SMETHPORT — The McKean County Planning Commission voted conditional approval for the Sheetz land development in Hamlin Township.
The unanimous vote came after Alex Lapinski, project engineer of the H. J. Lenz Company of Johnstown and Robert Franks Jr., engineering permit project manager for Sheetz, explained the proposed fuel station and convenience store to be located at U.S. routes 6 and 219 at Lantz Corners.
Final approval hinges on the Altoona-based chain of stores providing a water plan, highway occupancy permits and a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit, which is related to erosion and sedimentation plan, and issued by the McKean County Conservation District.
On Sept. 5, the Hamlin Township supervisors offered their support for the land development.
Lipinski told the commission that this 5,940-square-foot building is to be located on a triangular piece of land with access to both routes.
The store will have two sets of fuel islands — one for gasoline and the other for diesel fuel.
Two underground detention tanks are to be installed to handle stormwater, as well as a full irrigation system LED lighting at the site can be controlled so it doesn’t shine on adjacent properties.
The parking lot will be large enough to accommodate 40 cars.
According to Franks, the building will sport the familiar red and yellow Sheetz colors; the top of the exterior will be brick and the bottom will be stone.
There will be no drive-through service, Franks said.
Inside and outside seating will be available, Franks, added, and “the interior designed to provide the feeling of a restaurant.”
Sheetz hopes to begin construction in the spring.
This new store could employ approximately 40 full-time and part-time employees.
Jeremy Morey, county planning director, mentioned two letters from people who did not attend the meeting. One mentioned the need for controlled LED lighting. The second letter came from a person who was opposed to locating another convenience store at the same area. This person wrote that “Lantz Corners is a hotbed for development but not another convenience store.”
In other news, the planning office’s subdivision report in the last month showed seven subdivision plans have been submitted for review. Five of these contain one lot and are located in Bradford City, Kane Borough and Keating and Liberty townships. One subdivision in Bradford City contained two lots, while one in Foster Township contains four lots.
Three subdivisions, located in Bradford City and Foster Township, were submitted only for review.
