Goodyear’s city council approved the use permit request for a QuikTrip to begin building on a lot known as The Triangle near the PebbleCreek retirement community off of the Southeast corner of N 166th Avenue and W Indian School Road. The location offers ease of access to drivers coming on and off of the 303and community members who have to drive further away to fill up their vehicles. The council’s 7-0 decision was representative of 916 petition signatures and several emails advocating for the QT permit request’s approval, but in contrast to a vocal group of citizens voicing their concerns about safety and quality of life.
“[PebbleCreek] does not want businesses built on The Triangle that will harm our quality of life, our health, security and the quiet enjoyment of our homes,” PebbleCreek resident Jacqueline Brandt said, “let’s keep goodyear an all-American city.”
To PebbleCreek residents, the fight against convenience stores in their area is not new. In spring of 2023, they went through the same process to petition against permits being granted to build a Circle K in the same location. In 2023, the resident’s advocacy resulted in the Circle K permit request being withdrawn before reaching the city council.
“We care about what type of development will be built next to our community,” Brandt said, “now you’re considering a use permit for QuikTrip with the exact same use in the exact same location.”
Each of the Goodyear residents who came to convince the council discussed similar complaints: increased noise and traffic, the potential for an increase in crime, how close the gas station would be to the neighboring PebbleCreek recreational and residential facilities and its values not aligning with the community.
Christian Williams, Goodyear’s planning manager presented the council action report and made sure that both the city and the franchise were legally protected and that the councilmembers had all of the information they needed to vote. Williams addressed the community’s concern about noise through relaying a sound study that QT invested in. With increased traffic, that the nearest residents would be exposed to under 45 decibels of sound, which is comparable to an average speaking voice, or a light rain, Williams said, and any sound wall that could be built would result in additional noise for other residents because of sound bouncing from the wall. QuikTrip Legal Representative Brian Greathouse said the three-lane Indian School Road has the additional capacity for the project.
The QT will occupy a zone designed for commercial use. Residents concerned about the 24-hour business being close to their properties have another approved project closer in the form of a 24-hour Filiberto’s fast-food operation.
Greathouse shared information about each QT having over 50 cameras in use and partnering with local police with already fast response times to address the PebbleCreek residents’ security concerns.
“I’d like to put people’s minds at rest, but we do have to listen to those who are positive on this as well.” Vicki Gillis, Goodyear councilmember said before her yes vote.
Because of the provided materials and supportive petitions from Goodyear residents who did not speak at the July 8 meeting, councilmembers approved the use permit request, and the project will be moving forward.
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