Dunkin' Donuts Gets Planning Commission's OK

The Hellertown Planning Commission unanimously approved a site plan for a Dunkin' Donuts restaurant at 730 Main Street on Aug. 9, and local residents could be dunking their donuts inside the new business by early fall, zoning and codes enforcement officer Joe Chernaskey said after the meeting.

The Dunkin' Donuts, which will be located in the former M&T Bank building across the street from , will be open seven days a week from 5am to 11pm, owner Raj Saraswati told planners.

Saraswati is the owner of five other local Dunkin' Donuts franchises, including several in the Bethlehem area, Chernaskey said.

Among the other Dunkin' Donuts he owns are stores at 213 W. Fourth St., 1301 Linden St. and 3055 Schoenersville Road, all in Bethlehem.

As a condition of the store's opening, low shrubs will have to be planted to obscure the parking lot.

Planners also indicated that Route 412 traffic will be required to enter the parking lot via Division Street.

The parking lot will be exited from Water Street via Harwi Street.

Chernaskey also told planners that before the building is occupied, the Hellertown Borough Authority plans to downgrade the size of a water line to the building from 1.5 inches to .75 inches.

The planning commission's approval of the Dunkin' Donuts plan follows .

Planning commission member Francene Drake was absent from the meeting.