Drugstore chain CVS has hired a development firm to study the possibility of establishing a new store along Route 61 in Pottsville, according to city Administrator Thomas A. Palamar.
At the city council's July meeting Monday, the council unanimously approved a resolution to allow Summit Realty Advisors LLC, Ambler, Montgomery County, to develop the site, which could include 28 N. Claude A. Lord Blvd., according to Palamar.
The addresses of the properties CVS is considering were not listed in the "Preliminary Development Agreement" the council approved Monday night, and Palamar was not certain if any had been acquired.
"This is an agreement where this particular company is under contract to develop the potential CVS site. And what this is is an agreement where they've agreed to pay any of the city engineer fees that are going to be incurred by the city for that development. So rather than us paying out money up front, they're going to set up an account with this money in it and that money will just be drawn out. It's really a nice way to do it," Palamar said.
The developer agreed to pay the city all engineering planning and other related costs, with a security deposit of $5,000, according to the agreement.
Councilman Mark Atkinson voiced some concern about the project, curious about the plans for Line Alley, which borders the headquarters of Phoenix Fire Company No. 2.
"What's going to happen to Line Alley?" Atkinson said.
"It's early in the planning process, but they're looking at that type of stuff right now," Palamar said.
Firefighters use part of the street for parking, Atkinson said.
"Now's the time to be talking about that," Mayor James T. Muldowney said.
"From just the few conversations I've had with them, they've been extremely cooperative and very eager to be good city citizens and work with us and I'm sure they'll be receptive to your concern," Palamar said.
The motion to approve the resolution was made by Councilman Joseph J. Devine Jr., seconded by Atkinson and carried with a vote by Councilman Ronald J. Moser.
Councilman Michael P. Halcovage was absent from Monday's meeting.
On July 1, Palamar said the removal of a blighted building, a former restaurant along Route 61 in Pottsville, has encouraged a drugstore chain to consider building a new location on that site.
Palamar said representatives of CVS Caremark Corp., Woonsocket, Rhode Island, have been in talks with city officials about the possibility of constructing a new store in Pottsville.
When contacted for comment on that matter July 1, Mike DeAngelis, CVS director of public relations, had no comment on plans to open a new store in Pottsville.
The council approved two other resolutions Monday related to new construction.
In a unanimous vote, the council approved the land development plan for Sunoco Inc. to replace the A-Plus Mini Market at 2 S. Claude A. Lord Blvd. with a new building, new gas pumps and a new parking scheme.
The plan is to demolish the current 2,000-square-foot structure, which is about 60 feet from Line Alley, and build a new A-Plus that's 2,955 square feet in size and put it 6.28 feet away from Line Alley. Currently, there are two 12,000-gallon tanks for regular gas and a 12,000-gallon tank for ultra. Those will be removed and replaced with a 20,000-gallon tank for regular gas, a 12,000-gallon tank for diesel and an 8,000-gallon tank for ultra, officials said at a zoning board meeting in April.
In a unanimous vote, the council approved a land development plan for Miller Bros. Construction Inc., Schuylkill Haven, which is planning to build a stand-alone, one-story commercial building at Sharp Mountain Plaza, Gordon Nagle Trail, Pottsville.
Palamar did know the name of the tenant Monday. James L. Miller, president of Miller Bros., could not be reached for comment Monday night.
In other matters at the council's July meeting, the council officially made the Pottsville Positive Committee - the volunteer group which helped the city organize the Pottsville Fireworks Celebration held July 5 - a faction of the Pottsville Recreation Commission.
The council also established terms of office for members. At Monday's meeting, the council appointed Lacie Hemerly to a four-year term, Jennifer Rann to a three-year term, Matthew Drouncheck to a two-year term and Bryon Gleim to a one-year term.
"The reason for that is so every year we don't have to vote in all four of you. We'll stagger it one at a time. There was no preference there," Muldowney said.
The mayor also presented Hemerly, Rann, Drouncheck and Gleim keys to the city Monday night.
The council also hired Taryn E. Dragna, Pottsville, as a tax clerk in the city department of accounts and finance.