Chadds Ford Planning Commission members gave two recommendations for Hank’s Place during the commission’s meeting Wednesday night. They recommended the Board of Supervisors approve Hank’s conditional use application and land use plan. The vote on both was unanimous.
The commission is a recommending body only and does not grant approvals on its own.
As previously reported, owners Anthony and Katie Young want to rebuild after the popular eatery was destroyed by flood waters in September of last year when Hurricane Ida hit. They’ve gotten a demolition permit, and approval from the Historic and Architectural Review Board, and received requested zoning variances from the Zoning Hearing Board.
However, the rebuild plan calls for an outdoor dining area, and, for that, they need to go through a conditional use hearing before the supervisors.
Planning Commission Chairman Craig Huffman moved the commission recommend approval of the conditional use application with conditions. A major condition, and one made by the Zoning Hearing Board, is that the Youngs get a signed formal agreement with the owners of Antica and Brandywine Prime — or subsequent owners of those establishments — authorizing shared parking.
Such an agreement allows patrons at those other two restaurants to use Hank’s parking lot if the other lots are full. The three restaurants had already been sharing parking spaces, but only informally. Attorney Lou Colagreco said the formal agreement is being worked on.
Another condition is that there be signage saying no parking along Creek Road.
Huffman also moved that the land use application to rebuild the restaurant be granted final approval.
Board of Supervisors Chairman Samantha Reiner was in attendance and said the supervisors might be able to hold the conditional use hearing and hear the land use plan during the Board’s Dec. 7 meeting.
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
