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Another step toward Sheetz
AUSTINTOWN
Township trustees helped a new Sheetz building move another step closer to fruition in Austintown.
Once all of the paperwork is finished, a new Sheetz will be under construction, using a new all-brick and stone masonry design, and featuring drive-thru services, a single-lane car wash and outdoor seating area.
The facility will be replacing an old car wash and a former fast-food restaurant on North Canfield-Niles Road.
Trustees Jim Davis and Rick Stauffer on Tuesday approved a modified rezoning request for the facility; Trustee Chairman Ken Carano did not take part because of a relationship with the developer.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to eliminate an eyesore in the community and replace it with a project by a company with a long-standing tradition of excellence in Austintown,” said Davis.
He said Sheetz representatives were very receptive to recommendations from the zoning commission, modifying their request to rezone a 100-foot agricultural zone to rezoning only 80 feet, leaving 20 feet to remain agricultural.
The change was necessary to accommodate the site size for the building, said James Sabatine Jr. of Sabatine BK Development, 1305 Boardman-Canfield Road in Boardman, the developer.
After testimony from both Sheetz and the residents opposing the rezoning, Davis said he felt confident in the approval with the recommendations.
At the zoning commission meeting in early April, residents opposed the new business, citing various reasons including the project’s potential to set precedent for future projects in their residential area.
“We have to base our decisions based on projects before us at this time,” Davis said. “We can’t speculate two, five, or 10 years down the road as to what may or may not come in addition to this project. Our decision was made because we know what we are getting.”
Residents also expressed concerns about excess noise Sheetz would cause.
Sheetz representatives adjusted the site plan and placed the largest noise producers, the dumpster and the car wash, as far from the residential area as possible.
“They worked really hard to accommodate a plan fit for the township and the surrounding property owners,” Sabatine said.
Darren Crivelli, Austintown zoning inspector, said the business still has to go to the zoning board of appeals for a hearing on conditional use for the proposed fueling station.
There, he said, board members will review the site plan and overall business plan to make sure these are compatible with area.
Sabatine estimated the development wouldn’t be open for about a year.