Sheetz sues Centerville after city approves location, reverses it

CENTERVILLE — The fight over Sheetz building a location in southern Montgomery County has taken a new twist.

The major convenience store chain is now suing Centerville.

Last month the city council rejected plans for Sheetz to open up on Far Hills Avenue.

In August, the city’s planning commission approved Sheetz’s application to build a one-story more than 6,000-square-foot convenience store and 14 fueling pumps.

Some, including representatives of nearby retirement community Bethany Lutheran Village, Epiphany Lutheran Church, and Centerville resident Regis Lekan, filed official appeals to the city’s decision.

>> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: City planning commission approves plans to build Sheetz in Centerville

As a result, the city council held a public hearing.

In October, the council reversed the Planning Commission’s decision and rejected Sheetz’s application.

In a lawsuit filed this week, Sheetz is appealing that reversal calling it unconstitutional, illegal, and arbitrary.

Centerville City Manager Wayne Davis issued a statement in response to the lawsuit:

“Our primary goal is to secure the continued safety and quality of life for our residents, businesses, and institutions. As we navigate through this legal process, City Council And staff remain committed to upholding our values of integrity and accountability and making decisions that contribute to the well-being of our community.”

News Center 7′s Brandon Lewis spoke to Julie Reuning-Scherer who is the senior pastor at Epiphany Lutheran Church.

She said she was worried the Sheetz would cause a lot of traffic.

“There’s just a lot of people that come in and out of the same place where Sheetz would need to route traffic for the 3000 vehicles a day that would be coming in and out of that store and gas station. We do not believe that that is a fitting use of that property,” Reuning-Scherer said.

She said she would rather focus on the work her church is doing and not Sheetz.

“I really don’t want to have to keep worrying about a next door neighbor that causes unsafe situations for residents and people who worship and and utilize the many things that go on at Epiphany Lutheran Church, so my hope would be that this would be quickly resolved,” she said.

News Center 7 reached out to Sheetz for a statement and is waiting to hear back.

We will continue to follow this story.

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