SANATOGA PA – Lower Pottsgrove planners on Monday (April 19, 2010) received and heard more about a preliminary land development application to build a previously announced pizza and Italian foods restaurant in Sanatoga village, just west of the Rite Aid pharmacy on East High Street, but took no official action on it.

An artist's rendering of the facade for Bella Italia Pizza that will face East High Street in Sanatoga. It received conditional use approval Monday.

Bella Italia Pizza, the working name for the restaurant proposed to be built at 2209 E. High St., Pottstown PA, submitted its application to the township Planning Commission during its monthly meeting. Little has changed in the builders’ plans since March, when the township Board of Commissioners granted a conditional use permit for the restaurant’s location in what is a limited commercial and office zone.

“The general plan has not changed. We’re back into the meat of the development process,” said attorney Amy Farrell, representing project owner Cilluffo Property Holdings LLC of Blue Bell PA. The plan must receive a variety of township and other governmental approval before construction work actually begins.

Among agencies from which Cilluffo is awaiting review is the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, which to date has yet to issue its thoughts on the restaurant’s proposed entrance from and exit to East High Street.

The firm also continues to negotiate with neighboring property owners regarding the use of an adjacent alley as an exit from the proposed restaurant to Sunnyside Avenue. Residents there generally favor the idea, the restaurant’s engineer said, but have unresolved questions about privacy and maintenance concerns. “We’re working with them,” he said.

There is no clearly titled owner of the alley, Farrell noted. “It’s a nebulous no-man’s land, and the only way to solve that is litigation,” she said, so finding compromises that work to benefit all property owners involved is a preferred solution.

Planning commissioners were advised the restaurant likely will need waivers from having to comply with certain township landscaping requirements, restrictions on parking design, and curbing needs.

Commissioners are next scheduled to meet May 17 (2010; Monday) at 6:30 p.m. in the municipal building, 2199 Buchert Rd., Pottstown PA.

Related:

• Planners Hear More About Proposed Pizza Restaurant
• Pizzeria Owner Has History Of Restaurant Development
• Restaurant, Ringing Projects Win Conditional Uses
• Ringing Rocks, Restaurant Hearing Topics Tonight
• Pizzeria Planned Next To Sanatoga Rite-Aid

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