh gas station if it is part of a new, large retail center.
Zucarro said placing a cap on gas stations allowed in a municipality has been a growing trend following health and environmental concerns about the use of gasoline-powered vehicles. He said if one gas station closed, the city could accept applications to open another.
Councilmember Barbara Hamlington clarified that the ordinance applies to the sale of gasoline. Any company that provides gas to its own vehicles will not be affected.
Councilmember Maxine Most said the council will not be able to fix climate change, but placing the cap on gasoline stations is a step in the right direction. She said Louisville should not invest in fossil fuel infrastructure that will not survive, as the market shifts to favor electric vehicles.
“We should be taking whatever incremental steps to not create additional fossil fuel infrastructure,” Most said.
Some residents at Tuesday night’s meeting said they wanted the Council to adopt the ordinance. One resident said investing in fossil fuels only negatively affects the environment through air quality, water quality and soil quality. Another resident said there are already enough gas stations in Louisville to serve the city, and any additional gas stations only hurt the environment.
Resident Joshua Cooperman said while placing a cap on gas stations will not have a huge impact on greenhouse gas emissions, the cap is a preventive measure. He said the fewer new gas stations, the less additional greenhouse gas emissions.
“Let’s do anything and everything we can, and to do all as best as we can,” Cooperman said.
Eric Lund, executive director of the Louisville Chamber of Commerce, said the Council should not cap the number of gas stations in the city, as it could affect economic development. But a letter from the Louisville Sustainability Advisory Board to the Council states there is a negligible economic impact on the cap.
Before the City Council unanimously passed the ordinance Tuesday night, Community Development Director Rob Zuccaro spoke, saying the ordinance would allow only six gas stations within the city.
Five gas stations are in the city, plus one that was recently approved at McCaslin Boulevard. Zucarro clarified that automobile repair and service shops are distinct and are not part of the ordinance.
The ordinance also requires gas stations to be 1,000 feet away from one another. The ordinance states that special use approvals for existing gas stations will expire if that gas station is closed for over a year. The site will need to apply for a special use permit again if it continues to be a gas station.
The ordinance will also require installation of electric vehicle charging stations for any new or modified gas station. There must be enough charging stations to equal 20% of the number of gas pumps at the station, with a minimum of two charging stations available.
The ordinance allows for an exception and will allow a seventh gas station if it is part of a new, large retail center.
Zucarro said placing a cap on gas stations allowed in a municipality has been a growing trend following health and environmental concerns about the use of gasoline-powered vehicles. He said if one gas station closed, the city could accept applications to open another.
Councilmember Barbara Hamlington clarified that the ordinance applies to the sale of gasoline. Any company that provides gas to its own vehicles will not be affected.
Councilmember Maxine Most said the council will not be able to fix climate change, but placing the cap on gasoline stations is a step in the right direction. She said Louisville should not invest in fossil fuel infrastructure that will not survive, as the market shifts to favor electric vehicles.
“We should be taking whatever incremental steps to not create additional fossil fuel infrastructure,” Most said.
Some residents at Tuesday night’s meeting said they wanted the Council to adopt the ordinance. One resident said investing in fossil fuels only negatively affects the environment through air quality, water quality and soil quality. Another resident said there are already enough gas stations in Louisville to serve the city, and any additional gas stations only hurt the environment.
Resident Joshua Cooperman said while placing a cap on gas stations will not have a huge impact on greenhouse gas emissions, the cap is a preventive measure. He said the fewer new gas stations, the less additional greenhouse gas emissions.
“Let’s do anything and everything we can, and to do all as best as we can,” Cooperman said.
Eric Lund, executive director of the Louisville Chamber of Commerce, said the Council should not cap the number of gas stations in the city, as it could affect economic development. But a letter from the Louisville Sustainability Advisory Board to the Council states there is a negligible economic impact on the cap.