Cranberry Square changes proposed
CRANBERRY TWP — A developer is proposing a new building and an addition to a building in the Cranberry Square development on Route 19.
Though it did not take a vote, the planning commission Monday night reviewed plans for redevelopment of three properties on Route 19 south of the intersection with Cranberry Square Drive.
Developer Gigliotti Properties is proposing a new 4,000-square-foot building, which would be split between a bistro-type restaurant and a nail salon or other business, and a 3,800-square-foot expansion of the building that holds Total Hockey and Pier 1 Imports.
The three potential tenants are not final, so the developer is not making them public yet, said David Woodbury, the project’s civil engineer.
The new businesses would face Nicklas Drive, the private road that connects Cranberry Square Drive to Wal-Mart, Office Max and Toys R Us.
Improvements to the property would aim to increase accessibility for cars and pedestrians to the businesses there, Woodbury said. The other businesses on the property include Einstein Bros. Bagels, Jiffy Lube, TheaterXtreme of Pittsburgh, and Vitamin Shoppe. They would remain open during construction.
“Mr. Gigliotti saw a way to enhance the neighborhood and increase the walkability there,” Woodbury said.
Changes to the parking lot would include creating access between the Jiffy Lube and Einstein Bros. lots and access between the Vitamin Shoppe lot and the other two lots.
By creating more flexibility for motorists, the changes could make for less traffic using Cranberry Square Drive, which gets very busy, said Jason Kratsas, township director of engineering and environmental services.
The property does not have the minimum number of required parking spaces, but it does have an agreement in place with the neighboring property which has a large parking lot.
Members of the planning commission requested that the proposal include a crosswalk with signs across Nicklas Drive connecting the Toys R Us parking lot with the Gigliotti property.
The commission will again review the plans next month when the developer provides architectural renderings.
Also at the meeting Monday night, the board recommended to the township supervisors a proposal for a warehouse and distribution center on 4.7 vacant acres on Progress Avenue near the Cranberry Township Community Park.
The master plan for the lot includes four warehouse buildings, but the first phase only calls for one 12,000-square-foot building, said engineer Scott Shoup. The property is owned by Progress Avenue Associates.
The first warehouse would be used by Room Concepts furniture store, which has two locations in Allegheny County.
Commission Chairman Jim Colella suggested that the developer include enhanced landscaping on the perimeter of the property to ensure that it is well shielded from the park.