Sewage plan OK’d for Coen Market in Carroll Township

It’s the latest step for the company’s new location.

During a brief meeting Tuesday, Carroll Township Planning Commission gave its approval to the sewage planning module for Coen Market — a simple formality that was previously reviewed and recommended.

The module is a lengthy document that was reviewed by township engineers before going to the planning commission.

Coen Market’s project at the intersection of state Route 88 and Route 837 across from Fisher Heights Giant Eagle was given a preliminary green light in July 2022 despite pushback from some residents, who continue to express concern over the de- velopment.

There have been a lot of steps to bring the project to fruition, including the approval of ordinances to rezone the properties the company purchased from residential to commercial and to amend an ordinance drafted decades ago for in-ground fuel storage tanks. Approval was also granted for the demolition of three properties where the new Coen Market will sit, and several meetings were held before township supervisors and the planning commission and zoning hearing board for various considerations.

In April, Coen Market met before the township’s planning board to receive approval for its land development of the site.

In June, Coen appeared before the zoning board to seek approval for a special exception for the use of the site as an automobile service station.

Both requests were recommended but have not appeared before township supervisors for final approval.

Earlier this month, supervisors approved a 90-day extension for Coen Market to allow some changes to be made and other needed documents to be submitted before granting final approval.

Those changes were largely in regard to stormwater management and relocation of some sewage lines, Supervisor Chairman Ken Hillman said.

That extension was granted July 2. After those changes are made, recommendations from the zoning board for the exception and planning commission for the land development will need final approval from supervisors, which will be followed by the project’s final approval prior to construction.

The 5,000-square-foot building will have five fuel stations and will offer a variety of freshly made foods, but for right now it remains an empty lot.

Residents, particularly in the area where the gas station will be, still have concerns.

At recent planning and zoning meetings, people asked members of both boards questions on topics ranging from lighting and noise to traffic.

Residents are concerned about PennDOT’s approval of the plan and documents including a highway occupancy permit that they have not seen.

Supervisors previously said the project will not be finalized until all needed documents are signed and spoken for.

Planning board member John Kerekes said the planning commission and zoning hearing board are made up of appointed individuals rather than elected officials. Their role is to review projects and make recommendations to supervisors for final approval.

“This commission did not think the project was a good idea from the go, but it is what it is,” he said. “We are an appointed board, we review and recommended to the supervisors who are elected officials accountable to the public. They make the final decisions.”

Kerekes said he knows concerned residents have attended both planning and zoning meetings, but he can’t speak on behalf of supervisors.

“Come to a supervisors meeting an ask them; no one can answer for them but them,” he said.