A site development plan for the old Corrales Chevron station, now re-named the Fueling Corrales Phillips 66 station, will be presented to the Corrales Planning and Zoning Commission January 18.

The station’s new manager, Micah Garcia, has modifications in mind, including more user-friendly driveway restrictions to replace the unpopular bollards installed all along the frontage by the highway department last year.

The site plan for 3745 Corrales Road covers the entire eight-tenths of an acre, addressing plans for the gas station, auto mechanic garage and sundry retail sales. The existing garage would get a 1,216 square foot addition to accommodate two more work station bays.

The P&Z meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers (the old fire station across from Wells Fargo Bank). Any written comments about the proposed site plan should be submitted to the P&Z administrator by 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 11 in order to be distributed to commissioners before the  January 18 meeting.

The biggest change that most villagers would see is a wooden fence and container plantings all along the frontage except for two entrances, one at the north end of the parcel and the other at the south end.

Plans drawn up by architect Terry Brown, who serves on the P&Z board, show a three-foot high fence made of 4x4 lumber. The illustration includes a note saying, “Fencing to be constructed to break away” in the event of vehicle crash. The fencing would have reflectors.

At the N.M. Department of Transportation’s request, the current Phillips 66 sign in the same location as the old Chevron sign will be removed. Highway officials say the existing sign is in their right-of-way. A new sign will be installed closer to the gas pump canopy.

A new structure similar to the existing building would be added to the southwest end of the current auto mechanic bays.

The site plan calls for three variances from Corrales’ land use ordinance.

“Variance 1. Request two 32-foot wide openings in the new fence to be constructed along Corrales Road in lieu of the 28-foot wide openings allowed per Village ordinance. This opening width is required to provide adequate ingress and egress for fuel trucks and for people entering and exiting the site with  long vehicles and pulling trailers. The Village of Corrales and NMDOT have agreed to this opening width.

“Variance 2. Quest to construct a future addition to the building five feet from the north property line. The existing building is located five feet from the north property line. This would provide adequate space for future mechanic work bays for the garage.

“Variance 3. Request to locate the five-foot wide pathway along Corrales Road side of the new fence that will be installed on the east property line per NMDOT.…The distance from Corrales Road and the gas station property is approximately 22 feet along this portion of Corrales Road, thus, locating the pathway along the east side of the fence provides the safety required for pedestrians.”

Previous owner, the Ever-Ready Oil Company closed Corrales’ only gas station nearly two years ago.  The franchise’s stations had been in receivership since 2010 and the station has been for sale since early 2008.