Ligonier council approves parking lot improvements
Ligonier Borough council has given the Valley School of Ligonier permission to improve a parking lot at one of its rental properties.
On April 9, council voted 4-3 to approve a conditional use application from the school for the construction of an 8-space, 3,390-square-foot paved parking lot in the rear of a 114 South Market Street building. The school hopes to accommodate its tenants with the upgraded lot, which will be accessed from Ford Alley, said Tony Ferry, real estate manager for the school.
The first level of the building will house a French-style bakery in the near future, so the parking area will provide spaces for the business owner and their customers, Ferry said. Additionally a tenant living in the second floor residential apartment will benefit, he said.
Ferry said the lot is currently gravel and dirt and could create “quite a bit of mess.”
Timothy Fyock of Benchmark Engineering said the lot plans were approved by the Westmoreland Conservation District, and borough engineer Ben Faas' concerns were addressed, such as widening the alley to allow for two-way traffic.
Plans include adding a stormwater inlet at the end of the alley and installing an underground water tank to handle stormwater. Fyock said the parking lot is designed so that it does not encroach on the drip line of a tree on the property.
Faas requested that the storm sewer in the alley be televised, and Fyock said the property owner has made arrangements to do so.
Curbs will be built around the lot, Fyock said.
Resident John Johnson, whose home borders Ford Alley, expressed concern about whether the sanitary sewer line will be capable of handling the flow of stormwater after the lot is built. Fyock said the amount of stormwater going into the line will actually be reduced. Faas said the lot will help the overall issue of stormwater in the area.
Councilman Jim McDonnell asked Ferry why a cost estimate was not sought prior to obtaining engineering plans and approval from the borough. Ferry said they got plans from Benchmark Engineering beforehand to figure out what they need prior to putting the project out to bid.
The lot will be controlled with signage, Ferry said. Councilwoman Judy Hoffer warned that signs don't always deter people from parking.
Some council members asked why an existing borough parking lot would not suffice. Instead of parking being included in the lease, Ferry said tenants would have to go out and get their own permit if they were to park in the borough lot.
President Robert Helterbran said the only “plus” he saw in the plans was that the lot would help stormwater issues.
Zoning officer Rick Schwab said he reviewed the plans and recommended them for approval.
Council members Matthew Smith, Helterbran, Pat Scanlon and Margaret Garland voted in favor of the plans. McDonnell, Hoffer and Mike Bieterman dissented.
Nicole Chynoweth is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-850-2862 or nchynoweth@tribweb.com.
