‘Nobody’s waiting for gas stations’: Commission approves Walmart project despite opposition

The Indio Planning Commission voted 2-1 on Wednesday to approve a conditional use permit for a new Walmart gas station north of Interstate 10, moving forward with the project despite vocal opposition from residents who argued the city already has too many fueling stations.

The approved development calls for 10 fuel pumps providing 20 fueling positions and a 1,600-square-foot convenience store as a part of the existing Walmart Supercenter site on Avenue 42. The project also requires approval of a planning review for site design and architectural elements.

Commissioner Jose Santos and Vice Chairperson Frans voted in favor of the project, while Chairperson Christian Rodriguez-Ceja voted against it.

Several residents submitted written comments and spoke during the public hearing, citing environmental and health concerns about adding another gas station in an area they said is already oversaturated with fueling stations.

“There is absolutely NO REASON, at all, whatsoever, for yet another gas station to be built,” wrote Evelyn Sofia Rivera, a 29-year-old Indio resident who has lived in the city for 28 years. “We want affordable housing, we want parks and recreation. We do not want and most importantly, do not need any more gas stations.”

A young Indio resident spoke at the meeting against the development and said the area already has plenty of nearby gas stations.

“I’m very disappointed and frustrated to see yet another gas station being proposed to the city, particularly at this location,” she said. “There’s a Circle K right at the corner of Monroe and 42nd in that same shopping center, just exactly one mile away from that Circle K on Monroe and 42nd is an Arco on Jackson and 42nd, and less than half a mile from that Arco is the Stars and Stripes gas station also on Jackson.”

Other residents raised concerns about chemical leaks, soil and groundwater contamination, air pollution, and the urban heat island effect from additional asphalt surfaces.

Walmart representatives said the location near the freeway is ideal because there are about 83,500 daily trips westbound and 77,000 daily trips eastbound on that stretch of Interstate 10.

“We’re basing this decision on land use, not on revenue, but to provide those community benefits, those dollars that might be spent elsewhere,” said Tracy Inscore, a lawyer working as outside counsel for Walmart. 

According to data presented by the city’s economic development director, Indio currently has 29 gas stations serving a population of 95,548 people, which equals 3.04 gas stations per 1,000 residents. The U.S. average is 4.50 gas stations per 1,000 people, meaning Indio would need 14 more gas stations to match the national ratio.

Community Development Director Brian Halvorson acknowledged the concerns and said city staff is conducting research on gas station density as directed by the City Council.

“We are doing research to look at how many stations we have and what are other cities doing in the valley,” Halvorson said. “That’s still a work in progress that will be reporting back to you soon.”

“We want affordable housing, we want parks and recreation. We do not want and most importantly, do not need any more gas stations.”

— Evelyn Sofia Rivera

The research will examine potential restrictions on gas stations and will be presented to the Planning Commission at its first meeting next month. Staff may also conduct limited community outreach before the presentation.

“Right now, we don’t have any restrictions on gas stations,” Halvorson said. “This proposal not only does it meet the zoning code, but it meets the general plan, and it passed the test for CEQA.”

Miguel Ramirez-Cornejo, the city’s economic development director, told commissioners there is an $18 million unmet demand for gas stations in the city. Rodriguez-Ceja said that may be the case, but he never sees lines of people waiting for gas in the city.

“Nobody’s waiting for gas stations,” he said. “However, there’s like seven EVs waiting for those two small [Electrify America] charging stations. There is a gigantic line of people waiting there for that …So I do think we need to acknowledge the reality of the community.”

Depending on the Planning Commission’s feedback on the research, staff may present recommendations to the City Council for potential amendments to the city’s development code or general plan regarding future gas station approvals.

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