The Sheetz at Evans City and Meridian roads in Butler Township will be replaced by a new prototype store. Demolition of the current site is to begin in the spring.

BUTLER TWP — The township Zoning Hearing Board Wednesday approved a special exception and several variances for a new, prototype Sheetz that will replace the existing store at the corner of Meridian and Evans City roads.

Work to demolish the existing Sheetz and replace it with the prototype store will begin in the spring and be completed by the fall or winter of 2020 if the weather cooperates and needed permits are approved, said David Mastrostefano, Sheetz engineering and permit project manager.

“We are proposing a new prototype store with a drive through,” Mastrostefano said.

Sheetz has purchased a home behind the store and plans to demolish it to expand the size of the lot. Both lots are zoned for commercial use. The company is scheduled to appear before the planning commission on Oct. 2 to request approval of the lot consolidation and land development plans.

“This will be a full redevelopment of the site,” said attorney Ryan Wotus, who represented Sheetz before the zoning hearing board.

The special exception was requested for the canopy over the gas pumps at the new store.

The two sets of existing gas pumps will be removed and replaced with one facing Meridian Road, Mastrostefano said.

He said the existing entrances and exists on Meridian and Evans City roads will remain in place, but will be updated with new concrete.

The variances are for exterior lighting and signs attached to the exterior of the new building.

Wotus said LED lights that exceed the zoning ordinance brightness limit will be located at the entrances on the two roads. The other lights are below the limit. All the lights will have shields to direct the light to the lot.

Lighting at the entrances is brighter to help make entering and exiting the property safe, Mastrostefano said.

He said bushes will be planted in addition to the existing arborvitae to block the light from residential property to the south of the store.

Three Sheetz signs will be attached to mark entrances facing Meridian Road, Evans City Road and the south side of the building. The ordinance allows the signs to stick out 12 inches from the building, but the new signs will project 17 inches.

The illuminated sign for the drive through food service will be about 38 square feet and 16 feet above ground. The illuminated sign above the drive through ordering canopy will be 9 square feet and 12.5 feet above ground. The illuminated menu sign will be about 25 square feet and 6 feet, 2 inches above ground.

The ordinance limits those signs to 4 square feet and 3 feet off the ground.

Joyce Keefer, who lives on Lawrence Avenue to the south of the store, said some of arborvitae are dead and should be replaced. She also expressed concerns about glare from the lights reaching her home.