Giant Eagle Gets Green Light; Announces Timetable

Plans for  to  on Pearl Road got a green light from the city's Planning Commission Thursday night, clearing the way for construction to start.

Phil Bishop of Echo Realty said the company hopes to break ground in September or October.

The new store will open next June, July or August, depending on how construction proceeds during the winter, he said.

"The main focus is to get started this fall and be open next summer," Bishop said.

 that feature a pharmacy, restaurant, a wide array of prepared foods and specialty departments including cheese, bakery and meats.

Voters agreed in March to rezone a portion of the  property for the store. 

The Planning Commission 6-0 in favor of site plans for the new grocery store.

The company went before the city's Architectural Review Board four times before getting . 

City officials sought a number of revisions on the plans, including building higher walls around the loading dock and rooftop HVAC units to help screen the view -- and noise -- from neighboring homes.

"They have made some significant changes from when they first came to us," Building Commissiner Tony Biondillo said.

Many of the changes involved protecting residents from seeing the back of the store and hearing machinery. The city required Giant Eagle to perform a noise study at one of its other Market District stores; the study showed sounds are well within acceptable levels under the city's noise ordinance.

Because of that, the city will not limit the hours when trucks can make deliveries, which Mayor Tom Perciak said could have been a sticking point.

"It's almost impossible for a store that large to control when all deliveries are made," he said.

Giant Eagle will put up -- and pay for -- a traffic signal at its south driveway, which will be opposite Knowlton Parkway.