Proposed SE Bend gas station sparks neighborhood controversy, petition drive

(Update: Adding video, comments)

Foes say there's enough gas stations on nearby Third Street

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- "For Sale" signs are hard to miss in the empty lot across from the Brosterhous and Murphy roads roundabout in Southeast Bend. The land has already been bought by developer GP Energy, which has plans to build a gas station and two drive-thru restaurants.

The property is zoned for some commercial use, but the company will need a conditional use permit from the city to build a gas station.

But -- for-sale signs aren't the only signs in the area. Others say "no gas pumps" and urge residents to fight the plans.

In an effort to block the gas station plans, nearby neighbors have started an online petition and already have nearly 1,000 signatures.

Sara Moss, who lives next to the property and started the petition, said Friday she'd like to see the area be used to connect the community.

"We feel that if a gas station goes here, it'll be a real loss of opportunity for the neighborhoods," Moss said.

Moss says she'd be fine if the area had a small business or a few food trucks. However, the idea of a gas station being built there would bring too much traffic and safety concerns, in her view.

"There are many gas stations on Third (Street). There are also gas stations on Reed Market (Road)," Moss said. "So whenever you're coming to southeast Bend or leaving southeast Bend, you're passing gas stations -- so we really don't need a gas station here."

"And I for one would never use it," she added.

 Others feel differently.

"It'll be convenient when I'm heading to work and about out of gas," said Joe Emick, a contractor who just started building his own home in a nearby neighborhood.

Emick says he's owned the land for three years, and that plans for a gas station have not changed his mind about building in that location.

"I think it's somebody's business, and I'm a small businessman. And I'd never get in somebody's way of trying to feed their family," Emick said.

Moss says if the developer moves forward with a gas station, the group will take legal action.

NewsChannel 21 reached out to GP Energy and did not hear back.