Rockbridge County review board unanimously approves Sheetz site plan for Lexington

LEXINGTON, Va. — The Rockbridge County Tourism Corridor Review Board on March 4 approved a site plan for a proposed Sheetz convenience store and gas station at 1139 N Lee Highway.

Tim Welsh, chair of the Tourism Corridor Review Board, opened the meeting and the board heard a presentation from planning staff and the developer’s team on the proposal to raze an existing hotel and construct a 4,959-square-foot store with a canopy serving six fuel dispensers on approximately 2.085 acres.

"The two existing accesses to the property, one from Maury River Road and the other from North Lee Highway, would be remaining in place and utilized for the development once completed," said Ryan Gatewood, the project’s lead engineer, who joined the board via Zoom. Gatewood also said a traffic study had been submitted to the Virginia Department of Transportation and that the off-site recommendations were limited to minor improvements such as re-striping and were under VDOT review.

Nate Altaffer, the project manager, said the developer is including a portion of the parcel on which the adjacent Waffle House sits in the new parcel and that a shared-parking agreement will be developed. Planning staff (Neil Whitmore) said staff had calculated the number of parking spaces required for the restaurant based on its seating capacity and worked with the team to ensure Waffle House retains the required spaces.

Board members discussed aesthetics and compliance. "The canopy over the gas pumps will be a truss style canopy, which has a sleek, linear style," Gatewood said. Chair Tim Welsh complimented the design and the thoroughness of the application. Planning staff confirmed the landscaping, lighting and signage plans meet county regulations and that staff coordinated with the development team on fuel-price and freestanding signage compliance.

After deliberation, Robert Mish moved to approve the site plan as submitted; Tom Beebe seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Votes at a glance - Approval of Feb. 4, 2026 meeting minutes: Moved by Robert Mish; seconded by Denisa Goad. Vote recorded as Yea — Mish, Goad, Coffey; Abstain — Beebe; (Nay/Absent not recorded in motion text). - Approval of Sheetz site plan (1139 N Lee Hwy): Moved by Robert Mish; seconded by Tom Beebe. Approved unanimously.

In other business, planning staff told the board that Audeo Partners closed on the Keydet General property and has submitted a building permit for renovations; staff noted a lighting plan for that project has not yet been submitted. Staff also observed that a temporary sign banner remains on the front of Dunham’s and that the proposed architectural frame around Dunham’s wall sign appears unchanged.

With no further discussion, Beebe moved to adjourn at 4:18 p.m.; Mish seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Respectfully submitted, Christopher T. Slaydon, Director of Planning