Zoning approved for Brownsville restaurant
The Fayette County Zoning Hearing Board Wednesday approved separate proposals for a family-style restaurant in Brownsville and a recreation facility to sell and serve food in Perry Township. The zoning board granted a use variance to Deborah S. Miller and Virginia Courie for a low-turnover restaurant without a drive through and an off-street parking area on property zoned R1 and R2, low- and medium-density residential at the corner of Angle and High streets in Brownsville.
Pixel’s Family Restaurant will be located at 316 High St. at the site of the former Evans Market.
James Lawver of Brownsville Borough Council said having a restaurant at the site is a “little shot in the arm” for Brownsville, which needs economic development. Lawver said he always remembers a business being located at the corner.
Lawver said borough council unanimously voted to support the request for the restaurant.
Miller said the basic breakfast, lunch and dinner menu will include food “everybody grew up with before people got fancy with wings and things.”
The proposed hours are 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays.
Miller said occupancy is about 40 people and 10 parking spaces will be available off Angle Street.
The zoning board also approved a special exception for a recreation facility to sell/serve food and for party rental areas on property zoned A-1 agricultural rural on Side Road in Perry Township.
Thomas R. and Evelyn A. Laitinen of Perryopolis plan to open a backyard-type barbecue pit for customers to either take out or to eat inside at an area with televisions. Evelyn Laitinen said the site will have seating for 100 people and also would include outside recreation such as horseshoe pits and a walking trail. Mike Ellwell said the walking trail, which would be located on the perimeter of the 10-acre site, would be “haunted” during Halloween season.
Plans are to rent the site out for parties, class reunions, rehearsal dinners and other functions.
After a discussion about allowing alcohol on the site and the need for the owners to have plans approved by the Fayette County Planning Commission, the zoning board granted a special exception with conditions.
The conditions to the special exception request include submission of a land-development plan to the planning commission (which will address parking spaces and ingress and egress), no alcohol on site unless a state liquor license is obtained by the Liquor Control Board and hours are to be 10 a.m. to midnight Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
The zoning board also approved a special exception for a woodshop/millwork site for cabinetry and assorted wood items on property zoned B1 on Richhill Road in Bullskin Township.
Dawn Marie and Richard Paul Lilly Sr. testified the shop is for their 15-year-old son, who has an affinity for woodworking.
The hours would be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dawn Lilly said the building where the shop would be located was formerly used as an inspection garage. The special exception was approved pending approval of a highway occupancy permit from the state Department of Transportation, if needed.