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Residents press West Vincent supervisors over conditional-use enforcement and parking at Bertrtonville cafe
Summary
Public commenters raised long-running concerns over the conditional-use approval and parking at a popular Bertrtonville bakery/cafe, arguing required conditions have not been met and urging clearer enforcement and a timetable for a compliant parking plan.
Multiple residents used the meeting’s public-comment period to press supervisors about compliance and enforcement related to a conditional-use approval for a Bertrtonville bakery/cafe.
Commenters said the property remains noncompliant with conditions the board attached when granting conditional use and asked why the zoning hearing board is entertaining variance requests before the township has enforced those conditions. One resident quoted an attorney representing the applicant who argued it was unreasonable for the zoning hearing board to accept a variance application while conditions were unmet; a township official disagreed on the record.
Residents repeatedly asked when the applicant would provide a parking plan that documents legitimate on-site spaces, noting that the number of available, properly sized parking spaces will determine the number of allowable seats. "They need to come in with whatever their parking plan's going to be — to show us how many parking spaces they're going to have," a supervisor said during the discussion.
Speakers described continuing street parking around Flowing Springs Road and submitted photographs to the township showing vehicles with tires touching the asphalt; the township representative said enforcement has been observed but that location-specific questions are being handled by zoning enforcement and police.
Comments reflected frustration that the process has stretched over more than two years and offered differing legal interpretations about sequencing between a zoning hearing board decision and township expectations about parking and condition compliance. Several residents urged the board to ensure a clear timetable so the applicant completes the conditions of the conditional-use decision in a reasonable period.
Next steps: the township reiterated that the zoning hearing board process will run its course and that, after any decision, the applicant will be expected to supply a parking plan that demonstrates how many seats the business may operate; enforcement questions were deferred to staff and the zoning officer.
