Two Nesquehoning projects need more work

Two construction projects in Nesquehoning need more work before they get the green light to proceed.

On Tuesday, the Carbon County Planning Commission reviewed land development projects for John J. Kovatch III and KRR Realty LLC. The commission recommended conditional plan rejection of both projects until a number of issues are rectified.

Kovatch project

Kovatch is proposing constructing a 6,000-square-foot pole building below the Kovatch Collision Center on Market Street in Nesquehoning.

The commission noted that the intended use for the building was not listed on the plans, which should be listed for planning purposes

There were 18 items that must be addressed the county pointed out, including bigger items such as drainage plans; sewer system and water service connections not shown; agreements with the existing Little League field that is next to the proposed development that are currently encroaching on the property in question and an agreement for a designated parking area for the Nesquehoning Medical Center across the street that utilizes the parking area where the building will be located.

Commission member Frank Jacobs, who also serves as a Nesquehoning councilman said that the plans went before the borough planning commission earlier this month and will be discussed at the borough council meeting next Wednesday.

He said council has concerns because of the Little League field already located there. The property that the Little League uses was deeded to the borough years ago for recreational purposes with the stipulation that it would revert back to the Kovatch family if it wasn’t being used.

“Right now it’s being utilized so I think we have to watch and see what they want to take off here to gain access to the Little League field,” he said. “I want to make sure before any action is taken by borough council.”

KRR Realty project

The KRR Realty project, owned by Kathy (Kovatch) and Ric Reaman, is proposing constructing a 3,203-square-foot Huddle House restaurant at the intersection of Catawissa Street and Route 93 in Nesquehoning. The site is where the former Le Quattro Stagioni restaurant operated for a brief time before a fire shut down the operation. That building is set to be demolished with this project.

The commission outlined 23 items that should be addressed, including obtaining a highway occupancy permit from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and a sewage facilities planning module exemption from the state Department of Environmental Protection; submitting proposed water supply documentation, an erosion and sedimentation control plan and a NPDES permit for stormwater discharges.

In addition, the commission pointed out that a portion of an existing driveway to the west of the proposed restaurant runs through the access drive.

Comments from both projects will be submitted to Nesquehoning borough, who will make the final determination.