Proposed Sheetz gas station, convenience store in Madison Heights denied after heated discussion at city council meeting

MADISON HEIGHTS (WWJ) — After heated discussion Monday night, Madison Heights City Council has denied a plan to bring a new Sheetz gas station to the city.

The council voted unanimously to deny a proposal for the new building at 13 Mile and Dequindre.

The Pennsylvania-based Sheetz is a chain of 24-hour convenience stores and gas stations that provides “kicked up convenience while being more than just a convenience store,” calling it “a mecca for people on the go,” according to its website.

WWJ’s Charlie Langton reported Tuesday morning the council felt Sheetz was “not a good fit” for the community.

“The 24 hours would create excessive noise, lights and traffic,” Langton said. “And the planning commission, they were concerned enough — they denied the application — they were concerned that there were not enough spaces for electric vehicles.”

One woman speaking at Monday’s meeting, one resident who lives near the proposed site of the gas station was very concerned about what the store would have brought to the area.

“For all of you that say, ‘hey, sounds like a good thing’ — I live right down the street, maybe a mile or two, you don’t live and you don’t have it in your backyard. If it was in your backyard, I can attest you would not want it,” she said. “So what I say to Sheetz… talk is cheap.”

Another proposal for a Sheetz in Fraser was denied for similar reasons earlier this year, Langton said.