We're not opposed to development — we're opposed to this particular development at this particular location.

The property is already zoned for neighborhood-serving commercial uses, so we believe there are opportunities to develop the site without adding another gas station to an area that already has several.

Our concerns include:

• Traffic & congestion: The intersection is already busy, and the City has determined that a Traffic Impact Study is needed as part of the rezoning review.
• Safety: Additional vehicle traffic, frequent turning movements, and increased activity at the intersection raise concerns for drivers, pedestrians, and nearby residents.
• Noise, Lighting, & overnight activity: A convenience store and gas station can generate activity throughout the day and potentially into the overnight hours. The proposed operating hours have not yet been finalized.
• Crime & security: Residents are concerned about the potential for increased loitering, vehicle activity, and other safety issues associated with a high-traffic convenience store and fueling station.
• Neighborhood compatibility: This is a busy intersection surrounded by established neighborhoods and community uses. We believe the scale and intensity of development should be carefully considered.
• Opportunity: Saying no to this rezoning does not mean saying no to development. The existing NS zoning allows a variety of neighborhood-serving uses, including retail, restaurants, professional services, medical services, and other businesses.
• Redundancy: There are already 13 gas stations in the immediate 3 mi radius of this site. We don't think a 14th is going to be better for the community.

Ultimately, we believe this corner deserves thoughtful development that serves the people who live here — not simply another gas station because one can be built there.

We've had the opportunity to raise questions directly with Sheetz representatives about the proposed location and the potential impact on our community. We appreciate them taking the time to hear our concerns. However, many of the questions residents raised were not directly answered.

We asked about issues including traffic, operating hours, lighting, noise, safety, crime, and the overall impact on the surrounding neighborhoods. The response we received was essentially that these are concerns they hear frequently from communities where they propose new locations — but we did not receive specific answers about how those concerns would be addressed at this particular site. That's important to us because this isn't an abstract discussion about Sheetz as a company. It's about this location, this intersection, and the people who live here. We believe residents deserve specific information about how the proposed development would affect our community before the rezoning is approved.

We're not asking Sheetz to promise that nothing will ever go wrong. We're asking for clear answers about what they're proposing and how they intend to address the legitimate concerns raised by their future neighbors.

The proposed Sheetz would add another high-traffic business to an already busy intersection. Gas stations generate frequent vehicle trips throughout the day as customers enter and exit to purchase fuel and convenience items. We're concerned about additional congestion, turning movements, pedestrian safety, and traffic impacts on the surrounding neighborhood.

We believe those impacts should be fully evaluated before approving a permanent zoning change. And I would eventually put your actual traffic counts/turning-movement projections from the Sheetz rezoning documents right underneath this. That would make this section much more powerful than simply saying “we're worried about traffic.”

According to Sheetz, the official traffic survey is being done now and has not been finalized (as of 8/12/26). When we learn more we'll share about that above.

A gas station and convenience store can bring a different pattern of activity than other neighborhood businesses, including late-night customers, cash transactions, frequent vehicle turnover, and people coming from outside the immediate neighborhood. That doesn't mean a Sheetz will necessarily increase crime, but it is a legitimate consideration when evaluating the impact of a high-traffic, potentially late-night business next to residential neighborhoods.

We believe the City should consider the actual crime and safety patterns at comparable gas stations in the surrounding area before approving the rezoning.

It's possible, but there isn't a reliable way to predict an exact dollar impact. Property values are influenced by many factors, including location, traffic, noise, lighting, surrounding development, and buyer preferences. What we do know is that this proposal would place a large, highly visible commercial operation immediately adjacent to established residential neighborhoods. At minimum, that potential impact deserves to be considered before approving a permanent zoning change.

We're asking the City to evaluate the full neighborhood impact—not simply whether the project can be built.

No. We're not asking for the property to remain vacant. In fact, the City's 2040 plan specifically encourages the development of vacant lots into more diverse types of housing (note that it does not outline development into "neighborhood centers or commercial use").

The existing NS zoning already allows a variety of neighborhood-serving uses, including retail, restaurants, professional services, medical offices, financial services, and other commercial uses. Our position is simply that development should be appropriate for its surroundings. We believe there are better uses for this particular corner than another gas station.

