Residents sound off in opposition to proposed Sheetz station

by Dan Holland

Aug. 25 city council work session

Dozens of residents turned up in Broadview Heights City Council Chambers for an Aug. 25 city council work session to voice opposition to the building of a proposed 12-pump Sheetz fueling station and convenience store on the site of a shuttered Rite Aid store at 8085 Broadview Rd.

A combined online and paper petition, containing approximately 700 resident signatures – including a handful from residents living in surrounding cities – who are in opposition to the proposed project was presented to members of city council at the meeting by resident Cindy Darrow.

Background

Members of the city planning commission during a Feb. 26 meeting voted 3-1 against granting preliminary approval for conditional use of Sheetz to have fuel islands and a drive-thru food service window on the 2.73-acre site. A lot consolidation request, which includes two adjacent lots to the north currently occupied by Frank’s Coach & Carriage, received final approval by a 3-1 affirmative vote at the same meeting. 

Residents attending a Feb. 10 meeting of the Growth, Planning and Zoning Commission, along with members of the planning commission, expressed concerns regarding the proposal, including competition with existing businesses, increased traffic, light pollution, loitering, noise, potential criminal activity at the site and safety factors. The business would be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

During the GPZ meeting, Building Commissioner Joe Mandato noted that the proposal did not require any variances and that it is in compliance with city zoning codes.

Sheetz filed two legal actions in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court this past spring – one in response to the planning commission’s rejection of its plans to build at the site, and a second action in which they asked the court for a declaratory judgement stating that the city illegally denied the company’s right to build.

A mediation hearing for one of the legal actions was scheduled to take place Aug. 26.

Residents sound off

City Council President Robert Boldt began the Aug. 25 work session by asking for a show of hands for all present in opposition to the Sheetz project – approximately 35-40 – with only a few hands being raised in favor. Boldt specified that councilmembers and officials were not permitted to respond publicly to concerns during the meeting due to ongoing litigation.

Darrow addressed council members first. “We want you to see that the residents are concerned about Sheetz being in a mostly residential area, bringing high volumes of traffic into our neighborhoods, along with the probability of loud noise and other unfavorable activities possible,” she said. “Please take the Broadview Heights residents’ concerns seriously when you go into mediation tomorrow and moving forward. … Broadview Heights is the safest city in Ohio. We love our city and we want to keep it safe.”

Resident Leticia O’Dell listed safety and a potential for increased criminal activity at and near the site as her top concern. “I’ve heard some councilmembers say that we can’t win … and that we should just settle,” she said. “Well, that is a self-fulfilling prophecy in my mind. And yet, you’re the only ones who can fight for us in the legal arena.”

“If crime goes up in Broadview Heights, our property values go down and we pay,” she continued. “So, no matter what with our tax dollars, with our property values, and possibly with our loved one’s lives, we pay. We all live in this community. I think deep down that this is wrong for this location.”

“I just hope that you consider the safety of the residents,” said resident Marilyn Houdek. “I think everybody’s kind of addressed a lot of the issues, but this is just too large of a building for that location. … It’s just a small area, and it’s a busy intersection that is tricky at best and always has a lot of near misses, if not accidents. Thank you again for listening to us, and I hope that you can do the right thing for the residents of Broadview Heights and keep us all safe.”

No residents spoke in favor of the project.

During a special council meeting held following the work session, councilmembers passed a motion appointing Ethan Neff as City Engineer.