Sunset Ice Cream, a landmark along Lycoming Creek Road, will be torn down to make way for new CVS Pharmacy and Eyeland Optical stores.
At their meeting on Tuesday evening, the Old Lycoming Supervisors unanimously approved a preliminary plan from Shumbat Partnerships for the new pharmacy, and a final plan for the new optical store.
Zoning Officer Judy Balzer is pleased that the township is seeing commercial growth, but she admitted she is a bit sad to see Sunset Ice Cream go.
"That's a landmark for us around here, everyone knows and loves Sunset Ice Cream," Balzer said.
The ice cream parlor will be torn down to make room for a new, larger CVS, which will feature a drive-through pharmacy window.
"Basically, I looked over this with a fine toothed comb this week, and I like what I see," Supervisor John Eck said about the plans.
Sam Marranca, owner of Shumbat Partnerships, explained his development vision to those in attendance.
"I think this will make a nice, more commercial area eventually," Marranca said.
"We will be putting in a new Eyeland Store, and move CVS across the street from where it is now. Both will have much better access and parking, which will let us put a drive-through pharmacy window on the CVS," he added.
The new Eyeland store will be about 60 feet from the old one. It will move the building closer to the street and allow for better parking, according to Marranca.
The main entrance to both stores will come via Shumbat Street, which makes figuring out the parking lots a bit tricky, according to Balzer.
Approval of the plans is contingent on Shumbat Partnerships addressing certain concerns expressed by the township engineer, which included parking issues and driveway permits.
According to Marranca, it will be at least seven months before the new Eyeland is erected. He hopes to break ground on the new CVS some time in 2013.
