Richmond will grow by about 8 acres if the city’s council approves an ordinance annexing a 7-Eleven-branded gas station and convenience store.
During its Sept. 23 meeting, the Richmond Advisory Plan Commission recommended 9-0 that Richmond Common Council approve the voluntary annexation of 8.36 acres at 2243 U.S. 35. Council will make the final decision.
Bruce Wissel, chair of the plan commission, first suggested the annexation when plan commission heard the developer’s petition for a zoning change that would permit the project, and council approved the rezoning with the requirements the land be annexed and the developer install a traffic light.
The 7-Eleven project is under construction, across U.S. 35 from Love’s Travel Stop, which is within Richmond city limits. The traffic light will align with entrances to both Love’s and the 7-Eleven.
Eric Carter of Weihe Engineers in Indianapolis said the project also includes widening U.S. 35 lanes at the location and utility improvements for Duke Energy, Richmond Power & Light, Comcast and Frontier to accommodate the traffic light. Sanitary sewer and water main extensions also were required.
The annexation expands the city’s tax base, and a Baker Tilly financial study indicated the city would not incur costs.
The plan commission did not consider the petition for approval of the detailed development plan for the Smith Hill planned unit development. That petition, which requires a public hearing, was tabled until the 5:30 p.m. Oct. 28 meeting in the third-floor chambers of the Richmond Municipal Building, 50 N. Fifth St.
A version of this article appeared in the September 30 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
