Garfield Township planning commissioners this week approved the complete redevelopment of the Shell gas station at the corner of US-31 and South Airport Road, the latest in a series of gas station remodels True North Energy has undertaken across the region. Planning commissioners also approved plans for a new YouthWork headquarters on Cedar Run Road.

Shell Redevelopment
True North Energy received the green light to move ahead with a complete redevelopment of the Shell gas station site at the corner of US-31 and South Airport Road. The company purchased 25 gas stations/convenience stores in the Traverse City market from Schmuckal Oil Company in 2019 and has since renovated several of them, including locations on Munson Avenue, Three Mile Road, and South Airport Road near LaFranier Road.

Project representative Rick Turner of Diamond Z Engineering said plans call for “tearing down the whole station” on US-31 and rebuilding it with a larger truenorth convenience store, a matching car wash, and a fueling canopy with new underground tanks and piping. Turner said the fueling infrastructure would feature the “latest technology” to prevent leaks, adding that True North Energy would be digging out and removing any old tanks and lines and remediating any contaminated soil if found. A former drive-thru coffee building on the site will be demolished, while multi-use paths on both sides of the property will connect to the intersection corner.

The driveway entrance to Shell from US-31 generated the most discussion about the project. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) expressed concerns about the current configuration, noting there have been 14 crashes at the driveway since 2020. The largest number of those – five – have been because of drivers turning left out of Shell onto US-31. As part of the site’s redesign, MDOT wanted to restrict the US-31 driveway to right-in, right-out only. MDOT said drivers who wanted to go left out of Shell could instead take the access drive over to Applebee’s and make a left there.

Turner said in a response memo that True North Energy opposed the new configuration. “Southbound customers turning left off US-31 (into Shell) would be put into a very dangerous position if they initiate a turn without realizing that their entrance is blocked by the geometry of the right-in/right-out approach,” he wrote. “We will continue through the planning process, but True North is ambivalent about investing money to improve this site if public access is restricted.”

MDOT and True North Energy eventually landed on a compromise that was satisfactory to both parties. The new US-31 driveway will provide a full entrance – allowing drivers to make both right and left turns into Shell from the highway –but only provide a right-out exit onto US-31.

“The crash data only showed one crash related to vehicles turning left into the site, and there are times of the day (evenings, night, early morning) when turning left into the site is easy to navigate due to traffic being lighter,” MDOT’s Krista Phillips wrote to township officials. “This appeals to True North because it alleviates their concern regarding the economic concerns of limiting access, as well as the safety concern of customers who might initiate a left turn without realizing that their entrance is blocked by the geometry of the right-in/right-out approach. And it appeals to MDOT as it still mitigates the crashes related to turning left out of the driveway, which was the crash type seen most often at that driveway.”

Turner said True North Energy plans to move an access drive on the east side of the property up to the north, which he said would be better for drivers since it will line up with the drive that runs parallel to South Airport Road in front of multiple businesses up to an exit across from the Grand Traverse Mall. In an email to The Ticker, True North Energy CEO Ryan Howard said the company hopes “to commence construction when the weather permits in spring of 2026.” Due to the size and scope of the project, Howard said, “expect the improved truenorth to open in late 2026. We are excited to offer our guests a new facility with enhanced offerings.”

YouthWork Headquarters
Garfield Township planning commissioners this week also unanimously approved plans for YouthWork – a program of Child and Family Services of Northwestern Michigan – to establish new headquarters at 5855 Cedar Run Road. YouthWork was previously located at Twin Lakes Park, but following the transfer of the park from Grand Traverse County to Long Lake Township, the site is “no longer available to them,” according to the application.

The five-acre parcel on Cedar Run Road “consists of an existing residence and farm outbuildings with open space and farmland, previously utilized as a single-family residence,” according to the application. The YouthWork project will provide housing for up to four young residents, workshop space, tools and equipment storage, office space for staff, and a learning hub and classroom. The project also describes space for a small barn, the GoatWork herd, a chicken coop, a greenhouse, native flowers and trees, and a growing area/nursery that will help cultivate “products involved within the conservation projects in northern Michigan and will provide a green buffer to the neighboring uses,” according to the application. The greenhouse will provide “food sustainability throughout programs at Child and Family Services of NW MI.”

According to the organization, YouthWork aims to “strengthen young people and their communities by completing conservation and skilled trades projects for nonprofits and government agencies. (The) YouthWork program provides young people with hands-on experience in conservation and energy efficiency while earning wages and gaining basic life skills and job readiness skills.” In addition to Traverse City, conservation teams operate across the state – from River Raisin in Monroe to Isle Royale in the Upper Peninsula.