Borough considers proposed projects
POTTSTOWN >> Three redevelopment projects received a favorable reaction from borough council Jan. 9 with all three seemingly on track for final approval this week.
The first to be considered, and the one in the biggest rush during Jan. 9’s work session, were the representatives of Catalyst Commercial Development in Conshohocken.
Dollar General at Former Subway
They were before council with a plan to re-develop the property at 1432 E. High St., which many may know as the
site of the former Subway restaurant.
Catalyst representative Aaron Repucci told council the plan is to demolish the portion of the building that once held the Subway to create more parking and create space for a Dollar General store.
The re-development will also allow for expansion of both King Pizza and the popular Three Brothers Grill Mexican restaurant there.
The developers were asking for council to waive the land development process, arguing that they are actually making the building footprint smaller, creating more parking and open space, as well as repairing and extending the facade to hide the utilities visible on the roof of the building.
Also, said Repucci, Dollar General is anxious to move in soon.
“They want this lease signed yesterday, and they want to be in by August,” he said, adding that any delay may cause the developers to lose the tenant. It’s that tenancy that makes the project financially feasible, they said.
Despite the fact that the borough engineer’s review letter had only been received that evening, council seemed inclined to try to accommodate the project, particularly given that some of the elements sought by the planning commission, such as some brick and faux iron fencing similar to that along the Wawa and McDonald’s, was added to the plan.
They even explored the idea of holding a special meeting later in the month for a vote if it was felt more time was needed for consideration. Councilman Ryan Procsal, who declared himself a regular customer of Three Brothers, said he was ready to vote “right now” in favor of the plan.
Burger King
Another redevelopment project in the East End of town calls for the addition of a play area and better drive-thru circulation at the Burger King at 1515 E. High St., which will result in the loss of 15 parking places.
Borough Manager Justin Keller told council the restaurant’s business is changing and more of its customers want to get their food at the drive-thru so the proposed changes will allow the addition of a second drive-thru kiosk.
Council raised no objects to this plan.
Creative Health
Over on the other side of town, Creative Health returned with its final plans for a “long-term structured residence” at 71 Robinson St.
This plan calls for renovating the former Palladino Roofing building into offices and six rooms with two beds each, and the construction of a 1,600-foot cottage with two rooms, each with two beds, for patients of Creative Health.
The rooms will be used to prepare patients to be transitioned back into the community and is similar to the facility that Creative Health already operates at 11 Robinson Street, said Andrew Trentacoste, Creative Health CEO.
Borough Solicitor Charles D. Garner Jr. said although not required to, Creative Health has made a sizable contribution to a fund to pay for a new traffic signal in that part of town when it becomes necessary.
The planning commission recommended preliminary/final site plan approval.
Expanding Business and More Plans
Peggy Lee-Clark, executive director of Pottstown Area Industrial Development, better known as PAID, also announced that the Robinson Street/Shoemaker Road area of town is about to become the home of a borough business that is expanding.
A business called Turn 5 is doubling its work force and, from 3 to 8 p.m. Jan. 10 accepted applications for new part-time and full-time positions paying between $14 to $16 per hour.
Lee-Clark is also shepherding the plan for the redevelopment of land along Keystone Boulevard — 255 acres of land on 13 different parcels between West High Street and the Schuylkill River— toward approval by both the borough and West Pottsgrove township. The plan builds on:
• a regional market assessment in 2012 which estimated demand for land uses in the Pottstown region through 2031;
• a fiscal analysis in 2012 which warned that West Pottsgrove should transition away from relying on its landfill fee reserves to close budget deficits and generate more tax revenue;
• a 2012 industrial zone access study;
• and the borough’s economic strategic plan, adopted in 2008.
It recommends the extension of Keystone Boulevard through West Pottsgrove to Old Reading Pike which would provide easy access of the newly constructed Route 422 interchange at Grosstown Road.
First outlined in May, the Keystone Employment and Economic Plan for the area is now ready for adoption and calls for industrial, research and development, office and residential elements.
It is estimated it could create as many as 5,400 jobs and provide $10 million in additional tax revenues for both the Pottstown and Pottsgrove school districts, as well as the borough and West Pottsgrove.
Known as a “specific plan,” the KEEP proposal is presumably attractive to developers who agree with its parameters because it reduces the amount of engineering and land development process required before building can begin, thus reducing “soft” development costs.
Council raised no questions or objections.