The South Londonderry Township Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously agreed to advertise the Rising Sun conditional-use request to be discussed at their meeting April 11.
Rising Sun owner Alan Funck plans to expand the restaurant, renovating some of the adjacent historic structure to create an outdoor bar/patio area and demolishing the rest to create parking.
SLT Zoning Section 488 requires that prior to demolishing a historic structure, developers must first obtain conditional use from the board.
To get conditional use, the applicant must first meet with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission or the South Londonderry Historical Commission (SLHC) to hear their ideas on possible preservation options. Funck met with the SLHC March 2.
Read More: S. Londonderry Historical Commission discusses Rising Sun expansion
On April 11, supervisors will determine whether to award a conditional use.
According to SLT Zoning Section 488 (PDF, page 331), the board should deny conditional use if they determine that the structure “retains significant historic value and can be practically adapted to meet the needs of the applicant” or “retains significant historic value and can be preserved through some other practical means.”
Section 488 also says that conditional use should be approved if the structure “fails to retain significant historic value,” “cannot be practically adapted to meet the needs of the applicant,” or “cannot be preserved by any practical means.”
Funck’s representative said at the March 2 SLHC meeting that full preservation of the building is not realistically possible partially due to deteriorating elements.
Members of the commission suggested repurposing the building’s stone after demolition, maintaining the limestone facade, and adding a plaque or QR code detailing the history of the property.
Funck’s representative said that they plan to maintain part of the limestone facade and reuse as much of the demolished segment’s stone as possible, selling the rest.
Public comment will be heard at the April 11 meeting.
In other news, supervisors:
- Unanimously approved plans for the Emily Whitehead Run.
- Unanimously awarded 2023 road repair of Chestnut Hill and Eckert Road to the lowest bidder, Martin Paving, for $57,935.
- Unanimously awarded garage roof sealing to Sylvan Painting LLC with the lowest quote of $7,533.
- Heard public comment on the pollution reduction plan for Killinger Creek BMP.
- Unanimously approved bill and payroll lists.
- Heard reports including township manager’s and fire companies’.
- Unanimously approved the minutes of their Feb. 14 meeting.
South Londonderry Township supervisors meet at 27 W. Market St. on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. The next meeting will be held April 11. These meetings are open to the public and do not require registration.
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