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Planning commission approves two advisory reviews with recommendations, urges municipal engineering follow-up
Summary
The commission voted to approve Stewart Group’s advisory reviews for a canopy addition at Amerway in Altoona and a major expansion at Blaze Alexander Hyundai, noting conditional recommendations (lot-line clarification, stormwater confirmation, erosion control) and that final regulatory approval resides with the municipal authorities.
The Blair County Planning Commission voted to approve Stewart Group’s advisory reviews for two development applications in Altoona while emphasizing municipal-level engineering and stormwater review remain the municipality’s responsibility.
Planner Tom Gisson (S1) described the Amerway (canopy) application: a 4,089 sq ft canopy addition intended to support a Pennsylvania DEP no‑exposure certification. Staff noted a possible lot‑line ambiguity and recommended municipal confirmation that the canopy would not create a new nonconforming setback or materially increase impervious‑surface impacts. Commissioner S13 moved to approve with those recommendations and the motion passed.
Gisson also presented a major site plan for Blaze Alexander Hyundai: a roughly 5,900 sq ft building expansion and a small battery-storage shed on a site with an existing 95.8% impervious coverage (compared with 65% allowed by code). The applicant proposes site improvements including sidewalks, landscaping and an underground subsurface detention system; staff recommended municipal review for erosion, sediment control and drainage and noted the project appears consistent with the county comprehensive plan. The commission approved the advisory review with comments about stormwater mitigation and public-right-of-way improvements.
Commissioners repeatedly reminded members and applicants that county reviews are advisory: municipalities (in these cases, the City of Altoona) retain final regulatory authority and should conduct detailed engineering, percolation/infiltration testing where applicable and erosion-control review.
What happens next: Staff will forward comments to the municipal reviewers and ask that the City of Altoona confirm lot‑line and impervious‑surface details and that engineers complete any required percolation or drainage testing prior to municipal approval.
