BUTLER TWP — At a public auction Thursday, 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.

Sheetz had to pay a $6,250 up-front fee to the county to get the 15-year lease, with inflationary increases after 10 years.

The triple-net lease terms allow for use up to 29 years and 11 months.

According to Ed Rupert, director of county property and revenue, the triple-net lease places costs such as taxes, insurance and maintenance on the tenant and has a provision preventing the sale of adult materials, like magazines or videos, on the site.

He also said the lease would be terminated if Sheetz cannot get the zoning change.

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