GetGo Gets Preliminary Green Light from Ross Planning Commission

The Ross Township Planning Commission voted 5-1 Thursday to give preliminary approval to construction of a GetGo convenience store and gas station along McKnight Road. Board member Larry Naimark was the lone dissenting vote.

The proposed business would be located at 7675 McKnight Road, on the property . 

Pat Avoilio, Director of Real Estate Development and Construction for Giant Eagle Inc., told the planning commission that plans for the 2.85 acre site had been modified to address concerns about increased traffic at the intersection of Brown's Lane and McKnight Road.

Avoilio said the left turn lane northbound on McKnight Road would be lengthened, Brown's Lane would be widened, and the access to the GetGo from Brown's Lane would be moved farther up the hill away from McKnight Road. In addition, plans for a car wash have been abanonded, and the number of fueling islands have been reduced from nine to eight, with one potentially providing compressed natural gas instead of gasoline.

The company also owns a  nearby at 5603 Babcock Boulevard, and it hopes construction of the new GetGo will alleviate some of the congestion around its Babcock location.

Avolio also told the planning commission the new GetGo would include enough green space, trees, and shrubs to reduce storm water runoff into a 66" culvert which conveys McKnight Run, a tributary to Girty's run.

If approved by the planning commission, and Ross commissioners, demolition of the exsisting site would begin in the summer of 2012 and construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2012.

Three members of the commission, Daniel Harasyn, John Sample, and chairman James Wigal, were not present at Thursday's meeting.