SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — A popular casual sports bar chain is set to open a new location in the township.
But there’s one problem: the place it would occupy is too small for the restaurant.
South Whitehall Board of Commissioners on Wednesday heard a proposal for a new PJ Whelihan’s Pub and Restaurant in Ridge Farms, an under-construction mixed use housing development at Cedar Crest Boulevard and Walbert Avenue.
“What we're hearing consistently is that to provide a sit-down restaurant… you need a larger than 5,000 square foot footprint."Langan Engineering & Environmental Services Principal Jason Engelhardt
Langan Engineering & Environmental Services Principal Jason Engelhardt, a representative of the developer, said the chain has signed a letter of intent to lease one of the restaurant spaces, but needs an 8,000-square-foot building.
The maximum size of a restaurant building in the zoning district for the property is 5,000 square feet, and restaurants built in it can only be sit-down restaurants.
“What we're hearing consistently is that to provide a sit-down restaurant… you need a larger than 5,000-square-foot footprint,” Engelhardt said.
There are several PJ Whelihan’s near the proposed location, including one near Tilghman Street and Hausman Road.
Proposed solution draws concerns
Engelhardt said the developer, Kay Builders, is willing to take away one of its restaurant locations in its plans if the township allowed it to expand another to 8,000 square feet.
The area where the second restaurant would have been would instead serve as an active open space.
Engelhardt said he thinks the change would reduce traffic and impervious surface in the development.
However, commissioners raised concern about the change.
Board Vice President Monica Hodges said she did not want to make any changes to the plan without public review.
When township commissioners first reviewed plans for Ridge Farms, hundreds of residents came to township meetings to raise concerns about the development.
“The public saw those diagrams, those pictures, and I'm reluctant to change anything,” Hodges said. “However, having said that, I'm willing to listen.”
Both Hodges and Board President Diane Kelly said they did not like the idea of taking away one of the restaurants from the development.
“Reducing their dining options to one certainly makes me pause to consider this as well, but I am open to having further discussion," Kelly said.
Commissioners agreed they didn't have enough information to make a decision.
Township staff now will review the proposal, and the board likely will discuss it again.
