TRIB LIVE
May 12, 2015
LATROBE — A Starbucks is planned for one of two new buildings at Unity Village Shoppes, recommended for approval by the township planning commission.
Officials also requested breaks in the building front, which would satisfy a beautification zone on Route 30.
Ray Keil and Dara Hewat, representing Maryland-based developer Black Oak Associates, presented a plan to commission members at their meeting last week for construction of two buildings in the development off Sharky's Drive and Route 30.
The 2.5-acre site was originally developed in 2008 with a master plan including the two proposed buildings, the developers said.
Each building is planned to house two storefronts. One will be 4,080 square feet, nearest the existing Walgreens pharmacy, where Starbucks plans to open, and the Verizon Wireless store will relocate from another building in the plaza. The other 3,390-square-foot building, closer to the First Commonwealth Bank, will also host two retail tenants, which the pair did not name at the meeting.
The developers asked the planning commission for a few modifications to ordinance requirements, including the need for a loading zone.
The Starbucks coffee shop will have outdoor seating with a canopy and a drive-through window, the developers said.
Planning commission members also recommended approval of the preliminary site plan for an addition to Rusnock Sports Performance & Fitness at 137 Hartman Road.
Plans for the 2.4-acre property owned by Christian Rusnock include the addition of a turf arena to the gym and a later second-phase addition.
The plan for the existing 4,000-square-foot facility will add on the 5,400-square-foot indoor practice field with a 720-square-foot “all-purpose room” on a mezzanine floor, according to a post on Rusnock Sports' website.
Jeff Ushak, project manager at Ulery Architecture, presented the plan and said the arena would be used for indoor baseball and football practice.
Township officials asked for more detail on the plan for landscaping and exterior lighting.
