(4/22) Preliminary plans for remodeling the Sheetz in Thurmont were presented to the Town’s Planning and Zoning Commission.
The preliminary site plan shows the store increasing in square footage from 4,510 square feet to 4,959 square feet. The four fuel pump islands will be replaced with six fueling islands. While the number of parking spaces will remain the same, two loading zones will be added on the north side of the property to create a safer area for deliveries to be unloaded into the store.
When the concept plan was introduced in December, the Planning Commission requested changes that included increasing the bicycle amenities and adding a sidewalk and crosswalk. Thurmont has a large bicycle population, so the new "Bicycle Plaza" will be a concrete pad with four bicycle parking spots, a bench, a trash can, and a bicycle repair station. The Plaza will connect to the North Church Street sidewalk by another sidewalk.
Town staff also asked Sheetz to increase pedestrian safety at the store so a crosswalk will be added from the Plaza to the store. "When the high school lets out, the sidewalk and crosswalk will allow teens to get to the store safely," said Town Planner Kelly Duty.
A big concern for the Commission was the agreement between Sheetz and the neighboring Rambler Inn regarding the entrances/exits between the properties.
The preliminary plan shows a one-way into the Rambler Inn property, a two-way between Sheetz and the Rambler Inn, and another one-way out of the Rambler Inn property. Duty said, "While the existing plan does restrict traffic and increase landscaping, it doesn't appear to work well with how the site’s traffic flows." She suggested removing the one-way out, moving the two-way closer to the main Sheetz entrance, and possibly removing the one-way in as well.
Planning Commission Chairman Randy Cubbage said he sat and watched the traffic one afternoon and he agreed that having an in/out would be better than having one-way entrances/exits.
Sheetz Project Manager Robert Franks explained the original agreement with the hotel is from the 1950s and it requires Sheetz to provide three entrances between the properties that must be in specific locations.
Commissioner Marty Burns, whose wife's uncle owns the Sheetz property, said the entrance was widened a few years ago but thinks it should be widened more and lines should be painted to aid in direction. "People encroach into exit lanes so you can't fit two cars in," he said.
Cubbage agreed, "No one knows where they are going when they get into the parking lot." Franks explained that Sheetz ended up with the current design because of the chaos that ensues in the parking lot. He said they would be willing to add line painting to the plan.
To help ease congestion at the entrance, Sheetz contacted the state to see if an entrance ramp could be made off the US 15 northbound ramp; however, the State Highway Administration said such an option was not permitted per Federal Highway Administration standards. Burns, however, encouraged the Town to try and get waivers to get a ramp onto 15 North from the store. "It would be safer and reduce traffic at the entrance," he said.
Franks also indicated that as part of the redesign, the kerosene pump will be removed, which concerned Cubbage. "This is a farming community and that pump in January and February is used by a lot of people. I’m taken aback at why Sheetz won't have one anymore." Franks explained that Sheetz is gradually getting out of the kerosene business. He said the sales at Thurmont didn’t generate enough profit to make it worth continuing.
While EV charging stations are not in the preliminary plan, they could be added later Franks said.
He said they anticipate the remodel taking five months from close to reopen.
The Planning Commission accepted the Town Staff’s suggestion to approve the preliminary plan with conditions including moving the main sign five feet further from the property line, delineation of traffic flow and clarification of Rambler Inn egress areas and increased landscaping.
