Planning Commission Approves Several Site Plans

In addition to approving a site plan for , members of the Hellertown Borough Planning Commission approved several other site plans presented by prospective business and property owners at their Oct. 11 meeting.

At 427 Main Street, a site plan for a Miracle Ear store was approved.

Building owner Dano Guerrieri, who also owns the in Hellertown, told the planning commission that the three-story brick building is currently in the midst of being renovated.

currently occupies a different Main Street storefront and plans to move to 427 Main Street once renovations are complete, he explained.

"I think they'll have two employees working there," Guerreri said of the business.

Borough Engineer Bryan Smith explained that the building houses three apartments and two commercial units. There is no off-street parking for the building's tenants or customers, which "is a little unusual," he noted.

"It's really been an existing non-conforming (zoning) use by having no off-street parking," Smith said, but he added that the proposed use of the building will be "consistent with what it's been."

Guerrieri said he expects the Miracle Ear store to be open from 8am to 5pm, Monday through Friday.

"I can't imagine there's a whole lot of traffic (generated by the business)," planning commission member Francene Drake commented.

Commission member Joe Pampanin, who presided over the meeting, said he liked the fact that the building is being renovated to house a pre-existing business, and commission members voted 4-0 to approve the site plan.

In other business, the commission unanimously approved site plans for a chiropractor's office at 1304 Main Street and a dry cleaning business at 46 West Water Street.

The chiropractor's office will be occupied by Brad Palank and a part-time employee, with business hours of 10am to 7pm, Monday through Friday, and 10am to 5pm Saturdays, according to Palank.

Smith said the proposed use of the building as a professional office is in keeping with the zoning in that area, and that there is no issue with available off-street parking, which is located behind the building.

The dry cleaning business at 46 West Water Street will be operated by Harpal Singh, who said he plans to be open from 7am to 6pm, Monday through Friday, and from 7am to 3pm Saturdays.

The building formerly housed a commercial dry cleaning business and still houses much of the equipment that went along with that business.

Parking for the business will be in the lot in between Brown's laundromat and H&R Block, and Smith said ample parking is available.

Singh told the planning commission that two employees will work at the business, which will have a small walk-in area for customer drop-off and pick-up of dry-cleaned garments.