Work on Home Depot may start on Monday
Construction of the new Home Depot store could begin as early as Monday, the South Union Township supervisors announced Wednesday. Chairman Robert Schiffbauer said at a special meeting that officials with Home Depot and the project contractor came to the township office this week to request a building permit, and the township’s zoning officer will be at the site before construction begins. “We’re glad to see that things are falling in place,” he said. “Most of the excavation work is completed, but it is good to see that the next step is being taken.”
When crews broke ground for the project in May, officials with Widewaters Group announced that Home Depot would build a 115,000-square-foot store facing Matthew Drive as part of a 225,000-square-foot first phase of development.
The supervisors also discussed scheduling another meeting with state Department of Transportation officials concerning completion of the Walnut Hill Road interchange off Route 119. Schiffbauer said the supervisors try to meet every few months concerning the construction of two ramps to complete the interchange sometime in 2005.
Supervisor Thomas Frankhouser said he has met with interested parties, including Gabriel Brothers store owners Art and James Gabriel, about the future development of the Walnut Hill Road area when the interchange is complete.
Schiffbauer said the interchange should have been completed years ago, and its lack of ramps has stifled development.
“That area has so much potential for further economic development, and without the ramps, not much can be done,” he said.
The supervisors also voted to re-appoint Adam Buchheit to another four-year term on the township planning commission and authorized solicitor John “Jack” Purcell to look into pursuing legal action against a Craig Meadows developer for a retention pond the township purchased through tax sale.
They asked if the developer could be forced to pay maintenance costs to the township because he was unable to fulfill his responsibility.