HOBART | The Plan Commission heard plans Thursday for a new Luke Oil stop on the southeast corner of Lake Park and 37th avenues.

The project is significant because city officials want to redevelop the 37th Avenue corridor and the facility would bring the city's sewer system closer to dozens of homes that currently operate on septic tanks.

The 5.7-acre parcel is blighted by an abandoned building and a fenced-off area.

Ryan Richardson, a representative of Luke Oil, said the station would sell Shell gasoline and feature a 4,800-square-foot convenience store and a 3,000-square-foot car wash. The convenience store would include a deli.

The other half of the property would remain undeveloped for a while but eventually could be converted into a retail center. The unused area would be kept clean and maintained, Richardson said.

Concerned about traffic in the intersection, commissioners urged Richardson to keep the entrances and exits to the property as far away from the intersection as possible. Richardson said an entrance off 37th Avenue would be created that would allow eventual access to both sections of the property.

City Engineer Steve Truchan said he had been working with Richardson and other Luke representatives to determine the best way to bring sewers to the project. Most likely, the sewers would come from somewhere east of Lake Park Avenue. Truchan said the Luke representatives also might discuss sewers with developer Randy Hall, who is trying to develop the Cressmoor Country Club property on the west side of Lake Park Avenue. However, Truchan said a sewer connection from the Cressmoor property might not be feasible because the Cressmoor project is on a slower time schedule.

Once completed, several dozen homes will be closer to having city sewers, Truchan said.

The Luke project will be discussed at a public hearing in May.