After a hectic 24 hours of behind-the-scenes maneuvering, a public hearing for a proposed Sheetz fuel center and store in Fraser is back on for Wednesday evening.

On Monday, a representative of the Wexford-Pa.-based company asked Fraser city officials to postpone the meeting. Later that night, a Sheetz official sent an email to the Macomb Daily saying they would not be present at the public hearing.

Fraser City Councilmember Dana Sutherland said Monday in a Facebook post that the meeting had been cancelled. On Tuesday, she said it was back on.

City Manager Elaine Leven on Tuesday said she had received a request from Sheetz on Monday to postpone the meeting until a later date.

“It was considered, but after much thought, it was determined that we continue as planned with the special meeting,” Leven said in an email. “Our attorney did just receive notice from Sheetz that they will be prepared and ready to present at the meeting.”

It now appears the Fraser City Council will proceed with a public hearing for consideration of a conditional rezoning application for the Sheetz fuel enter and convenience store at the site of the former Fraser State Bank on 14 Mile and Utica roads.

In its Monday evening email, Sheetz said it had come across “new information” concerning their proposed gas station would not be making a presentation at the public hearing. The company needed time to review the information and its impact on the project.

On Tuesday, the company said Fraser officials had agreed to delay the Wednesday night hearing “as they had just shared with Sheetz new project updates.

“After further collaboration with city leaders, and very recent changes to the public approval process, Sheetz will now be presenting at tomorrow’s hearing,” Nick Ruffner, Sheetz’s public affairs manager said in a statement. “Our goal has always been to work together to build a store that is reflective of the community, and we look forward to sharing our current plans with residents at tomorrow’s hearing.”

Sheetz proposes to rezone a 3.3-acre site from Community Business District (CBD) to Commercial General (CG) for the purpose of building and operating a 24-hour fast-food restaurant and gas station. The developer, Columbus, Ohio-based Skilken Gold, has also asked for a freestanding fuel pricing sign, other wall signs, a special land use permit and other zoning variances.

Plans call for the longstanding bank to be demolished to make way for the development.

According to an agenda of the meeting, City Council members were to listen to a presentation from Sheetz officials on their request for a rezoning application, conduct a public hearing, and then vote on the issue.

The city’s Planning Commission in January voted to recommend the council deny the rezoning request and special land use permit. A number of homeowners raised concerns about increased traffic, trucks, and noise at all hours of the day and night, but others backed the company’s right to develop the property.

Over the weekend, Fraser Mayor Michael Lesich told The Macomb Daily it was possible the council would not vote on the matter Wednesday night.

“For me personally, I will wait to hear from the residents and see what the company has to say before I make my mind up,” Lesich said.

According to the mayor, the council will be asked to approve a special land use permit to allow a fuel center at 14 Mile and Utica roads. If it weren’t for Sheetz’s plans to build a gas station, the company could move ahead with its project.

“There’s a lot of questions about traffic, the size of the gas station, and whether it fits that section of the community,” Lesich said.

The mayor said the council may consider the item for a vote, ask for a postponement to digest the information council members expect to hear, or the applicant may withdraw its request.

Lesich said although the Sheetz project has been proposed since last December, the community remains divided over whether to allow it to move forward.

“It’s been right around 50-50, with people for and against it,” he said.

The special council meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Fraser Senior Activity Center at 34935 Hidden Pine Drive, which is off 15 Mile Road between Utica and Hayes roads.

The popular Pennsylvania-based company says it plans to open about 50 new locations in the area.