(9/4) A proposal to construct a shopping center in Hamiltonban Township advanced September 3 when the township supervisors conditionally approved proposed project-related agreement documents.

Realtor and developer David Sites, David L. Sites Realty Leasing & Management, Gettysburg, is proposing to construct the Iron Springs Plaza shopping center on a 17-acre tract located at the intersection of Iron Springs and Fairfield (Route 116) roads.

As part of the approval process, the developers needed to acquire approval from the township Board of Supervisors for a proposed stop light maintenance agreement and an indemnity agreement regarding subsurface stormwater management structures.

The stop light maintenance agreement ensures that Iron Springs Plaza will be solely responsible for the maintenance of a stop light proposed at the intersection of Iron Springs and Fairfield roads, while the subsurface stormwater indemnity agreement ensures the development will be liable for that infrastructure.

The approvals were granted conditioned on the developer fulfilling a number of "engineering issues" submitted by township consultants.

The board of supervisors unanimously approved the project’s subdivision and land development plan in 2011 and planting waiver, as well as a waiver regarding the size of a ditch-like storm water basin.

Conditions placed on the development approval included township attorney sign-offs on any easement and right-of-way agreements (with property owners), receipt of county and local permits or approvals, and the completion of an accepted traffic study.

Robert A. Sharrah, president of Sharrah Design Group, Gettysburg, representing the developer, also noted September 3 that the developers are having a difficult time acquiring some of the necessary easement agreements from property owners adjacent to the shopping center site.

The shopping center project consists of subdividing the land into five lots, one of which will contain a 35,000 square foot grocery store, as the plaza anchor business, and a 7,200 square foot retail business.

Sites said Kennie's Markets may be the operators of the new grocery store when the building is complete and available.

Food Lion had been considered as the anchor store in an earlier effort to create an Iron Springs shopping center, but the deal ultimately went awry and the overall plans for that project were withdrawn in April 2009.

One of the five lots will be used strictly for storm water management and will not be developed. The remaining three, circa two acre, lots will be available, but do not presently have prospective clients committed to acquiring any of them as yet.