A new beer distributor may be coming to Heidelberg, car dealership expanding services

A new beer distributor may be coming to a familiar spot in Heidelberg, while a car dealership in the borough plans to add detailing bays.

The planning commission Tuesday night approved recommending to council a conditional use request for a beer distributor license at 1906 E. Railroad Street.

The vote was 4-1 with Mayor Ken LaSota dissenting.

He said the applicant’s submission was “deficient on many fronts” and that a beer distributor should not be allowed on that parcel.

Borough Manager Janice Adamski said there was a beer distributor at that address for years, as well as a car dealership. The area is zoned commercial with a mixed overlay.

A beer distributor is not specifically listed in the zoning code, but is treated as a retail business.

Adamski said retail is a conditional use in a commercial district, which means the request must come before the planning commission.

The applicant is Genevieve Kastronis and Genevieve Becker Bean of BRG III.

Tom Bean, a relative both women, also attended the planning commission meeting.

He told commissioners his family’s been in the business since 1952 and are looking to possibly add a shop in the borough. Bean Beverage Co. is located off Noblestown Road in Greentree.

BRG III has an agreement with KMRL Enterprises LLC to purchase the property along East Railroad Street, according to borough documents.

The amount of the purchase and when it would be finalized was not disclosed.

Both Beans and Kastronis declined to comment about the project.

The potential beer distributor would be open seven days a week if it’s anything like the Greentree business where hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

There would be no alcohol consumption permitted on the property.

Resident Ray Losego supports the beer distributor coming to the borough. He said the property was already used for that purpose for years and currently sits vacant.

“They’ll pay mercantile tax, and the previous businesses didn’t pay much at all,” Losego said. “So it’s like a bonus to the town to get tax revenue in. I don’t see any problems with it.”

Planning commissioners also unanimously approved recommending a proposed building addition to the Woltz & Wind Ford business at 1800 Washington St.

Pennoni is the engineering firm working on the development.

Senior Engineer Patrick DeNardo said the dealership wants to add four detailing bays on a proposed 1,777-square-feet addition. A building permit’s under review by borough officials.

DeNardo said they hope to start construction as soon as possible once they acquire all necessary approvals and permits.

Both recommendations go before council for a formal approval Sept. 8.

“I’m excited about them,” planning Commissioner Richard Pattinato said. “You have a longstanding business in Woltz & Wind looking to expand in your neighborhood, and that’s great. Anytime you can get a new business to move into your community is very exciting. I thought it was a win/win tonight. I was very happy for Woltz & Wind, the beer distributor people and the people of Heidelberg.”

Michael DiVittorio is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Michael at 412-871-2367, [email protected] or via Twitter .