Fred Meyer gas stations

Neighbors say they only learned of plans to build a Fred Meyer gas station at this site at SW 24th Avenue and Barbur Boulevard about two weeks ago. (KOIN 6)

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN 6) — Neighbors say they were blindsided earlier this month by news of a Fred Meyer gas station being built near their homes.

Construction on the station at Southwest 24th Avenue and Barbur Boulevard is slated to start in October.

A Fred Meyer’s spokesperson said this location is its first fuel station on the city’s west side, and while that benefits its customers, the extra traffic, noise and safety issues worry people who live there.

“We’d like to have some say in what goes in our neighborhood, ” said homeowner Sanjuro Jogdeo, who says he found out two weeks ago about the project. “We were completely blindsided, and we had no idea this was coming in.”

Jogdeo along with about 20 other people in the Multnomah Neighborhood are worried traffic from Barbur Boulevard will fill their narrow, residential streets and put bicyclists and pedestrians at risk.

Additionally, neighbors said they’re concerned about an increase in noise, risk of toxic impacts to nearby Tryon Creek watershed and possible decline in property values.

“We’d like a traffic engineer to come out and take a look at it, do a site visit and tell us, does this really meet the requirements and your expectations?” said homeowner Nancy Craig.

The grocery store chain spokeswoman says by week’s end, the company will have all the necessary permits from the city. Fred Meyer bought the property that is commercially-zoned, so they weren’t required to get public input. However, they do need permission from three homeowners to change their parking from one side of 24th Avenue to the other.

The neighbors pointed out two other nearby gas stations and suggest building a coffee shop instead.

“Ideally, it would be something that would serve the neighborhood, not just people driving in and out, ” said Jogdeo.

Fred Meyer’s newest fuel station is expected to open in January. The grocery store chain assures neighbors, they did their research and due diligence.

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