Construction of new Sheetz store in Madison Township expected to begin soon
Mar. 2—Sheetz has moved a step closer toward starting construction of a new store in Madison Township.
The township Zoning Commission concluded a public hearing on Feb. 27 by unanimously approving the site plan for a Sheetz location at North Ridge and Green roads. The next step for Sheetz is to apply for and obtains zoning permits from the township for a new commercial structure and a sign.
"We expect construction to begin on this store in early March, with an opening date projected for late summer," said Sheetz Public Relations Manager Nick Ruffner, in a March 1 email.
Sheetz will build its new business on vacant land at the southeast corner of North Ridge and Green. It will be situated across from the Walter Green Commons plaza, which is anchored by a Walmart Supercenter.
Township Zoning Inspector Max Ungers said the Sheetz project consists of a 6,139-square-foot building and a 4,800-square-foot canopy for a single fueling bay at the front of the property.
Ruffner said the store will have indoor and outdoor seating, with a fueling bay large enough to accommodate 12 vehicles at one time.
The store also is being outfitted with a drive-through for food and other products, but won't have a car wash, Ungers added.
Trustee Kenneth Gauntner Jr. said he was involved in previous meetings with Sheetz officials to discuss their desire for a Madison Township location. Gauntner said the store planned at North Ridge and Green roads "is basically more of a fast-food place."
"They're more into selling food than they are into gas," he said, during the Feb. 28 trustee board meeting. "That's kind of their new business model."
Ungers said the Sheetz located at 2800 North Ridge Road in Perry Township "is more of the traditional model, with two fuel bays, a car wash and a walk-in restaurant." Meanwhile, a new Sheetz that opened late last year at Interstate 90 and Route 528 in Madison Village "is geared more toward heavy traffic and large trucks, and more fuel bays," he said.
Once the new Madison Township Sheetz is built and begins operating, motorists will have more choices of where to fill their vehicles' gas tanks in the vicinity of the North Ridge and Green Road intersection.
A Circle K convenience store and gas station is located on the northwest corner of North Ridge and Green. In addition, a smaller Murphy USA fueling station and store is based at 6045 North Ridge Road — just east of Green Road. The Murphy USA location is accessible from North Ridge, and from within Walter Green Commons.
