BUFFALO TWP — The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board will ponder whether to let the Sheetz along Route 356 obtain a liquor license.

Shawn Kelly, PLCB spokesman, said now that the hearing examiner is due to have filed a report, the board can act.

“They will look at the entire application,” Kelly said.

However, there is no deadline for a decision.

A hearing was held July 13 in Penn Hills after Freeport School District protested the convenience store obtaining a liquor license since it is adjacent to the high school campus.

Dan Lucovich, school board president, said the district is hoping the state denies the license since one building and the football stadium are well within 300 feet of the Sheetz.

He pointed out the state's decision may not be the final word on the matter.

“Either side has the right to appeal,” Lucovich said.

Nick Ruffner, Sheetz public relations manager, read a prepared statement in response to Freeport's concerns.

“At Sheetz, we are dedicated to being good neighbors to the communities and school districts where our 558 store locations call home,” Ruffner said.

“We will continue to listen and take into consideration the concerns surrounding the liquor license in Buffalo Township as the planning and permitting process proceeds.”

Under the state code, the liquor control board may deny a license if a protest was filed on the grounds that a church, hospital, charitable institution, public playground or school is located within 300 feet of the premises proposed to be licensed.

The school district opposed a license being granted to Sheetz in a letter dated April 7.

According to the letter signed by Lucovich, “I would urge the committee to consider the findings of our request to the impact having alcoholic beverage sold so close to our high school campus.”

He said problems would occur if someone buying alcohol at the store then tries selling it to students.

The 300-foot provision is not an automatic disqualification for a license.

The PLCB stated in a June 21 letter that the district would have to prove its case.

“At the hearing, you must establish to the satisfaction of the examiner that your protest is valid,” according to the PLCB letter.

The PLCB notified the township in March about the Sheetz application.

Township Supervisor John Haven, board chairman, said Buffalo backs the district in not wanting alcohol on sale so near to the school campus.

“We support the school district's position,” Haven said. “It's so close.”

Although the township sent a letter to the PLCB, no one but Lucovich and Superintendent Ian Magness attended the Penn Hills hearing.

Township solicitor Larry Lutz said the PLCB may consider the letter even though the township did not participate in the hearing.

Kelly confirmed the township letter will be considered.

“The hearing is only part of the equation,” he said.

Haven stressed the township has nothing against the company, per se.

“It's not against Sheetz,” Haven said.