FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – Two gas stations are already at the intersection of 12 Mile and Middlebelt roads.
That’s one reason the Farmington Hills City Council voted Monday (Jan. 13) night not to approve a proposed Sheetz location on the northwest corner.
--> Sheetz faces strong opposition in Farmington Hills over traffic concerns for proposed location
People packed Monday night’s council meeting, which ran past 1 a.m. They raised several concerns, including the 24-hour restaurant in Sheetz and how that could increase foot traffic late at night. Then, Sheetz’s gas stations are larger than most.
“It’s just too big to put because it would abut a residential area,” said resident Pea Gee. “It’s going to increase the traffic there. More gas tankers. And we just don’t want it.”
Sheetz seemed to know which way the vote was going. Prior to the council meeting, they put out a statement requesting Farmington Hills delay the vote.
The chain’s first Michigan location opened last year in Romulus. Farmington Hills is not the only community Sheetz has its eye on.
Taylor, Warren, Macomb, and Chesterfield are also set to get their own locations.
Sheetz plans to open 50 to 60 gas stations throughout the Great Lakes state within the next five years.
Local 4 was told that 50 citizens spoke at the meeting, and their city council unanimously voted to decline Sheetz’s request to build at the 12-mile and Middlebelt location.