NIMBY stands for Not In My Back Yard.

Because zoning is literally the process by which the community and local government decide what types of development are appropriate in different locations. The property owner has the right to develop the property, but the requested use requires a zoning change. That means the City Council is being asked to make a decision about whether that change is appropriate.

We believe this space would be better used by something other than a gas station since there are already 13 within a 3 mile radius of this site

Vote NO on the proposed rezoning.

We're not asking the City to prevent development at this property. We're asking City Council to keep the existing neighborhood-service zoning in place and require any future development to be appropriate for the surrounding community.

The property is already zoned NS (Neighborhood Services), which allows a variety of neighborhood-serving commercial uses.

The requested NC(CD) (Neighborhood Center, Conditional) zoning would change the zoning framework and allow the proposed development that isn't permitted under the property's current zoning.

This isn't a question of whether the property can be developed. It can. The question is what type of development should be allowed here.

Charlotte confirms that rezoning is required when a property owner wants to use land for a purpose outside the property's existing zoning district.

The property doesn't become unusable or permanently vacant. It remains under its existing zoning, and the owner can pursue development consistent with that zoning. That's an important distinction: denying this rezoning does not mean denying development. It means denying this particular rezoning request.

Charlotte's rezoning process exists specifically for situations where a proposed use falls outside the property's current zoning.

Not necessarily. The property is already zoned NS (Neighborhood Services), which allows a variety of neighborhood-serving uses, including retail, restaurants, professional services, medical offices, financial services, and certain residential or mixed-use development. There is no requirement that the property become two fast-food restaurants if the Sheetz rezoning is denied. The property would remain under its existing zoning, and the owner could pursue another use permitted under that zoning. We're not opposed to development. We simply believe this corner has the potential to serve the neighborhood in more ways than another gas station — whether through restaurants, retail, local businesses, professional services, or other neighborhood-oriented uses. The choice isn't “Sheetz or two fast-food restaurants.” The question is: what is the best use for this corner?

No. The closest Sheetz to the proposed location is in Troutman. Most Sheetz locations are in the Triad area or in their original headquarters state of Pennsylvania.

So do some of us! 😂

This campaign isn't about whether Sheetz is a good company or whether people enjoy their food, coffee, or gas prices. It's about whether this particular location is the right place for another gas station. You can like Sheetz and still believe this corner deserves a different use.

One lover of Sheetz suggested sending a letter to Sheetz corporate asking them to just pick a different spot in the area.

Sheetz website says its stores are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This is contrary to the information provided to us during the public hearing on August 11th, in which Sheetz representatives noted that the "business hours have not yet been determined." For nearby residents, operating hours matter because they affect lighting, noise, traffic, deliveries, and activity during overnight hours.

We absolutely support local businesses and good jobs. The question is what kind of businesses make the most sense here. Sheetz has estimated approximately 20 jobs would be created at this location. But employment isn't unique to gas stations—restaurants, retail stores, professional services, medical offices, and other businesses permitted under the existing zoning can also create jobs.

We shouldn't have to choose between economic development and neighborhood quality of life. We can have both.

The Charlotte Future 2040 Policy Map is the City’s long-term guide for how different areas of Charlotte are envisioned to grow and develop. It identifies Place Types that describe the intended character, scale, and development pattern for different areas and works alongside the Charlotte Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan and Community Area Plans. Importantly, the Policy Map is not a zoning map and does not automatically approve or prohibit a development; rather, it provides a policy framework for evaluating whether proposed growth aligns with the City’s adopted vision. Our area falls within the North Middle & Outer Community Area, which has its own more detailed plan addressing future growth, development, infrastructure, and community priorities. Learn more about the North Middle & Outer Community Area Plan and view the specific Policy Map for our area.

So while a gas station would certainly allowable if rezoned - we don't believe this aligns with the City's 2040 Place Type for this specific lot.

If you'd like to ask us a question (some of your neighbors!), please use the form here.

You can contact the Rezoning Planner for questions regarding the rezoning application itself: Michael Russell at Michael.Russell@charlottenc.gov