Goodbye, Goodwill. Hello, Circle K.
On June 19, the city of Cottonwood Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved Circle K’s petition to close its existing 2,565-square-foot store, open since 1971 at the southwest corner of Main Street and E. Mingus Avenue, and construct a new 5,881-square-foot convenience store and gas station with a 5,053-square-foot fuel canopy directly north of the existing store.
The commission also unanimously approved Circle K’s design review for the new store, including placement of eight two-sided gas pumps and 38 parking spaces, including two ADA-accessible spaces. The requirement for a convenience store and gas station of the proposed size requires a minimum of 28 spaces.
As with Maverik’s proposed signage for its new store, the commission had issue with the size of Circle K’s signage, approving the design review with the stipulation that the corporation come back to the commission to reevaluate the placement and elevation of two 15-foot freestanding signs.
The prospective property comprises the entire northwest corner block of Main Street and E. Mingus Avenue. The 1.435-acre location has long housed a Goodwill store and little else.
According to Cottonwood Planner Charlie Scully, the small corner parcel has been largely vacant for decades, only occasionally hosting a used car lot or a truck rental business.
“When the Mingus Avenue Extension opened in January 2005, it created a second major river crossing for Cottonwood and a more convenient link to both Cornville and Sedona,” Scully said in his preparatory comments to the commission. “For many visitors coming from Sedona, their initial introduction to Cottonwood is by way of the Mingus Avenue Extension.
“The intersection of Main and Mingus functions as a key gateway entry point to Cottonwood. A ‘Welcome to Cottonwood’ sign is proposed for the corner, to be integrated with low landscape walls. This could also include an arrow pointing towards Old Town Cottonwood.”
The project has developed rapidly from idea to formal plan. On Jan. 31, the Cottonwood Code Review Board took a look at the proposal.
Thereafter, Circle K purchased the commercial property on the block and submitted a revised site plan. CRB members subsequently reviewed the revised plan and moved the project forward.
Prior to the June 19 commission meeting, Circle K submitted a traffic impact statement prepared by a professional engineer and reviewed by the Cottonwood City Engineer Robert Winiecke.
According to the impact statement, driveways on opposite sides of the block on E. Mingus Avenue and Apache Street provide for fuel delivery, other delivery trucks and trash removal.
The existing buildings on the property that will house the new Circle K will be demolished.
Saying goodbye to Goodwill’s current location does not mean an end to Goodwill’s presence in Cottonwood, however.
“We’re definitely going to be relocating and opening a new store, but we don’t know which location yet,” Goodwill Cottonwood Store Manager Tina Wise said, adding that Goodwill is looking at two likely locations. “We are very excited and looking forward to this opportunity. We know it’s going to be a big success.”
