A Pittsburgh area fast food restaurant is seeking to open its doors in Levittown
The application came before the Falls Township Zoning Board last week seeking approval on variances to open a family-owned eatery, called Two and A Fry, in the township.
Jennifer Gage, of Thornridge, purchased the property at 8025 Mill Creek Parkway in 2022. Gage hopes to bring her father’s ( James Pelissero ) Pittsburgh-based business model including quality food and low prices to the township offering up milkshakes, hot dogs, burgers, fries, and more.
Gage explained Two and A Fry derives its name from their signature menu item. The customer gets two hot dogs, french fries, and a drink for $5.00. No matter the inflation – the intent is for the price to never change. The eatery would be open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and employ three to five people.
Bryce McGuigan, attorney for the applicants, Gage and Pelissero, spoke on their behalf. McGuigan explained the property is .69 acres and the existing building is 1562 square feet. The structure was previously a doctor’s office and is located at the corner of Mill Creek Parkway and Fallsington-Tullytown Road.
McGuigan acknowledged challenges, such as the location being at a busy intersection and, although an eatery is permitted to exist at the location, the drive-thru portion of the structure would go through another, yet different approval process.
John Richardson, a PA licensed professional engineer, testified in regard to his design of the property’s plans presented to the board. He detailed each of the seven variances being sought for approval.
There were two major concerns to address: Overflow/spillage of the drive-thru onto the adjacent roadways and the location of the entrance/exit driveway adjacent to the two roadways. To counter the challenge of vehicles overflowing into the streets from the drive-thru, the plans call for a longer drive-thru than the township requires, so as not to impact the traffic on the roadways. Countering the other main challenge of the driveway(s), the design calls to move the driveway as far away from the intersection as possible and also do the same for the Fallsington roadway.
The listed variances relate to existing conditions, parking, and loading, said Richardson. The drive-thru is labeled as a conditional use which is a separate process and goes before the board of supervisors and is reviewed by the township’s engineer.
Credit: Laughs for Recovery
The plans do not call for any proposed changes to the existing building, the roadway or the median. Richardson explained, due to the median on Mill Creek, customers would only be able to turn right on entering or exiting the property.
McGuigan and Richardson said that in addition to the conditional use process, the entirety of the plans need to go through several processes including land development process, and a PennDOT review and would have to adhere to any recommendations by PennDOT.
Residents, during public comment, raised concerns of pedestrian safety, traffic safety and management of waste.
The application was approved with a vote of 4-1 by the board and now heads to land development before seeking Board of Supervisors approval.
Recent Comments