This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Politics & Government

Baldwin Township Commissioners Meet About Hot Dogs and Beers

The Baldwin Township Board of Commissioners has 45 days to reach a decision after Monday night's meeting regarding a liquor-license transfer to a hot dog and beer shop anticipated to open on McNeilly Road.

The Baldwin Township Board of Commissioners met on Monday night regarding the proposed transfer of a liquor license to the business expected to fill vacant commercial property on McNeilly Road.

The board was asked by petitioner John Chad, Inc., to provide a recommendation to be included in John Chad's application to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. Though no decision was made on Monday night, municipal law requires that one be made within 45 days.

Board President Eileen Frisoli began the meeting with an explanation that it was a "public meeting in order for the commissioners to take comments and recommendations regarding John Chad, Inc.'s, request for a municipal recommendation … for an inter-municipal transfer of an eatery liquor license from 121 N. Highland Ave. (in Pittsburgh) to 442 McNeilly Road (in )."

Find out what's happening in Baldwin-Whitehallwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Township solicitor Tom McDermott co-chaired the meeting. In his opening comments, McDermott clarified that the meeting was a license-transfer hearing, not a zoning hearing. He said that it was a quasi-judicial session during which the board would gather information to be used in the determination of whether or not the proposed business would threaten the general health, welfare, peace and morals of the area within a 500-foot radius of its location.

McDermott went on to explain what types of things that the municipality can and will consider in its decision-making process, such as the presence of churches, charitable organizations, hospitals, schools and playgrounds within a 300-foot radius of the business and the competitive effect on other businesses within a 200-foot radius.

Find out what's happening in Baldwin-Whitehallwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Parking and traffic, however, will not be a determinative factor, as case law dictates that there is no logical correlation between liquor-license issues and parking and traffic matters, McDermott said.

After McDermott finished his introduction, the petitioner was asked to present its comments. Gregory A. Szallar, attorney with Flaherty & O'Hara, spoke on behalf of his client, Chad Hardy, the sole owner of John Chad.

Szallar explained the nature of the anticipated business as a hot dog and beer shop. He said that the business will sell ready-made hot dogs, bratwurst and sausages as well as a variety of domestic, microbrew and craft beers for on-premise consumption and/or take-out purchase.

Szallar said that the shop will sell only malt and brewed alcoholic beverages and will not sell wine or liquor, and that its take-out sales will be limited to 192 ounces (the equivalent of two six-packs) per transaction. He said that there will be no bar, TVs, videogames or live music in the shop, as it is not intended to be a place for people to sit around and drink.

According to Szallar, the shop is intended, in large part, to be a premium beer shop where customers can create mix-and-match six-pack combinations and sample single bottles of high-end craft beers that sometimes cost upward of $50 per case.

Other points that Szallar presented included Hardy's extensive work history and monetary investment in the business venture, the strict identification-carding policy that the shop will enforce and the Responsible Alcohol Management Program training that the shop's employees will receive.

Parking concerns were also addressed by Szallar, who said that his client's property-lease agreement includes a clause whereby the landlord will clearly mark two designated parking spaces for customers getting a take-out order only from the shop.

At the close of Szallar's comments, the floor was opened for questions.

Commissioner John Paravati asked Hardy why he chose the Baldwin-Whitehall area for his business. Hardy replied that he was familiar with the area after having owned a beer distributor nearby on West Liberty Avenue, that he liked the secondary-road location and that he thought that the area has a good beer-drinking community that would appreciate an upscale craft-beer selection.

The meeting was open to the public, but other than the board members and media professionals, the only other people in attendance were Hardy, his associate and his attorney.

When asked to comment after the meeting closed, Hardy said that he is very optimistic and excited to bring his unique business to the area. He also said that he is looking forward to being heavily involved in the local community as more than a business-owner, noting that he has sponsored Little League and other sports teams in past professional endeavors.

Check back with the Baldwin-Whitehall Patch for updates on John Chad's application.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?