‘Four corners’ Casey’s General Store renovation in the works

Take a look at the Casey’s General Store that is located at the intersection of Highways 34 and 69, also known as “the four corners.”

It’s pretty obvious the building used to be a Kum and Go convenience store, before it was purchased by Casey’s a few years ago.

It won’t look like that for much longer, it seems like.

Casey’s General Stores has acquired the necessary properties and is working with the city of Osceola on a site plan for a store renovation.

During a Feb. 3 Osceola City Council meeting, the city council discussed the renovation issue because an agenda item was the rezoning of the residence of 412 S. Main St. from “RB Residential Business” to “B-2 Highway Commercial.” This would be part of the property expansion in Casey’s renovation project.

Resident response

A public hearing was held on the rezoning and resident Betsy Richter spoke on the potential neighborhood changes.

“It’s one thing when we have a Kum and Go/Casey’s that looks like this one does, because it’s not pleasant to look at, I’m going to tell you that. It is not a pretty Casey’s that we have right next to us right now,” Richter said. “It’s another thing when it’s going to be built, from what I can see, and what we’ve talked about, on top of the blue house, which is my side yard. So, (I’m) not really in love with that idea.”

Richter said she understood the Casey’s renovation would happen, regardless. She said she was grateful Casey’s wanted to have a huge investment in Osceola, but was concerned about the property values of houses with a convenience store built next to it.

However, Richter said her recent research showed the property values wouldn’t “plummet” as she originally thought, but she wanted to make sure everything was done right with development in the area.

“I want you to make sure to consider all of the neighbors around there, and they experience loss, as well. … I’m trying to stick up for all of us,” she said.

Property values

Dave Leonard, the city’s zoning administrator/building inspector, community development, said he had talked to the assessor for Clarke County about the property values.

“He assured me that there may be changes in the actual market rate, as far as the housing market all over, in Clarke County. But, that it wouldn’t have any bearing on the Casey’s store for him,” Leonard said. “I don’t think that you’ll see the property value drop here anyway because of the Casey’s.”

Leonard said a lot of property and commercial issues such as lighting, sealed gas for fill tanks, opaque fencing, site elevation, storm water, sanitary sewer, debris and photometric studies would continue to be discussed during the ongoing site planning.

“Casey’s, their engineer couldn’t be here tonight, but he was very amenable to, you know, we want to be a good neighbor,” Leonard said. “They’re willing to change the roof style. They’re willing to make it look more residential and protect the residential neighborhood the best they can.”

Uncontrolled access

Casey’s is also looking into having a new sidewalk around the new store site, which would stop the current store’s uncontrolled entrance and exit.

Councilman Dr. George Fotiadis discussed how it’s common for people to cut a corner of the current Casey’s parking lot to avoid the intersection’s red light.

“So, you’re not going to be able to just pull in any which way that you want,” Leonard said. “You’re actually going to have an entrance and an exit. That’s all that will be utilized. So, I think it’ll clean a lot of that issue up.”

The council passed the first reading of the rezoning ordinance, which had been approved by the city’s planning and zoning committee. Ordinances have to go through three readings for final approval.

Basically, this is the next step forward for a potential Casey’s renovation.