Dandy Mini Marts proposing larger store for North Towanda

BY JAMES LOEWENSTEIN (STAFF WRITER)
Published: March 4, 2010

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Review Photo/JAMES LOEWENSTEIN Dandy Mini Marts Inc. plans to demolish this convenience store after it builds a larger Dandy Mini Mart next to it.

NORTH TOWANDA - Dandy Mini Marts Inc. is proposing to demolish the Dandy Mini Mart on U.S. Route 6 in North Towanda and construct a significantly larger Dandy Mini Mart next to it, the county planner said.

The new 6,485 square-foot convenience store would also have six parking spaces for tractor trailers; six parking spaces for other trucks, such as delivery trucks and propane trucks; and 53 parking spaces for cars, said Brian Davis, Bradford County planner.

In addition, the new store would have three diesel islands and five gasoline islands, he said.

The current store has one gasoline island and no diesel islands, no designated parking for trucks, and it also has much less parking for cars than the proposed store.

Dandy Mini Marts Inc. is also proposing to construct a bank branch, which would be part of the new Dandy Mini Mart building, he said.

Dandy Mini Marts Inc. owner Randy B. Williams has purchased land next to the existing store for the project, Davis said.

The new store will sit on 3.97 acres of land, he said.

Williams has purchased two homes immediately south of the existing store, which will be demolished to make way for the project, Davis said.

The new Dandy Mini Mart will have an exit/entrance off James Street, an entrance/exit off Hillcrest Drive, and two entrance/exits off Route 6, Davis said.

The new mini-mart will be set back further from Route 6 than the existing store, Davis said. The new store will be located more than 140 feet from the edge of Route 6, he said.

The new store will be "substantially bigger" than the existing store, he said.

The current building "is an old store," North Towanda Township Code Enforcement Officer Gerald Sheets said, explaining some of the rationale for the project. "It's one of the original stores. The gas pumps are old. Business is coming. Why not put diesel pumps in so you can fill tractor trailers up?"

Dandy Mini Marts Inc. had hoped to have started construction at this time, but they still need to wait for sign variances from North Towanda Township's zoning hearing board, Davis said.

The variances are for the size and location of signage on the property, said Gerald Sheets, code enforcement officer for North Towanda Township.

One of the variances being sought would allow one of the proposed signs on the property to be closer to Route 6 than is permitted under the zoning ordinance, he said.

"You'll be able to see it (the sign) from the red light" at the intersection of Patterson Boulevard and Route 6, Sheets said. "That's why it's closer to Route 6" than is permitted under the zoning ordinance, he said.

The current store, which is located at the intersection of Route 6 and Hillcrest Drive, will remain open during the construction of the new store, according to plans filed by Dandy Mini Marts Inc. with the Bradford County Office of Community Planning & Grants.

After the new mini mart is open, the old store will be demolished, Davis said.

The JoAnne Kizer real estate building, which is located next to one of the homes that will be demolished, will not be affected by the construction project, Davis said.

The Walsh Insurance Agency building, located at the intersection of James Street and Route 6, will also be unaffected by the construction project, he said.

There will also be grassy areas preserved or developed along Route 6 and James Street that would serve as detention basins for water runoff from the site, Davis said.

The Dandy Mini Mart is not the only significant development that is being proposed for North Towanda.

Bob and Jaimi Patel of Towanda. who own the Towanda Motel in Towanda, are proposing to construct a 58-room three-story hotel, and possibly also a restaurant, on a property they've purchased on Route 6 in North Towanda.

Dandy Mini Marts Inc. still needs a number of other permits before it can start construction, including a highway occupancy permit from the state Department of Transportation, and preliminary approval from the Bradford County Planning Commission.

Attempts to reach Dandy Mini Mart officials on Monday and Wednesday afternoons were unsuccessful.

James Loewenstein can be reached at (570) 265-1633; or e-mail: jloewenstein@thedailyreview.com.

