Planning commission recommends city council approve Sheetz special‑use permit for former Rite Aid site

The East Lansing Planning Commission voted unanimously Dec. 17 to recommend that city council approve a special‑use permit for Sheetz Incorporated’s proposed redevelopment of the former Rite Aid site at Abbott and Saginaw.

Staff told commissioners the revised plan proposes a 6,139‑square‑foot Sheetz with a convenience/restaurant, drive‑through and eight double‑sided fueling positions. Alicia (city planner) said the applicant increased bike parking from four to 14 spaces, committed to a Level‑2 electric vehicle charging station on day one and reduced freestanding sign heights; the applicant also re‑designed on‑site stormwater measures beyond current city requirements pending the Green Code ordinance. One outstanding item is a clearance‑height variance for the convenience lane that will be heard by the Building Board of Appeals.

The commission’s discussion focused on traffic, stormwater and pedestrian safety. The applicant’s traffic engineer reported the updated counts — taken after a nearby Marathon station opened — show “sufficient storage” for queue lengths at the shared driveways and estimated the Sheetz development would add about 1.3 seconds of delay during the PM peak to the Abbott‑Saginaw intersection, which he described as a “minor impact.” Staff and the applicant also described stormwater chambers and a new fire hydrant installed per fire‑department request.

Several residents and local business owners spoke during public comment. Alexis Murray, a Historic District Commission member, said Sheetz had addressed ordinance concerns including lighting and stormwater and described the brand’s made‑to‑order food and community involvement. Others praised the applicant’s neighborhood outreach and cited the company’s stated employee benefits.

After questioning and applicant responses, Commissioner Chapin moved to recommend approval to city council, noting the proposal meets applicable ordinance standards and is compatible with surrounding uses subject to the standard conditions in the staff report. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Putz and passed on a roll‑call vote with all members present voting yes (Chapin; DeDalt/Denault; Overbey; Putz; Sebeliewski; Vice Chair Wagner; Chair Sullivan).

The commission’s recommendation does not itself authorize construction; the file will be forwarded to the city council for its consideration, and outstanding technical items — final engineering, the building‑board variance and final stormwater/soil erosion plans — must be resolved before a final permit is issued.