Mt. Effort Plaza takes another step forward
The Chestnuthill Township Board of Supervisors granted an amended conditional use application to the owners of the Mount Effort Shopping Plaza on Route 115.
Operating under the name Mount Effort Development Company, LLC, of New Jersey, it marks another step in its three and a half year labors to get the large-scale retail/commercial development off the ground.
The company plans to build the 15-acre, 110,000 square foot collection of stores, offices and a transportation hub at the corner of Route 115 and State Road in Mount Effort.
The project, partnered by the family who owns the Gerrity supermarket chain and Keith Beccia of New Jersey, will be anchored by an upscale Gerrity supermarket. The multi-stage project will include commercial and retail buildings, a daycare center, a Martz Bus park and ride location and a Monroe County Transit Authority bus shelter.
The project has been delayed over struggles involving sewage, stormwater basins, parking and other issues. The conditional use permit issued this week had some ambiguities, Beccia said, but lawyers for both parties have been able to resolve their differences.
"Everything seems to be working fine, and (the township)seems to be cooperating," Beccia said. "Sometimes you have to work out these new ordinances. They are working with us.."
The cost of meeting the townships recently adopted ordinances, to make all commercial development take on a village like atmosphere, forced the owners to add an additional commercial building to the project.
"The rent goals have to meet the note," Beccia said of the project's financing. "We have to show the bank a proforma that makes sense, that we are back to making a decent profit."
Gerrity's Supermarket, with several stores in northeast Pennsylvania, will build a shop-like façade to break up the flat appearance of most supermarket fronts, created in response to the township's building ordinance and SALDO (Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance) adopted in May 2014 aimed at avoiding the large box-store look that's been built in the past.
The supervisors added 16 conditions to the conditional use permit that must be met by the developer. That includes a bus shelter for the MCTA and pedestrian and bicycle facilities including bike racks.
Clothing bins will not be permitted on the property.
The developers must still submit a land development plan; obtain all required highway occupancy permits from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, sewer permits from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and other requirements pursuant to Tuesday night's application approval.
Story and Photo from the Pocono Record
Ugh