BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Among recent talk of Wawas slated for construction in Bethlehem Township, another regional convenience store is planned for demolition and rebuild in Bethlehem.
- Bethlehem City Planning Commission voted 3-0 Thursday, approving the final redevelopment plan of a new Sheetz store
- The plan calls for taking down the current building at 3201 Schoenersville Road and building an updated one
- Demolition, construction could begin later this year or early 2024
Following Bethlehem City Planning Commission’s 3-0 vote Thursday in favor of the land development plan, a new Sheetz store with updated amenities should be coming to 3201 Schoenersville Road in the northwest part of the city, just up the road from Route 22.
The Sheetz company proposes a 6,139-square-foot “prototypical Sheetz Convenience Store,” featuring a drive-thru, car wash, parking access and 12 fueling stations under a canopy.
The 2.22-acre site at Schoenersville and City Line roads would see a new building with a proposed 300 additional square feet after construction compared to the existing one.
A 'pretty straightforward review'
Terri Delo, partner and senior project manager with Integrated Consulting out of Wormleysburg, Cumberland County, said her firm worked to develop the final land development plan presented to the planning commission.
She stated that demolition and construction could begin as soon as later this year or early 2024.
“I will mention that when they come in — if you’ve never seen them operate this — they’re down and up extremely quickly,” Delo said.
“So it’s a couple-month process to get in, and once they’re in, they mobilize, everything’s down and back up because usually they will have appropriate traffic control and things like that if that’s necessary as well.”
"I believe this one is slated to have everything removed and replaced. Sometimes they’ll try to utilize the existing conduits going from the underground station and back to the canopy fueling area."Terri Delo of Integrated Consulting
According to the public agenda document, Sheetz looks to take down and replace existing buildings, storage tanks underground as well as fuel pipes and conduit.
“I believe this one is slated to have everything removed and replaced,” Delo said. “Sometimes they’ll try to utilize the existing conduits going from the underground station and back to the canopy fueling area.”
'Really not changing much'
Along with those additions, Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority has teamed up with the developer to switch positions of a bus stop on site at a shared entrance off Schoenersville Road, Delo said.
“We’re relocating their bus stop down there to put a concrete pad, so it’s easier access for the folks utilizing the bus route through this area,” she said.
Delo said she believed the plans for the existing building were completed more than 20 years ago.
“It doesn’t change the use of the site, and the impervious coverage is really not changing that much. The ingress and egress is not changing, utilities are not changing.”City Planning and Zoning Director Darlene Heller
City Planning and Zoning Director Darlene Heller said the plan made for a “pretty straightforward review,” and all associated departments within city government have signed off on the design.
“It doesn’t change the use of the site, and the impervious coverage is really not changing that much,” Heller said. “The ingress and egress is not changing, utilities are not changing.”
