Coffee House gains green light

Blair planners OK Greenbean store at former Baronner’s site

HOLLIDAYSBURG -- Blair County Planning Commission members Thursday gave a positive review to plans for construction of a new Greenbean Coffee House along North Juniata Street.

In May, Greenbean owners Travis and Katy McCabe purchased the Baronner's Farm Market property, 1613-1625 N. Juniata St. from Bob and Kelly Baronner.

The McCabes have made some changes to their original plans for the site.

The plans reviewed Thursday call for converting the former Baronner's fruit stand into a coffee bean roasting facility on the first floor and second-floor office space. The project also calls for construction of a 1,965-square-foot coffee house.

Two existing outbuildings and polytunnel greenhouse as well as some existing macadam, concrete, landscaping and loading dock will be demolished.

Additionally, the plans propose a two-lane drive-thru, sidewalks, landscaping and stormwater management improvements, said MacKenzie Cron, community planner.

Originally, the plan was to remove the Baronner building and put up a new cafe in its place. "Once we toured the building and saw the love and pride the Baronners put into the care of the building, we quickly realized that was the wrong decision. Baronner's Farm Market is a staple in our community, and we want to incorporate the traditions that came with it into our business as a way to honor them for many years to come," Katy McCabe said.

The McCabes hope to break ground in June with a tentative completion date for the new coffee house in November or December.

"We plan to open immediately upon completion. The building will be a smaller version of our coffee house located at 715 Sixth Ave. in Altoona," Katy McCabe said.

The project is expected to lead to 15 to 20 new jobs, she said.

Access to the proposed cafe will be through a 24-foot-wide bidirectional drive that splits into two 11-foot-wide drive-thru aisles and one 10-foot-wide bypass lane that opens up to be 18 feet wide.

Access to the proposed site of the coffee bean roasting facility and associated offices will remain as an existing 24-foot bidirectional drive, Caron said.

Parking will consist of 17 paved parkings spaces, which will meet the requirements for properties of this nature.

"We recommend the inclusion of an ADA parking space at this site," Caron said.

The proposed parking for the coffee bean roasting facility and associated offices will include 14 paved spaces including one AD accessible space.

Planning commission members expressed some concerns with maneuverability at the site and suggested adding some bicycle parking but overall were pleased with the project.

"It is good to see adaptive use of this old building," member Larry Carter said.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.