Sheetz eyeing new location on Allentown’s Lehigh Street

The battle of Pennsylvania convenience stores could soon be amping up on Lehigh Street in Allentown.

Appearing before the Allentown Planning Commission on Tuesday afternoon, Sheetz, Inc. representatives presented plans to open a 6,070 square-foot location at the southeast corner of Lehigh and 29th streets. If approved, developers would raze a small vacant beer store to construct the new convenience store and gas station.

Under the plans, the Sheetz would divide the existing parking lot with the neighboring AutoZone. Unlike the new Sheetz in New Smithville, this franchise would exclusively serve passenger vehicles, Sheetz officials said. Tractor trailers wouldn’t be able to fit through the narrow driveway entrances, and the diesel fuel pumps would not be able to readily serve big rigs, they said.

Sheetz was only presenting its plans for feedback, and the planning commission did not formally vote on the plan. Commission members offered mostly positive feedback on the design, applauding the proposal for its modern parking lot layout and encouraging Sheetz to consider adding more accommodations for pedestrians.

Because Lehigh Street is a state-owned road, the company is still communicating with PennDOT about improvements it may need to make to ease traffic concerns the store may generate. It’s unclear if customers exiting onto Lehigh Street will be limited to right turns given the heavy traffic there. Commission members noted that some nearby businesses don’t have restrictions despite the difficult driving conditions.

“Anyone who has ever tried to make the left turn from the Brass Rail knows you’re putting yourself in the hands of others,” said one member.

At least one request to amend the plans has been filed. LANTA, which has a bus stop at the corner, requested Sheetz widen the sidewalk at to make room for a bus shelter.

If approved, Sheetz would add to the growing competition for convenience stores along Lehigh Street. Along with the Wawa, there’s a Turkey Hill directly across 29th Street from the Sheetz’s proposed location.

In other news, a hearing that would have granted preliminary approval for the Da Vinci Science Center’s 80,000 square foot proposed facility on N. Eighth Street was tabled at Da Vinci’s request.