Ross Board Approves Plans for Auto Shop on Babcock, Former Pharmacy on McKnight

Ross Township Board of Commissioners approved a conditional use request Monday for an automotive repair facility on property at 2136 Babcock Boulevard.

The board also approved a site plan approval for a facade renovation at 4870 McKnight Road, the former Berkeley Hills Pharmacy.

The conditional use request for the auto repair shop was needed because state safety inspections will be done on site, said Dan Hankins, the township's building code and zoning officer.  

He said not to ask him why such a requirement was written into the zoning code.

"I haven't been able to figure that out," he told the commissioners. 

, but rather planned to offer state safety inspections, emissions inspections, and mechanical repair services. He also said he has been working for 15 years in the auto repair business and that this was his first attempt at running his own shop.

The former Berkeley Hills Pharmacy is being gutted in the hope of attracting at least four tenants, said Herky Pollock, who represented  Monday.

"My plan is to gut the building, put in a new facade, a new roof and ultimately get it back on your tax rolls," Pollock told the commissioners. 

The approvals were given 8-0. Commissioner Pete Ferraro voted by phone. Commissioner Grace Stanko was absent.