TOLEDO, Ohio — A sign recently placed in front of a building on Bernath Parkway and Airport Highway notified residents of the request for a new Sheetz Convenience Store to replace the plaza.
The location was recently approved by the Toledo Plan Commission in a 3-1 vote for a new Sheetz. However, residents who live nearby say it's not so convenient.
Kevin Kmiec, a resident who lives in the neighborhood nearby, said this particular stretch of Airport Highway doesn't need any more traffic.
"This structure of Airport Highway is dangerous as far as for fast cars, motorcycles doing wheelies, a lot of questionable behavior," said Kmiec.
But Kmiec isn't alone, as other neighbors have also raised concerns.
"It's already a street with already a lot of cars passing by, a lot of traffic," said Jairo Nevarez, a resident who lives near the proposed lot of land. "Obviously since my kids play around this area, I am a little bit worried that there will be a lot more traffic and close by."
Despite concerns from those who live in the area, an attorney for Sheetz argued the location is appropriate.
"Airport Highway is a state route, it's not a residential street," said Sheetz's attorney, Jerry Parker.
Parker said the company's proposal would fit 57 zoning requirements that must be included in this plan if it were to be placed in the area. It is also willing to pay $400,000 dollars to put in a median and make traffic safer in that area, prohibiting left turns.
"This site will have a right-in, right-only off of Airport Highway. In addition to that, there's two curb cuts on Bernath, this will reduce that curb cuts to one," said Parker.
Regardless of Sheetz's traffic proposal, Kmiec still thinks the plan is a bad idea.
"We don't need another gas station in the middle of the neighborhood, we've got a gas station that's a quarter mile down the road," said Kmiec.