Guest Commentary - Elk Grove Can Do Better Than The Proposed Maverik Fueling Station
Elk Grove deserves open, honest decision-making — not closed-door deals that favor special interests over community well-being. No comprehensive study of traffic, safety, or pollution impacts was ever completed.
By Jay Salhan
Elk Grove’s Balance Is at Risk
Elk Grove has always stood for balance — a city that welcomes progress while protecting the sense of home that makes it special. That balance is now in jeopardy, and residents are speaking out.
The recently approved mega Maverik Fueling Station and Convenience Store at Grant Line Road and East Stockton Boulevard is not “just another gas station.” It’s a 24-hour industrial fueling hub with two canopies, one that is specifically designed for commercial vehicles such as big rigs/semi trucks.
Approving this project without proper impact studies will place additional strain on an already fragile infrastructure that was never designed to handle the increased volume that Maverik and the larger Grant Line Village project will generate.
This project threatens the safety, health, and quality of life that Elk Grove families have worked so hard to build.
A Process in the Dark
From the start, the approval process has lacked transparency. Residents were denied a fair opportunity to review key environmental studies — many written in language favorable to the developer — or even to speak at the public hearing.
That’s not how local government is supposed to work. When public voices are silenced, democracy suffers.
Elk Grove deserves open, honest decision-making — not closed-door deals that favor special interests over community well-being.
Exploiting a Loophole
Equally troubling is the City’s decision to call this project an “infill” development. The Maverik site is tied to the much larger ±15 acre Grant Line Village proposal, an area of mostly open land and farmland zoned for industrial use.
Yet because a small building already sits on the property, City staff labeled it “infill.” That simple word opened a major loophole — allowing Maverik to skip a full environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
No comprehensive study of traffic, safety, or pollution impacts was ever completed. Even the property owner has admitted that Maverik’s approval is key to advancing the rest of the Grant Line Village project.
This is not an isolated gas station. It’s the first step in a massive development that should have been reviewed as a whole.
Real Impacts, Real Consequences
This is a large-scale, 24-hour operation designed to attract commercial vehicles — complete with high-flow diesel pumps, diesel exhaust fluid, and underground fuel tanks with capacity that is far beyond what’s typical of a neighborhood station. The consequences will be immediate and lasting: more noise, more traffic, more pollution, and more strain on police and emergency services.
Late-night activity brings more calls for disturbances, theft, and accidents, yet no public safety analysis was ever shared or reviewed. That’s not responsible planning — it’s gambling with community safety.
Elk Grove residents deserve better than assumptions passed off as analysis.
Undermining the City’s Own Vision
The Mega Maverik also conflicts with Elk Grove’s Livable Employment Area vision, which calls for clean air, walkable neighborhoods, and family-friendly job growth. Building a massive diesel fueling station just miles from that district undercuts the very goals the City claims to champion.
Elk Grove residents are not opposed to growth. They simply want smart growth — growth that respects neighborhoods, values transparency, and puts safety first.
A Call to Do Better
If anyone doubts what’s at stake, they only need to visit the Maverik in West Sacramento at 3975 Lake Road. The traffic, noise, and constant activity there paint a clear picture of what’s coming to Elk Grove if this project proceeds unchecked.
The City Council must require a comprehensive environmental and traffic review of the entire Grant Line Village project before moving forward. Elk Grove’s future depends on thoughtful planning that protects families, preserves the community’s character, and keeps decisions in the light of day — where they belong.
An appeal of the Elk Grove Planning Commission's decision to allow the Maverik project to proceed will be heard during the November 12 Elk Grove City Council meeting. The meeting starts at 6 p.m.
