Vacant gas station eyesore to get new life

A new Shell gas station and 2,000-square-foot convenience store would be built on the site of a long-vacant gas station along Bettendorf's State Street if the new owner gets a setback variance from the city.

The reconfiguration of State Street necessitated by the new Interstate 74 bridge prompted the State of Iowa to take five feet of the property frontage. The new owner of the property is now seeking a reduction in the setback from 20 to 15 feet to permit the gas station/convenience store. The city's Board of Adjustment will consider the request at its Thursday (11/13) meeting.

The new gas station and store at 931 State Street would remove one of three vacant gas station sites from the State Street corridor. The two other vacant gas station sites remaining along State Street are located just west of the proposed Shell station and across the street from city hall.

The city planning staff supports approval of the variance request and in its report noted the station would serve a void left by the demolition of three other gas stations in the downtown to make way for the I-74 bridge realignment.