Langley extends gas station pause
City council pushes deadline to May 2027 to finalize design rules for new fueling sites.
By Matthew Brooks ·
Langley City Council members voted to extend a pause on new gas station applications on November 2. The move gives city staff additional time to create specific building design standards while property owners near a planned fueling site on Cascade Avenue.
The original moratorium took effect on May 18 and was scheduled to end in mid-November. Under the new terms, the restriction will remain in place until May 2, 2027. Council members retain the authority to lift the ban before that date if they choose.
The property at 249 Cascade Avenue is owned by individuals seeking to construct a gas station and a convenience store. Although the city held a pre-application conference with these owners, no conditional use permit application has been filed yet. The owners have submitted requests to remove a tree and demolish the current structure on the lot.
Meredith Penny, the Community Planning Director, stated that reviews of those demolition and tree removal permits are currently on hold. She sent a list of questions to the applicants to gather more information and is waiting for their response before moving forward.
Local code allows service stations within city limits through a conditional use permit process. This approval requires the project to align with zoning and comprehensive plans, protect nearby property values, and support public health and safety. Penny noted that staff have already launched a visual preference survey and drafted administrative portions of new regulations, but specific rules for service stations are still missing.
The need for these updated standards exists independent of the Cascade Avenue proposal. In 2023, the Washington Legislature passed a bill requiring local governments to apply clear and objective regulations to the exterior design of new developments. Penny said the proposed gas station adds urgency to finalizing these specific rules.
Residents spoke in support of the extension during the council meeting. Toyan Copeland said the city must handle the process correctly and that the extra time is necessary. She expressed support for the extended pause to ensure the regulations are properly developed before new applications are processed.
