Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Commercial Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Blair Township planning commission tables Dollar General plan over parking, drainage and sidewalk questions
Summary
The Blair Township Planning Commission on July 1, 2024 unanimously recommended tabling a preliminary Dollar General plan for 16474 Dunnings Highway after the township engineer flagged drainage, grading, curbing and landscaping issues and requested clarification of a developer request to reduce required parking from 45 to 33 spaces.
The Blair Township Planning Commission voted unanimously on July 1, 2024 to recommend tabling a preliminary site plan for a proposed Dollar General store at 16474 Dunnings Highway in Duncansville.
Township engineer Eric Banks (Stiffler McGraw) told the commission the Larson Design Group–prepared preliminary plans and the developer’s SALDO application are under review and that review fees have been paid. Banks said the engineer’s review letter will require the developer to address multiple technical items, including the location of a dumpster pad, grading plan issues, curbing and landscaping plans, and a drainage concern: the swale shown on the plans appears to be uphill from the proposed building. Banks also asked for additional clarification on how the developer calculated the requested reduction in parking spaces.
The developer requested waivers to two Blair Township ordinance sections: Section 350-48 (parking spaces), seeking to reduce the required number of parking spaces from 45 to 33, and Section 344-21 (sidewalks). Commissioners moved to table the overall preliminary plan and each waiver request pending the engineer’s written review and further information from the applicant. Each tabling motion passed with three yes votes (Kreidler, Gillie, Ventre).
Why it matters: The engineer’s concerns touch on traffic circulation, stormwater conveyance and pedestrian connectivity—issues that affect site safety, compliance with local standards, and downstream drainage. The commission’s tabling action preserves the township’s ability to require plan revisions before any conditional approval or onward municipal action.
Next steps: The engineer will issue a review letter listing required plan corrections and information; the commission requested the developer respond to those items before the plan is returned for further consideration. The commission’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Aug. 5, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.
Authorities referenced in the meeting: Blair Township Ordinance Section 350-48 (parking spaces) and Section 344-21 (sidewalks).
