OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — A proposed QuikTrip at West 107th Street and Nall Avenue causing a lot of discussion among neighbors.
QuikTrip wants to build its convenience store on the northeast corner of the intersection next to the Top Golf.
Neighbors to just north of where the QuikTrip would be located are concerned that a potential increase in traffic could cause issues.
"Nall is very congested and it seems that is just going to add more to the congestion,” Robert Carmitchel said.
Many like Carmitchel wonder why a new gas station is necessary when there’s already one nearby at West 103rd Street and Roe Avenue.
"It seems a little redundant because there's another QuikTrip within walking distance of where they're going to put that one in,” Carmitchel said.
QuikTrip told 41 Action News one of the main reasons to build a new one is the other location is overcrowded and the demand is there to build another store.
"Obviously, that's why QuikTrip is going there -- because the traffic is already there,” said Mike Thornbrugh, a spokesperson for QuikTrip.
QuikTrip said the city did a traffic study which showed no real concerns about adding a store in that location, but neighbors are still skeptical.
"Anything that you put there that's going to create a reason to stop is going to increase traffic,” said Melissa Turner, who lives near the proposed QuikTrip location.
Battles over QuikTrips aren’t new in the metro. In 2017, the Overland Park city council ultimately voted down a proposed store at 105th and Metcalf after a local business complained.
That same year a QuikTrip expansion in Westport drew criticism, so the company modified its plans to keep a street open.
In 2018, a proposed QuikTrip in Lenexa at 95th and Noland Road was scratched after neighbors also complained about traffic.
The company said they try to be a good partner wherever they are expanding.
Thornbrugh said that many people who voice disagreement actually love QuikTrip, but have reasons they don't want it in certain areas.
The Overland Park planning commission passed the proposal 9-1 and it heads to the full city council at its next meeting in December.
