Municipal News

Last Updated on Wednesday, 29 April 2015 17:02

By J.R. Brower

A brief public hearing on a restaurant liquor license approval took only ten minutes at the Peters Township Council April 13 meeting. Salvatore Plescia of Nottingham Township had requested that a liquor license from North Strabane Township be transferred to a new restaurant he is opening on Center Church Road. It is at the site of the former Center Plate Restaurant and Candle Keller, remodeled from a residential home.

Pictured is the original Open German American Flair restaurant near the corner of Venetia Road and Sugar Run Road below the Venetia Post Office.

Plescia told Council at the public hearing that the full name of his establishment is Open German Italian Flair. This will be the second location for the restaurant that began in 2013 in a space beneath the Venetia Post Office off Sugar Run Road.

Township Manager Michael Silvestri said that the request went through two boards including the Zoning Hearing Board, which approved it. In making its decision that board considers such things at the location of the restaurant and plans for improvements. Also considered by zoning officials are traffic and public safety concerns and the implications and problems associated with the proliferation of restaurants with liquor licenses along Route 19.

Plescia told Council that he is currently remodeling his new location and will open as soon as it is completed. He smiled at the end of the hearing after council member Jim Berquist said, "My wife and I have dined at your unique restaurant in Venetia, and the food is excellent."

Other highlights of the Peters Township Council April 13 meeting follow. Council:

• Set a conditional use hearing for a request by Eddy Land Co., Inc. to develop16 acres of residential property on Maid Marion Lane in the Crossings 6 plan. Geographically, the acreage is between the Giant Oaks plan and the ball-fields behind Peters Township High School.

• Discussed a resolution authorizing application to the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for the Peterswood Park Amphitheater replacement project. The township has decided to expand the new facility, as more residents are attending the free summer concerts in the park. Silvestri said that the township is seeking grants to help out with the construction costs. He said the total project will cost over $800,000, and the grant requests will be for $250,000 from the state's LSA (Local Share Account), gambling revenue shared to municipalities in a program operated by Washington County. The township is also applying for a $50,000 grant from the Washington County Tourist Bureau.

• Approved bids for the 2015 paving maintenance program. Township Engineer Mark Zemaitis announced that Morgan Excavating was awarded the close-to $1.5 million contract. The township had budgeted that amount for resurfacing and rejuvenator paving projects this year. In addition, $70,000 will be used to pave the lower lot of PTVFD's Fire Station #1 on East McMurray Road.