A judge in Denver has thrown out a lawsuit over the city\u2019s new gas station restrictions filed by a convenience store operator in growth mode.<\/p>\n
District Judge Kandace Gerdes dismissed the lawsuit brought by QuikTrip and Evangeline Pappas, a Chaffee Park property owner under contract to sell to QuikTrip, on July 3.<\/p>\n
The lawsuit, filed\u00a0in March, took aim at a Denver measure that bars new gas stations within a quarter mile of existing stations or rail platforms and within 300 feet of certain residential zone districts. The City Council approved the change with a 12-1 vote\u00a0in February.<\/p>\n
BusinessDen noted before the vote that QuikTrip\u00a0was at the center of the debate. The Oklahoma-based firm was the only gas station chain to submit feedback on company letterhead, and many Denver residents providing input ahead of the vote referenced planned QuikTrip stations near them.<\/p>\n
QuikTrip announced its intent to enter the Denver region in 2019 and now has 20 locations between Monument and Greeley, according to its website. Others are in the works, including one\u00a0at the former El Rancho restaurant site\u00a0near Evergreen.<\/p>\n
QuikTrip\u2019s lawsuit took particular aim at the fact that the new law was retroactive. The measure exempted only projects for which development plans had been submitted to Denver by May 13 \u2014 a full nine months before the council vote.<\/p>\n
While the measure was discussed to some extent on that May date, specifics regarding the measure weren\u2019t known until months later.<\/p>\n
QuikTrip\u2019s lawsuit identified four planned company gas stations affected by the measure. The company said it was under contract to buy three of the sites and lease the fourth, and had collectively spent $750,000 toward development of the sites.<\/p>\n