Township to revisit plans for Ross mall

Ross commissioners will take another look next month at a proposal to redevelop the former Sears store at Ross Park Mall into a three-story complex that would include a movie theater, climbing wall facility, shops and a relocated food court.

The proposal, which was tabled Monday, will be considered again on March 18.

The two-story Sears store will be redeveloped in a “whole new dynamic,” said Michael Takacs with Bohler Engineering.

A third floor would be added, and the existing food court would be moved into the facility. A First Ascent climbing and fitness facility, including a 50foot climbing wall, would be on the first and second floors. The second floor also would have retail on the perimeter, and the entrance to a theater, which would be on the third floor.

The first and second floors would get new entrances, Mr. Takacs said.

The development was stymied after some commissioners

pressed representatives of Simon Property Group, which owns the mall, about improving pedestrian access.

Many employees and shoppers who arrive at the mall by bus must walk on the mall access road, which does not have sidewalks.

Commissioner Jack Betkowski said many of the mall workers have dark uniforms, and it is difficult to see them walking along the road. He noted that the theater will likely be open after the mall closes, which may mean even more pedestrians walking along the access road to the bus stop.

After Mr. Takacs noted that the mall has always been “topographically challenged,” commission President Steve Korbel reacted angrily.

“The current pedestrian and public transportation to the mall is, in one word, untenable. There are too many people who are put at risk every day,” he said. “… You can put a sidewalk in.”

Scott Richardson with Simon asked commissioners to approve the conditional use and then bring up the matter again when it is time for the building permit. But they voted 9-0 to table the conditional use.

Commissioners also tabled the multiuse development site plan for the former Perry Shops property along Route 19 after hearing objections from residents of Ross and McCandless whose property abuts the development.

They approved the conditional use for the development by a 7-1 vote with Joe Laslavic opposed. Mr. Korbel had not arrived at the meeting when the vote was taken.

The front will remain retail, with a free-standing Rite Aid, a fast-food restaurant with a drivethru, and other retail and restaurant space. The plans also call for a selfstorage facility, a gym and 124 apartments.

Curtis Kossman said the property has been in his family since 1949 and his vision for the property uses the entire site, not just the frontage on Route 19 where the Wine and Spirits store stood.

“The building there now in essence has reached its useful life. It’s too close to the road. Its orientation and footprint does not meet the modern standards of retail today,” Mr. Kossman said.

“The property is intended to be a very livable, walkable development,” he said.

But in order to use the entire property, Kossman Development needed to get variances from the Ross zoning hearing board, which granted 16 of the 18 variances requested. One of those shortened the buffer zone between the project and the neighbors over the border in McCandless.

“The number of zoning variances that have been granted seem … to be a large change to the stated rules of Ross,” said Scott Metzger, who spoke on behalf of residents of Kaylor Drive in McCandless.

No date was given for when the board will reconsider the Kossman proposal.