Scranton Council Reviews CKPA LLC's Townhome and Laundromat Development Plans

The Scranton City Planning Commission convened on August 27, 2025, to review significant land development plans, including a proposal for townhomes and a laundromat at 10012 Wheeler Avenue. The commission received an update from Jude Colwell, the civil engineer representing CKPA LLC, who outlined the progress made since the last meeting.

Colwell reported that the project has addressed all technical comments and received clearance from the FAA, which is crucial due to the property's location in an airport overlay zone. However, the project is still pending approval from PennDOT for a Highway Occupancy Permit (HOP) and the sewage planning module, which has been submitted to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

A key point of discussion was a waiver request regarding financial security. Colwell explained that since all improvements outside the public right-of-way will be private, they seek to avoid posting security, a requirement typically enforced by PennDOT. The commission appeared open to this request, noting that similar projects in the past had not required such security.

Additionally, the commission discussed the need for a lot consolidation plan, as the property consists of three parcels under a single deed. Colwell requested conditional approval to allow construction of the laundromat to proceed while awaiting the consolidation plan for the townhomes.

The commission expressed satisfaction with the progress and indicated that they could move forward with issuing building permits for the laundromat, contingent upon the completion of the lot consolidation for the townhomes. The meeting concluded with a consensus to support the conditional approval, emphasizing the importance of these developments for the community.

As the project advances, the commission will continue to monitor the outstanding approvals, ensuring that the development aligns with city planning goals and community needs.