READING, Pa. – The Reading Planning Commission voted Tuesday to table the preliminary land development plan for the proposed North Reading Plaza at 1853 N. Third St.
Developer Alan Shuman has submitted plans for a 156,000-square-foot shopping center on a 19.3-acre lot, which is the site of the former Glidden paint factory which closed in 2007.
Jerome Skrincosky, the city’s planning consultant from Hawk Valley Associates, said the applicant has made progress on some of the issues from the initial review.
Skrincosky said he and the planning staff are meeting Wednesday to discuss technical issues related to traffic and stormwater management.
The developer does have a time extension for the approval of the preliminary plan, which would give the planning commission until the end of this year to grant approval.
Shuman said he is trying to get the preliminary planning approval as soon as possible.
“We can’t start our financing for the project until we receive that, so that’s really the next hurdle here, and it’s going to be a long, in-depth process locking down the financing,” Shuman said. “So, we’re looking to get as much time as we can by getting a preliminary plan approval.”
Skrincosky said once the scoping has been set for a traffic impact study, the planners could consider a preliminary plan approval.
Planning commission Chairman Wayne Bealer called the plan a significant project and told Shuman the planners will attempt to move the project along through the process.