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15 posted comments

John, That truck got stuck while trying to turn around in a place not intended for that purpose. Obviously a mart designed to fill big trucks is going to have ample space for them to turn to be able to enter the highway going north or south. If you're not already having to leave earlier for work due to increased truck traffic, then you're not coming from very far out of town. The trip from Towanda to Troy, or vice versa, has now become a 45 minute drive, where it used to take a half hour. Any solution that gets this new Dandy out of town is preferable to increasing its size where it is now. We keep hearing that our Dandy in Monroeton is going to become another huge all nighter. I can't imagine the traffic problems that's going to create at the intersection of 220 and 414. It should be located farther north, outside of town. It's already a traffic hazard, and being bigger would only make it worse.
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Morontown resident,  03/06/10 7:26
Then with moving it up the hill it possesses the potential to create the problem we had this fall with a tractor trailer getting stuck on the rt 6 which in turn caused an accident by the fitness center. So how would that outcome be a better option? So we can possibly create backups due to trucks getting stuck trying to get back going north bound? I sure would be pissed if i was headed to work to come up on a truck stuck in the road and it causing me to be late to work.
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John,  03/05/10 9:46
I have to agree with "Not-So-Dandy". While better access at the present location would be good, a much better solution would be to locate it farther north, in the vicinity of the Old P&A restaurant, or up near the State Police barracks. This would put it near the intersection of Rts. 6 and 220, and might cut down truck traffic through town, and especially through North Towanda. I agree that the Hillcrest area is not going to be such a desirable place to live if this plan is implemented as proposed.
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Get out of town,  03/05/10 10:39
Mr. Williams should not penalized simply because he is a good businessman. Although the gas is usually overpriced, they do serve a useful purpose and fill a need. Sounds like the store will be similar to the one in Ulster except with more fuel islands and parking. I would rather see business, under proper guidelines, than see it contract.
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4Sure,  03/05/10 9:40
I'm in favor of it! It will be great for the two plants that are right by there now they won't have to run clear to wysox not to mention it will cut down on trucks in and out of the wysox dandy so in turn will help with the entrance and exiting of the trucks at that spot of rt 6 it will also cut down on trucks having to come through towanda for gas as they will be able to exit just before the dandy get the fuel they need and head right up rt 6 and get back on 220. actually works for both directions. Also I travel though there multiple times a week and will be nice to be able to hit that dandy rather than trying to go to the wysox one that is always busy in the morning/afternoon when I go through! There is also laws now that prohibit trucks over a certian wieght from idling any longer than 15 mins I believe it is. That upgrade is ideal in my mind because of the easy access to rt 220 easy on/off in both directions. everyone always complains about something but when we had the chance to grow the fine members of this area never let it happen! Now that they are being force feed it they don't like it. what I have to say is if you would have allowed growth gradually over the years this force feed wouldn't be happening we would already have things in place and be ready for change! Its about time for change! And this area would not be DEAD! so it is finally coming back to life! Hopefully it will get rid of the welfare mentality that has been the area's status quo for so long
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John,  03/05/10 4:21
I'm actually in favor of a bigger better Dandy in this area. The one there is hard to get in and out of, and not very well stocked. I work in N. Towanda, and don't have time to run all the way to wysox at lunch time, and trying to get in and out of the one at Ulster in time is terribly slow. It's about time!
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Linda,  03/04/10 9:24
this is for razor you can run down the facts of what will happen with the bigger dandy but you didnt have anything to say about the new motel and resturant the will be going in just across thge street.maybe it isnt really the dandy you are worried about , maybe you just hate trucks.well just just remember those trucks is what makes america run.without them you cant get the stuff you buy at stores anymore.and just think the trucks that are there sleeping at night could be driving trying to find another place to park to get the sleep they are supposed to get.without the sleep the can crash and kill somebody, and if it were your family you would say that driver should of been sleeping instead of driving.try being in a truck for 14 hours and cant find a place to pull over to sleep cause of people just like you.im a driver and i kn ow all about needing to pull over and cant
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dan in laceyville,  03/04/10 9:20
People have to get some cup of coffie in early morning....
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Kevin Fabyan,  03/04/10 6:23
If the current building is going to be demloished and an entire new building is going to be built, how about Mr. Dandy himself ponies up and builds this new monstrosity further up Route 6 near Shannon Tires? It will be easier for trucks to pull in and out and it is much less residential.
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Not-So-Dandy,  03/04/10 1:42
I'm not big into change, but I do have the undesirable opinion that this is a good thing. The traffic at the existing gas stations is horrible. Even the lone 24hr station in wysox is busy day and night. Try to get a quick cup of coffee at 6am? Be lucky if you're out in 15 minutes. That entire plot in N Towanda looks terrible anyway, developing it might actually clean it up. To say it's going to drop property values and ruin the privileged residents' way of life is going a bit overboard. I will however agree that the gas price issue is ridiculous. Its not a monopoly since there are other stations, but those other stations being in on the gouging makes it just as bad as a monopoly. Go an hour in any direction but north, and you see an instant $10c decrease per gallon.
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Mary,  03/04/10 1:12
js, You just put your finger on the problem of why our local gas prices are so much higher than surrounding areas. The lion's share of gasoline sold in Bradford County is sold by one chain, and that chain sets the price. Competitors can peg their price a penny or two lower, and sell as much as they can pump, but there is no incentice to go lower by a nickle or get into a gas price war (remember them) because they would lose money they could be making. It is not a true monopoly, because there are other sellers, but it's close enough to control the price. And for Lynda; please no more traffic lights!
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witnit,  03/04/10 11:03
Wonder what the Hillcrest home area owner think about the new bigger Dandy -Restaurant-Truck stop- Fuel islands? It will come with the following: 24 hour truck traffic, Big truck Noise of pulling in and out, Jake brakes screaming to slow down, diesel exhaust spewing and rising right up the hill, bright lights at islands and parking areas all night long which also will light up the whole hill where it will be day light 24/7. The din of idling motors and restaurant fans running 24/7 with the delightful scent of grease and food rising up the hill on air currents. Don't forget the undesirables this place will attract 24/7 with them wandering right up the hill! Theirs probably more but I haven't given this much thought. Oh....Add the immediate $30,000 property value loss for each house and probably more. The complete loss of quality of life. Imagine… a nice weekend cook out and competing with the air and noise pollution. You won’t be able to use your porches or decks in the summer. I'm really glad I don't live their. I will however consider buying a house real cheap on the hill and rent it out to some gas well guys. Anything to make a buck you know. Should be fun!!!
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Razor,  03/04/10 9:24
JUST what the town needs; ANOTHER, BIGGER, Dandy Mini Mart....I dont know about the rest of the Towanda residents, but I am getting sick of Dandys all over this area. Isnt it illegal to have a MONOPOLY on any business? Time to move, jobs suck around here anyway.
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js,  03/04/10 7:01
Say "Good-bye" to rural Bradford County. The real world is not coming anymore, it is here.
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Carol East,  03/04/10 6:54
The next thing that needs to be done is a traffic light at RT 220 and Wolcott Hollow Road in Greens Landing and a bigger Dandy Mini Mart there.
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Lynda Williams,  03/04/10 5:57