A proposal to add a small gas station to the parking lot of the
Windmill Plaza in San Juan Bautista was nixed by the historic
town’s council this week, to the dismay
– but not the surprise – of its developer.
A proposal to add a small gas station to the parking lot of the Windmill Plaza in San Juan Bautista was nixed by the historic town’s council this week, to the dismay – but not the surprise – of its developer.
“They killed it; it’s done,” said Jim Gibson, owner of the shopping center at the corner of Hwy. 156 and The Alameda, where he would have added one island with two fueling stations and a booth for an attendant in the parking lot of Windmill Market.
He brought a scaled-down version of the plan, which originally called for two islands with three fueling stations and a large sign in the shape of a water tower, to the council for review. The revised plan, featuring one island with two fueling stations, was not acceptable to the council.
“They march to the beat of their own drum over there,” said Gibson, who also owns Hollister Super and Baler Market in Hollister. “We thought we’d give it a shot. I hope I’m done completely with being the developer-slash-pinata in San Juan. Somebody else can volunteer next time.”
Gibson’s original plan would have reduced the amount of parking spaces in Windmill Plaza by 18, while his revised plan would have eliminated six spaces. His hope was that a gas station at the main entrance to San Juan would drive more business to his business as well as downtown merchants. The town has a Valero gas station at the west entrance to town.
San Juan Mayor Ed Laverone and Acting City Manager Stephen Julian could not be reached for comment by press time.
