(MIRROR INDY) — After months of debate, city officials have approved zoning changes for a proposed Wawa gas station and convenience store on the east side. The petition was approved by the Metropolitan Development Commission Wednesday, Dec. 3. The property at East Washington Street and Shortridge Avenue is along IndyGo’s future Blue Line and falls under a transit-oriented development overlay, which is a zoning district that holds development to standards that encourage walkability and bus use. For months, the commission has recommended denial for the proposal, in part saying the developer wanted to build more gas pumps than allowed. But officials have since clarified that the ordinance limits no more than eight pump islands, not actual gas pumps. So the developer’s plan to build six pump islands with 12 pumps complies with the ordinance. The commission previously said the developer had proposed a parking lot that was too large and store windows that were not transparent enough. At the Dec. 3 meeting, the developer presented a revised plan that reduced the number of parking spaces to comply with the ordinance. The only exception to the zoning ordinance was how see-through the windows are. The ordinance requires at least 40% transparency for front-facing windows. City officials say this is intended to increase the safety of walkable areas and increase the community atmosphere by blending public and private spaces. A divisive change The property has largely sat vacant for the past 20 years, with the exception of temporary produce and Christmas tree stands. Eastsiders have been split over the development. Some residents welcome the gas station and say it could attract other businesses to the area. Others say there are too many gas stations in the area and want to see more intentional, community focused development like housing. A city analysis found 28 other gas stations in a 2-mile radius of the property. Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations. Mirror Indy reporter Darian Benson covers east Indianapolis. Contact her at 317-397-7262 or [email protected]. Follow her on X @HelloImDarian or on Bluesky @darianbenson.bsky.social. ...read more read less