Murphy Oil explores Sebring location

SEBRING Murphy Oil USA, Inc. is exploring the possibility of building a Murphy Express gas station at the corner of U.S. 27 North and Grand Prix Drive, according to documents obtained from the Highlands County Engineering Department.

The county engineers held two teleconferences with Murphy Oil representatives; the first Dec. 17 and the second March 18.

The conferences also considered a request from the Florida Department of Transportation to modify the driveway, which would be located 100 feet further to the south.

Tom Bentley is the permit manager for Murphy Oil. He said Wednesday that the company is waiting on a permit from the FDOT. Once they receive that permit the process could move along more quickly, he said.

"We are waiting for an official permit from FDOT," he said.

A pre-application request form was signed March 3 by Bentley, as authorized representative for Murphy Oil, to construct the gas station on about 1.37 acres, which includes a wooded area behind the existing business on that corner.

Prior to the 2004 hurricanes there was a Farm Store on the same corner with a small gas station. The gas station was closed after storm damage, but the store remained open under a different name.

They reportedly discussed entrances and exits, use of Palm Way as an access for heavy truck traffic and closing of the median on Grand Prix Drive near U.S. 27.

"Palm way will be reconstructed to accommodate the use of heavy truck traffic," the March 18 teleconference notes stated. "It will also be widened to 30 feet."

"We are doing this to accommodate our (fuel and store delivery) trucks," Bentley said.

Site planning and engineering is being conducted by Commercial Site Solutions, Inc., of Tampa, which submitted a pre-application package including a rough site plan, trip generation data, a project information sheet and submitted a $150 fee.

No other permits have been applied for at this time, according to the County Building Department.

Nor have any detailed plans been filed other than the pre-application plan, which showed five pump areas with 10 fueling positions with a canopy located in a straight line along Grand Prix Drive and a small 280 square foot kiosk toward the middle.

They will sell unleaded, mid-grade and premium, as well as auto diesel, Bentley said.

The gas station plan would mean the demolition of the existing structure and incorporates a wooded lot behind the existing property, as well as a portion of wooded further south area along Palm Way for a retention area.

County Engineer Ramon Gavarrete said Wednesday in all likelihood if the company moves forward with its proposal, the county would require the company to go on city sewer if one is located within a quarter of a mile as well as the addition of a fire hydrant.

City water already was in use on the property.

A joint use agreement already exists between the property owner and Murphy Oil, the teleconference notes stated.