BUTLER TWP — At a public auction this afternoon, Sheetz submitted the only bid to lease 3 acres at the corner of Morton and Center avenues, near the Sunnyview complex.

Sheetz will pay the county $75,000 annually to lease the property and hopes to start construction in a year.

According to Henry Fownes, a real estate site selector for Sheetz, the company intends to build a 6,500-square-foot store on the property, complete with six multiple-dispenser gas pumps and a drive-thru offering every product available in the store except tobacco products.

The current building, which is catercorner to the new site, is about 3,774 square feet.

Pending application to Butler Township for a zoning change from agriculture to commercial, acquisition of necessary permits through PennDOT, and remediation of any possible environmental issues, Sheetz hopes to start construction by late 2013 or early 2014, Fownes said.

The lease prevents the store from selling adult materials, such as magazines or videos.

If the lease ends and is not renewed, the county would take ownership of any structure there.