CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — Preliminary efforts to win approval for a new six-pack shop next to Comet Market and the transfer of an alcohol license could change with a recent revision in Pennsylvania law.
At the Wednesday night meeting of the Clarion County Planning Commission, Wessell Enterprises LLC is requesting preliminary land development approval and modification for relief from the minimum 40 side yard setback requirement.
“We’re still going through working with the planning commission and the PLCB before we can get a direction to proceed,” said Shawn Wessell. “There a lot of requirements we need to meet and make sure everyone is receptive before we get too far along in it.”
While many options were considered for the possible store, the main thrust right now is a six-pack or single bottle store with the business operating under the name “Black Forest Emporium.” Wessell said there would not be bar hours.
“We had high hopes initially, but right now the costs are double what I was planning,” said Wessell. “All of these recent changes in the liquor law may make us change our direction because as of tomorrow (Tuesday), beer distributors are allowed to sell singles and six packs and growlers (up to 64 ounces of tap beer to go). That might make us change our direction a little bit.”
Regulations call for plenty of advance notice when a request is made for an alcohol license, including the transfer of a license such as the one Wessell’s company is requesting from Reeds Family Restaurant and Pizzaria in Knox.
“It’s early on, we have to go through all of this planning to finalized things,” said Wessell. “Wednesday they could shoot down what I have in mind. I don’t want to commit to telling you we’re going to do this or that because we’ve been going through PLCB for nine months, and it hasn’t gone through yet.”
Paula Reed, of Reeds Family Restaurant, said the sale for the transfer has been in the works since March and said she thought the PLCB was putting them through the hoops.
“It was too much responsibility that I care to deal with,” explained Reed about the decision to sell the transfer of license. “If I were doing it myself, and I was the only one ever here, I would absolutely keep the alcohol license. However, I’m not the only one who is here, and a couple of years ago, we had what we thought was a responsible person on the crew, and I get a call from the PCLB saying that my employee just sold alcohol to a minor. I was furious and wondered how this happened because we card everybody.”
It turned out that the employee did indeed sell to a minor and that was enough for Reed to think about getting out of alcohol sales and concentrate on the restaurant.
Wessell said an architect was hired for his project and architect drawings will be available for the Planning Commission Meeting. He also said he did not think there would be a problem with access from Route 68, and he obtained a highway access from PennDOT. They also moved the driveway, and it is now a 40-foot driveway.”
“As of now, we’re just going to build in the footprint of where the garage is and maybe down the road tear the house down, but just because of costs, we’re just going to leave the house as a rental unit.”
