PALMER TWP., Pa. — A new convenience store could be headed to the township soon, but it’s not a Wawa or a Sheetz.
Representatives from Rutter’s, a convenience store and gas station chain with 86 stores headquartered in York, Pa., came before the Palmer Township Planning Commission to present sketch plans for a proposed location at 1280 Main St. — west of Tatamy and on the west side of its Route 33 interchange.
According to documentation from the township, the property would include a 13,467-square-feet convenience store and quick-service restaurant with 142 parking spaces — 44 for cars, two for accessible parking, and 96 for trucks.
Tuesday evening’s presentation of illustrated plans allowed for Rutter’s Project Manager Damon Hall and Associate General Counsel Brian W. Carter to field early questions from the commission, allowing both parties to save substantial time and costs down the road.
“We started out as a farm over 200 years ago. On the same property about 100 years ago, we evolved into dairy operations, which still continues to this day," Hall said, noting the closest Rutter's to the area now is in Kutztown.
"We sell our products in our stores. The past few decades, we moved on to do convenience stores. And we started out in York and we spread over Pittsburgh, down into Maryland and West Virginia. We're looking at Virginia and Delaware as well. And this would be our farthest-east store.”
Commissioners raised a few concerns at the start, including the potential for tractor-trailer accommodations and the potential for truckers to use the parking area for extended periods when breaks are required.
“We started out as a farm over 200 years ago. On the same property about 100 years ago, we evolved into dairy operations, which still continues to this day."Damon Hall, Rutter's project manager
Alongside the potential for the quick service restaurant to offer alcoholic beverages, commissioners were worried about customers — including truckers — becoming intoxicated at the location. Furthermore, a few members noted the store could become a hub for teenagers or other young individuals to hang out.
“Our lots are well-lit, and we have a large number of security cameras throughout the parking lot. Our employees regularly go out, and they’re in the parking lot collecting trash, so we have their presence there,” Hall said.
Carter added “When issues like this do come up, we try to be proactive and work with municipality and local law enforcement to nip it in the bud as quickly and efficiently as we can,” in order to be good partners in the community.
Regarding concerns of truckers staying on the premises too long, Carter turned the point around and pitched it as a benefit for the community as a whole.
“We're aware that you do have an issue within the township of trucks parking where they shouldn't be parking. Part of our goal here is to help alleviate that issue,” Carter said.
Green space
Several of the commissioners questioned the lack of green space on the property, noting it would be beneficial for travelers to have spots to rest and relax, especially long-haul truckers, vacationers, and others who might come to the location from various nearby highways.
Noting the company does have several stores with a green space setup, the Rutter’s representatives said it could be added during the land development process.
On the suggestion that fuel pumps be placed behind the convenience store due to the potential danger of vehicles colliding with them if they faced the road, Carter said positioning the pumps in the front “works better for circulation.”
“As far as parking spaces for vehicles, because of the dual combination of the convenience store and quick service, there's a parking spot issue, I believe, that we're working on, or that we hope to get resolved,” planning commission Chairman Jeff Kicska said.
“And I think that had to do with putting the gas pumps in the back of the store, also, maybe a better flow of things. I always see those YouTube videos of a truck coming up over the berm and crashing into the pumps right off the road.”
Charging stations, snow removal machines
Questions concerning the potential for electric vehicle charging stations — they were not part of the plan, though the commissioners did recommend considering them based on the makeup of the local area — hazardous material cleanup training for employees, and other potential issues with tractor-trailers did come up, with the Rutter’s representatives stating they would research those issues as soon as possible.
Assistant Planning Director Craig Beavers noted that township staff had been particularly interested in adding ice and snow removal machines for trucks, as Palmer Township was the site of a fatal accident in which ice on top of a vehicle resulted in traffic fatalities, in addition to a few other suggestions.
“So, this would be a good area to see ice and snow removal on site if possible. In addition to that, even though that overnight parking is not intended here, if having electrical connections is possible, or at least a few outfits nearby the truck parking, just to give people who are staying for a little bit of time a chance to not idle but potentially plug in instead. Regarding the landscaping, as we said, there will definitely be a need for more landscaping in the parking areas with islands to meet some of the requirements,” Beavers said.
Additional suggestions included evaluating the property for potential sinkhole areas, as well as installation of some pedestrian amenities such as space for future walking or biking paths, and additional points of entry for the property, as it currently only has one entrance and exit.
Carter and Hall appeared receptive to the input from the commissioners and noted that they were eager to move forward on the project. Beyond local zoning meetings, Rutter’s still faces work with PennDOT and the Department of Environmental Protection.
Provided they make it through the process, Carter and Hall said construction on the new location could be completed within nine to 12 months.
