New Wine & Spirits store wins planning approvals
NEWTOWN BOROrGH - The borough planning commission on Jan. 7 unanimously recommended that the borough council grant preliminary approval to Newtown developer Allan Smith’s revised plans for a new Wine & Spirit store, along with specialtyretail and condominiums.
fn a 6-0 vote, the planners wanted to move the project ahead, but also attached a list of conditions to the tentative endorsement, the main one being that the commission must review the recommendations of D WUDIfiF HnJinHHUinJ sWuGy that Smith had done for the project at South State and Penn streets.
“f don’t understand that if you have the recommendaWiRns IURP WKH WUDIfiF HnJineer, why didn’t you bring that to us?” questioned planning commission member Karen White.
A key concern is the traffiF flRw IRU WKH SURSRsHG GHvelopment, especially along Penn Street, which is now a narrow two-way thoroughfare.
“f only see one or two, or possibly three things that can be done with that street,” responded Smith, who grew up in Newtown Borough and has spearheaded a numEHU RI KiJK-SURfiOH SURMHFWs here, including the Stocking :RUNs RIfiFH FRPSOHx.
At issue is whether Penn Street, which is currently 18-feet wide, should be made a one-way corridor, something which the planning commission supports. As part of the preliminary plan approval, the street is to be turned into a one-way.
“2uU WUDIfiF HnJinHHU sDiG that Penn Street should be a one-way,” noted the developer’s attorney, Timothy Duffy.
However, because the street belongs to the municipality, borough council wiOO KDvH WKH finDO sDy Rn whether it should no longer be two-way.
“During construction, we have to have assurances that Penn Street will remain open,” added borough engineer Mario Canales.
The width of a private-access road was also a concern to planners. PennDOT wants the driveway to be at least 24-feet-wide in order to tie in with South State Street. The borough engineer had advised the driveway be at least 26-feet, to which the developer had objected.
At Monday’s meeting, the planning commission DSSHDUHG sDWisfiHG wiWK WKH recommendation of a 24foot width.
Smith indicated that he had held off presenting the WUDIfiF HnJinHHUinJ sWuGy because he was cautious PennDOT, which must reviHw DOO WKH WUDIfiF issuHs DnG JivH finDO DSSURvDO.
“They’re like the gorilla in the room,” he warned.
Smith wants to build a three-story free standing, PixHG-usH sWUuFWuUH WKDW would surround the Sedia House at the corner of South State and Penn streets, adjacent to the former Stockburger auto dealership. The Wine & Spirits shop (State Store) would be on the JURunG flRRU wiWK 13 PuOWifamily condos on the two uSSHU flRRUs, sHvHn RnH-EHGURRP DnG six WwR-EHGURRP units.
The site would also house the Newtown Beer Store on the lower level which would wrap around the Sedia House, a single-family 18th-century historic dwelling which will remain.
As part of the preliminary approval, the planners required that Smith apply for zoning variance concerning the Sedia House’s side-yard setback and side lot.
fn pushing for the planners to take at least some action Monday night, Smith argued that any delay could have an adverse effect on the project.
“ff you were a potential tenant looking at this, he claimed, “this is something to take into account.”
At its last two meetings, the planning commission had raised a number of issues with the project, for which Smith had been seeking a combined preliminary/ finDO DSSURvDO.
fn November, the planners tabled the plans in order to JivH 6PiWK PRUH WiPH WR finH tune the project.
During that meeting, Canales had listed more than 80 comments that he had prepared concerning the proposed development.
He had worried that the size of the delivery trucks entering Penn Street would KDvH GiIfiFuOWy UHDFKinJ WKH loading dock for the liquor store and beer distributorship.
fn addition, Canales was also concerned that the current 75 permit holders using the parking lot on the site would not be displaced. The spaces are located behind WKH HxisWinJ OiTuRU sWRUH DW 10 Centre Avenue.
Another issue raised was if the liquor store pulls out of the project, another retailer leasing the space might need more parking than currently planned.
The borough engineer also pointed out that the several very large trees on the property would be affected by the installation of storm sewers.
As part of preliminary plan approval, the developer PusW KiUH FHUWifiHG WUHH Hxperts to determine if two of the trees can be saved.
Among the other concerns that the planners have had about the development were: shopping cart storage in the parking lot, screening mechanical units and recy- cling dumpsters from public view, curb dimensions, signage and landscaping.
The tentative approval given for the project also requires that the project comply with a number of offiFiDO UHviHw OHWWHUs, inFOuGing recommendations from WKH ERURuJK zRninJ RIfiFHU, shade tree commission and fiUH PDUsKDO.
Newtown Borough Council will now consider the planning commission’s preliminary approval, which will most likely be at council’s cebruary monthly meeting.
The planning commissiRn’s nHxW sFKHGuOHG PHHWing is ceb. 4, at which it’s HxSHFWHG WR IuUWKHU UHviHw the project including the WUDIfiF sWuGy.