Speedway Proposal to Go Before Oakmont Council in July

A Speedway might be moving into Oakmont in the near future.

Plans for the Speedway—proposed to be located at the former Lieberth & Sons car dealership on Hulton Road—went before the Oakmont Planning Commission earlier this week.

Jonathan Wocher, a principal with McBride Dale Clarion, spoke on behalf of the Speedway team.

Plans call for a 24-hour convenience store, fuel dispensers and 31 parking spots on the property. The former dealership closed in March and moved to Natrona Heights.

Wocher said the $3 million investment would create 30 to 40 jobs in the area, and plans include landscaping—21 trees and 61 shrubs—along the Hulton Road, Third Street and West Woodland Avenue sides of the property.

Lighting fixtures would have LED bulbs to minimize the glare on the canopies. Motorists also would have access to the gas station from Hulton, Third and Woodland.

Though a traffic study was not required, Wocher provided a study that concluded the gas station wouldn't nagtively impact the traffic flow in the community as long as left turns onto Hulton Road from the gas station are restricted during peak hours—7 to 9 a.m., and 4 to 6 p.m.

Speedway also is planning to widen the intersection at Woodland and Third.

Wocher said if the plan is approved, the team hopes to break ground at the end of summer or beginning of fall.

Planning commission members said they still are concerned about the traffic flow in the new area, despite the new Hulton Bridge project. They suggested that council secure a traffic engineer to review Speedway's traffic study. Members also recommended that council consider restricting the 24-hour operations.

A public hearing for the proposal will be held during the July 8 Oakmont Council meeting. Council meets at 7 p.m. at the borough building.

According to Speedway's website, the closest location to Oakmont is in Steubenville, OH.

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