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County engineer flags historic, floodplain and stormwater issues for proposed Blaine unmanned gas station
Summary
Perry County planners heard review comments from the county engineer on a proposed unmanned gas island in Blaine, who said nearby buildings at 407 and 409 East Main are eligible for the National Register and that floodplain, driveway and stormwater clarifications must be resolved before the commission will recommend approval.
The Perry County Planning Commission heard a presentation on a proposed self‑serve gas station in Blaine and was told by the county engineer that several outstanding technical and historic‑resource issues must be resolved before the commission will recommend approval.
Ryan, the county engineer, told the panel: "We reviewed the plan, we did find quite a few items that do need to be addressed, before we'd be willing to say we have a we approved it, or recommend approval." He said the property and adjacent buildings "including 407 and 409" are listed as eligible resources for the National Register and that the site is inside the Blaine Historic District, which will require PHMC review and possible mitigation.
The engineer also flagged permitting and design concerns: part of the parcel lies in the 100‑year floodplain and "a Chapter 106 permit may be required," Ryan said, and staff asked the applicant to clarify existing versus proposed impervious areas and finished‑floor elevations near an unnamed tributary. He pointed out access problems, noting the county standard limits curb driveway width to 25 feet and that the plans appeared to show larger entrances and missing turning‑radii details that must meet a 24‑foot minimum.
Applicant representatives said the project is intended as an unmanned, 24‑hour fueling station. The applicant relayed the borough’s early comment that it would "rather see a concrete pad than what's there," and said the borough asked for a boundary survey, a fence and measures to keep additional traffic off the adjacent alley. The applicant also confirmed that a highway occupancy permit application has been started and that electric service and a hydrant will need to be shown on the plan.
Commissioners and staff advised the applicant to confer with the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission and recommended considering a cultural‑resource consultant or mitigation options such as historically styled exterior elements to reduce visual impacts to the district. No formal action was taken; Chair said the commission expects the applicant and county engineer to work through the comments and return with responses at a later meeting.
Next steps: the applicant will coordinate with the county engineer and PHMC to address cultural‑resource, stormwater and access comments before the commission considers a recommendation.
