No Vote Yet on Speedway Gas Station

By Akasha Brandt, Patch Intern

It remains to be seen if a Speedway gas station will be coming to Oakmont.  

After getting a conditional recommendation from the planning commission, Speedway representatives presented their project to Oakmont Council Monday night.

Council did not hold a vote on whether or not to accept the proposed gas station. Council members have the next 30 days to review Speedway’s application and provide comments.

Provided that Speedway meets all conditions of their application, the earliest council would vote on the matter is August, President Timothy Milberger said.

“Borough council has the latitude to established conditions to the applications if it is both in the interest to the borough and in regards to the safety of the community,” said Councilman Thomas Briney.

Speedway representatives met a packed room of citizens that did not want to see the project come to fruition. There were no seats open at the beginning of the hearing and people continued to enter council chambers after it had begun.

Jonathan Wocher, a principal with McBride Dale Clarion, gave the presentation for Speedway and spoke on the company’s behalf during the hearing.

The proposal is to build the Speedway on the site of the former Lieberth & Sons car dealership on Hulton Road next to the existing Sunoco station.

Speedway would have 16 gas pumps, 31 parking spots and would create 30-40 new jobs in the area, Wocher said. Speedway representatives want the establishment to be open 24 hours a day.

Wocher said he saw the gas station as an amenity that would improve the area.

Residents did not seem to agree.

“What are you trying to do? Put us out of our homes with all this congestion? I don’t get it,” said Margaret Shear of North Street.

Shear complained that the streets were already narrow and with the Hulton Bridge project the addition of another project in the area would cause traffic problems.

Shear’s traffic fears were echoed by many residents during public comment. Truck traffic was another point of contention for residents who were afraid of the safety hazards related to trucks turning in and out on the narrow streets surrounding where the Speedway would go.

“We feel the traffic is key to this project. We are very far along with PennDOT and they have showed support for our design. We want to continue to move forward and make you happy with that,” Wocher said in response.

While Speedway has not done its own traffic study, Wocher did say representatives talked to PennDOT and referred to its study in planning. Speedway is proposing to widen Third Street at its own cost.

Other concerns included noise and light pollution, increased crime surrounding a 24 hour establishment and the safety of children leaving Riverview High School after class is out.

Some residents didn’t want to see a new gas station at all. The new Speedway would neighbor Sunoco and be less than two miles from Sheetz.

“The use of space in our small town. We’re running out. A food store would be a lot better,” said Richard Williams of Summit Drive.

Wocher pleaded with council to consider the project carefully before making a decision.

“We’re hoping to occupy a vacant property. It’s a cycle. It can be an uncomfortable cycle,” Wocher said. “Just view the other side. I’m urging the council to weigh the other side of the issues raised to you.”