Sheetz is considering a new location in Waterford Township, according to township officials.

The company explored a Drayton Plains site last year, said Township Supervisor Anthony Bartolotta, but it was adjacent to the Clinton River and “we told them absolutely not. We have a wellwater protection plan in the township.”

Skilken Gold, the developer representing Sheetz’s plan at 4315 Dixie Highway, applied for a special approval hearing on Nov. 28.

“After reviewing our staff report, either Skilken Gold or Sheetz pulled the plug (on the Drayton Plains plan),” said Jeffrey Polkowski, the township’s community development director. “Waterford relies on groundwater, so wellhead protection is very important here.”

Planning commission meeting minutes show a 7-0 vote to postpone the proposal.

Bartolotta said he talked with Dave Woodward, a Sheetz consultant, about the newly proposed location at 6600 Highland Road near Oakland County International Airport.

Bartolotta said that site is more appropriate.

Polkowski said he heard Sheetz was interested in a new site but has not received an application for site-plan approval, one of the first steps needed before new development starts.

The new site is zoned for office use — a vacant bank stands there now — but is surrounded by commercial zoning. The planning commission and township trustees would have to approve a rezoning for Sheetz or any other developer, Polkowski said.

“My office is an impartial organization that looks purely at land uses. Property ownership is not a factor in the special approval process. We look at land use, its compatibility and how it fits into the neighboring environment,” Polkowski said.

Sheetz plans to open 50 to 60 stores in Michigan over the next five years. The first opened in August near Detroit Metro Airport in Romulus. A second store is under construction at 29225 Smith Road, Romulus. Other future stores:

• 29455 Grand River Ave., Farmington Hills

• M-59 at Milford Road, Highland Township

• 39471 W. 12 Mile Road, Novi

• 4160 S. Lapeer Road, Orion Township

• 3200 W. 14 Mile Road, Royal Oak

• 23 Mile Road east of I-94 in Chesterfield Township

• 19001 E. Nine Mile Road, Eastpointe

• Southwest corner of 14 Mile and Utica roads, Fraser

• 45011 Garfield Road, Macomb

• 45075 N. Gratiot Avenue, Macomb

• 28030 Gratiot Ave., Roseville

• 48825 Van Dyke in Shelby Township

• 20623 Eureka Road, Taylor

• 8200 Telegraph Road, Taylor

• 7565 Haggerty Road in Van Buren Township

• 5970 12 Mile Road, Warren

• 31925 Van Dyke Ave., Warren

• 2103 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti.