After being rejected by multiple cities in the metro-Detroit area (Rochester Hills, Madison Heights, Farmington Hills, Livonia, etc.), Sheetz is now proposing a site at the intersection of 14 Mile Road and Coolidge Highway in Royal Oak.

 

Many of the Royal Oak residents in the area that would be affected by this 24-hour gas station / convenience & liquor store / sit down and drive-through restaurant, and an automatic car wash oppose the proposal. The Protect Royal Oak organization (www.protectroyaloak.com) and multiple business and property owners around the affected area have also joined the growing opposition to the Royal Oak Sheetz proposal.

 

The proposed intersection already suffers from traffic-flow backups because Coolidge Highway makes a dogleg at that point. This results in drivers using the residential side streets in an attempt to bypass the congestion. Sheetz contracted for a traffic study that came to the conclusion that, if the development is added, traffic "would continue to operate at an acceptable level of service during peak travel times." However, the Royal Oak Engineering Division is concerned about the crash history at the intersection, along with the impact that changing the timing of the stoplight could have on other areas of 14 Mile.

 

It's interesting to note that Pennsylvania-based Sheetz, which uses the Claysburg, PA architectural firm Convenience Architecture and Design, P.C., has also hired the Royal Oak architectural firm of Krieger Klatt. Krieger Klatt has long been a contributor to political campaign funds for Royal Oak Mayor Fournier and the city's Commission members. See the "Pay-to-Play" information at this link https://www.protectroyaloak.com/pay-to-play-royal-oak-is-for-sale. You can also locate additional information on the www.protectroyaloak.com website...

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Additionally, the City of Royal Oak’s responsibility to notify residents of a Planning Commission meeting is limited to mailing a notice to residents within a mere 300 feet of the proposed development. There are no residences within the 300-foot radius of the proposed development, so we know of no one that was actually notified about this debacle. Yet this development if approved, will have a major negative impact on thousands of residents and a multitude of small businesses in the area.

 

Recently residents were shocked to learn that the city politicians are also poised to provide a “gift” of $3M dollars of your hard-earned tax dollars to Sheetz. This consideration is despite their extensive track record of attracting criminal activity at and around most Sheetz locations nationally. Media reports that the crimes include peeping toms, assaults, robberies, car jackings, shooting and murder of first responders. At some of the locations the crime is so rampant that Sheetz’s solutions have been to provide 24-hours K-9 guard dogs as the deterrent.

 

Please watch the May 13, 2024, Madison Heights City Council meeting at which the Sheetz proposal was turned down. Although the large crowd clapped, held up signs saying, “Stop Sheetz,” and cheered when it was turned down, they were never gaveled down nor did the City Commission call a “5-minute Recess” as is now the norm in Royal Oak. All Royal Oak residents should also be treated with the same type of respect. Watch here (starts at 30:00): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQGGQCMN0PE.​