The Impact of a Sheetz in Stratford Hills

One of the main reasons for starting this organization was neighborhood concern over the long term consequences of the Sheetz at Stratford Hills and it’s conflict with the vision embodied in the Richmond 300 Master Plan for the Stratford Hills node. Changing the antiquated zoning now allowing for a Sheetz was the city’s # 1 “to do” in the 2020 master plan for the Stratford Hills node that promised a mixed-use, walkable, pedestrian and cyclist friendly community hub of independent businesses and housing.

But what does a short-sighted development like a Sheetz mean in the short term? Those who simply regard it as a new, shiny alternative to the current vacant buildings may not be aware of how the 24/7 Sheetz will dominate the Stratford Hills shopping center, which since being built can now be clearly seen.

VDOT’s Area Land Use Engineer for Richmond provided the following information:  A recent study for traffic generated by a Sheetz indicates that a Sheetz with 12 pumps and a 6,000 square foot store generates 4,049 vehicle trips per day (each entry and each exit counts as an individual ‘trip’). The morning peak hour is 91 vehicles and the evening peak hour is 81 vehicles. More of the research and history of this project can be viewed below.

Sheetz – Impacts

Sierra Club Falls of the James Group Supports Richmond City Residents Against Sheetz - Click here to view statement opposing 24 hour Sheetz 

Traffic and Safety Concerns

The proposed Sheetz at Stratford Hills on Hathaway (former Flowerama site) is in direct conflict with the city’s Master Plan.

The city must pause the permitting process for the Sheetz and conduct a full evaluation of its impacts on existing independent businesses, traffic safety, residents, and the future success of Master Plan implementation.

James River Impact

Application to the City

Click here to view documents associated with Wilton’s application to the city for the Sheetz development. The PDF named “01. Plans.pdf” is the comprehensive 29 page plan of development.

Let your voice be heard

Click ‘Take Action’ in the menu at the top of this page for email and phone numbers of our representatives

Gasoline Alley

BP, Tommy’s Carwash, WaWa, 7-11, Allen Tire, Dance’s Service Center, Forest Hill Garage, Advanced Auto Parts, Smiley’s Auto Glass, Valvoline Oil Change, and a Sam’s Carwash in the works, Adding a Sheetz to this busy intersection of Forest Hill does not reflect the city’s 2020 Master Plan’s vision for our ‘node’ that ”additional auto-related uses should be discouraged”

Bird’s eye view of the expected footprint that the proposed Sheetz will have in the shopping center

Photo #1

The red/blue line marks the boundary of Sheetz during construction

Photo #2

This shows the final property boundary of Sheetz adjacent to Forest Hill Avenue, how much parking it will take over, and how close its structures, excessive lighting, and noise will be to our independent businesses.

Photo #3

This shows the final boundary of Sheetz from the perspective of Hathaway/Longview. The store will occupy the space with current vacant buildings. This area will be parking and canopies.

The development plan locates its dumpsters within a stone’s toss of Natalie’s Restaurant.

What About Traffic?

That a Sheetz will generate a lot of additional traffic seems obvious. But city officials insist that a Traffic Impact Analysis is not necessary because the Sheetz does not differ from “existing uses”.

VDOT’s Area Land Use Engineer for Richmond provided the following information: A recent study for traffic generated by a Sheetz indicates that a Sheetz with 12 pumps and a 6,000 square foot store generates 4,049 vehicle trips per day (each entry and each exit counts as an individual ‘trip’). The morning peak hour is 91 vehicles and the evening peak hour is 81 vehicles.

A traffic and safety evaluation is not part of the Sheetz permitting process.

SHNA is working to access all available traffic and safety data related to a Sheetz of this design and to the roadways at this location. We will update this information as we learn more.

Richmond Police Department informed us that in 2021, there were nine (9) “reportable crashes” at or near the Forest Hill Avenue and Hathaway Road and five (5) “reportable crashes” in 2022 by October 3.

You can view the Richmond Police Department’s Vision Zero accident dashboard here: https://www.rva.gov/public-works/vision-zero

“Vision Zero is a multidisciplinary global strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all.” The city of Richmond committed to Vision Zero in 2017.

On average for the past three years, traffic accidents in the city have killed 15 people and seriously injured 2,225. We are a long way from “Vision Zero”.

Dismissing the need for a traffic impact analysis for this Sheetz dismisses the public safety risks it poses, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists navigating the confusing, tight intersection of Old Westham Road and Hathaway Road at the entrance/exit to the shopping center near Hathaway Towers.