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Permit approved for proposed Boardman GetGo
BOARDMAN
Giant Eagle can now proceed with plans to build a new restaurant, convenience store, retail center and GetGo fueling station in the township.
The township zoning board of appeals voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the conditional-use permit required for the Pittsburgh-based GetGo to operate a fueling station in the township.
The facility would be located at the corners of U.S. Route 224, California Ave. and Southern Blvd.
GetGo currently has two other locations in the township — at 6911 South Ave. and 480 Boardman-Canfield Road — but this one will be different from the others, a Giant Eagle executive told the board.
“We’re rebranding the GetGo brand, and making it a much-bigger building,” said Pasquale Avolio, director of real-estate development and construction for the company. Avolio said this location will be about three times larger than the one on South Avenue.
Preliminary plans for the 2 acres include construction of a 6,125-square-foot building with a 38-seat restaurant. The location would have seven fueling islands with a total of 14 fuel pumps, and would be open 24 hours a day.
Township Zoning Inspector Sarah Gartland said the GetGo would make a positive addition to the township.
“We love redevelopment in Boardman, so we want to help them through this process,” she said.
Giant Eagle presented its plans to township officials about a month ago, Gartland said. The police, fire, road and zoning departments all were included in the meeting, and none had any major objections, she said.
One benefit township officials think the proposal offers is reduced traffic flow in the area, because the plan is to reduce the number of entrances and exits to the property from all three roadways.
The company will have to get approval from the Ohio Department of Transportation, Mahoning County and Boardman Township before it changes the curb cuts.
And, Giant Eagle still has to purchase the property, formalize design plans and go through site-plan review, among other steps, before construction can begin.
“This is really just the beginning stages. It’s an exciting opportunity, but it’s still a long way to go before anything materializes,” said Eleftherios Hazimihalis of KOS Property Group LLC of Boardman, which owns the property.
The property consists of five buildings, some occupied and some vacant. The buildings would be demolished and the parcels of land would be consolidated into one.
There is no word yet on the timeline for the project.
“We are actively working with local officials as we work through the permitting process, but currently have nothing to confirm regarding timing,” Giant Eagle said in a statement Monday.
“It depends on how motivated they are,” Gartland said. “I’d like it to be sooner rather than later.”