7-Eleven construction approved despite neighbors’ opposition

NAPLES, Fla.- With a vote of 4 to 3, the Naples City Council approved plans for a new 7-Eleven gas station and convenience store near the River Park neighborhood.

Dozens of neighbors sat in the council meeting for more than two hours on Wednesday to fight against the project.

“They just dismissed an entire community,” said Antonio Dumorna. “Today was the first time within 20 years or more that the community tried to come up and voice their concerns and build a relationship with the city.

Plans for the gas station show it will have six pumps where a dozen cars can fill up at a time. Neighbors say it will cause more traffic at the intersection of Goodlette-Frank Road and 5th Avenue North where children walk to school.

“We’ve had close calls with children getting hit,” Dumorna added.

Several people are also concerned about their property values.

“Those tanks…. one way in, one way out? It’s going to kill the
value of every single home in that neighborhood,” said Bryant Hyde.

A date for the 7-Eleven’s construction to begin has not yet been set.