Go Back

 

Umatilla City Council Votes On 7-11 Proposal

    The Umatilla City Council on Tuesday, July 7, gave initial approval to plans to bring a 7-11 convenience store to town.  The council voted 4-1 in favor of a proposal to raze a former citrus packing house at the corner of Golden Gem Drive and SR 19 and replace it with a roughly 4,500-square-foot convenience and gas facility.
    The vote came after lengthy public input.  The majority of speakers opposed the plan, voicing a variety of concerns ranging from the potential harm to private convenience/gas operators in town, the lack of need for another convenience store in town, the loss of an historic structure in the form of the packing house, and the potential negative impact to the charm of Umatilla brought about by a large chain operator.
    Opposition was not unanimous, however. Former city council member Scott Purvis was the first to address the council during a public comment period.  Purvis noted his belief that another gas option was indeed needed on the southbound side of SR 19, where there is only one other option today.   Purvis also stated his belief that 7-11’s professional operations and product offerings could be an upgrade to some existing local options, specifically saying that 7-11 does not sell many of the paraphernalia items often associated with drug use that can be found in other stores.
    Mayor Chris Creech and council member Kaye Adams, who both voted in favor of the measure, voiced belief that the packing house has a limited future, regardless of the current request due to its age and condition. Creech stated it was likely the building is coming down ‘at some point’.
    Member Bear Crockett was the lone vote against the request.
    While citing his belief in property owner rights, Crockett said he would like to see the site developed in another way ‘more suitable to town’.  He also said that council members should consider what their constituents want, and it was clear at the meeting that the majority oppose the plan.