Cranberry Planning Commission Chairman Jim Colella uses two words to describe the bustling Sheetz gas station and convenience store on Freedom Road.
“It’s chaotic,” he said.
Colella, who frequents the store to buy coffee, believes the facility doesn’t have enough parking spaces to accommodate its clientele. So when Sheetz representatives introduced conceptual plans for a new facility at Monday’s Planning Commission workshop meeting, Colella was very pleased.
"This is actually much-needed because where you are located now is ridiculous," he told developers.
David Mastrostefano, engineering permit manager for Sheetz, said the proposed facility would be located on Old Freedom Road at the site of a former beer distributor and a stone’s throw from the station’s current location.
“We’ve been here a long time, and we’re exited about upgrading our facility,” he told board members.
Mastrostefano said the current Sheetz location, which has four gas pumps, was more than 15 years old. The new location features a proposed 65,059 square-foot brick building trimmed in red that’s about twice the size of the current Sheetz. It would include eight gas pumps and a touchless car wash. The side of the building would face Freedom Road.
The new station would continue to offer fast food and drinks. Although the plans include some outdoor seating at the new site, Mastrostefano said the building would not be a super-sized Sheetz.
“It will have all the same offerings,” he said. “It will just be our newest design.”
Sheetz leases its current property from J.J. Gumberg, a real estate development company that also owns the Cranberry Mall.
Mastrostefano said Sheetz would remove its signage and the underground distribution tanks that hold petroleum once it leaves the property.
If the project receives township approval, Mastrostefano said he hopes to start construction next year.
At the meeting, Sheetz representatives showed the drawings you see in this article. As designed, Cranberry Twp residents will be looking at the backside of the building everytime they drive on Freedom road. Is that the intent of the Cranberry "Streetscape" initiative??? A planning committeeperson immediately commented that they would need to improve the looks of the back of the building. Here's a better idea: let's allow Sheetz to build a gas station concept that is new, familiar and functional.