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Luzerne County Council opts for no tax hike in 2019; update on trip probe

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Code officer: Hanover Twp. residence where three died in fire did not have occupancy permit

<p>WILKES-BARRE TWP. &#8212; Panera Bread is expected to return to the Wilkes-Barre Township Commons, but it will be in a slightly different location.</p><p>A new, free-standing building will be built on the site, according to a plan submitted by developer/owner Urban Edge Associates of New Jersey that is on file in the Wilkes-Barre Township Zoning Office.</p><p>Robert Minutoli, executive vice president and chief financial officer at Urban Edge, confirmed the plan Tuesday. But he said Panera Bread has not yet committed to locating at the site.</p><p>&#8220;Yes, we have filed a site plan to rebuild on the property,&#8221; said Minutoli. &#8220;I believe the plan was approved at the last planning/zoning meeting.&#8221;</p><p>Minutoli said it calls for a single free-standing building for a restaurant with a drive-thru that would be suitable for Panera Bread.</p><p>&#8220;But we have not yet gotten a commitment from Panera,&#8221; Minutoli clarified. &#8220;We have no other commitments for tenants that would go in the other buildings that will be rebuilt.&#8221;</p><p>Those other buildings Minutoli referred to were severely damaged when a June 13 tornado hit an area off Mundy Street. The buildings that housed Panera Bread, Tovon &amp; Co., America&#8217;s Best Contacts &amp; Eyeglasses, LA Nails, Sneaker King, GameStop and Famous Footwear will be taken down and a new, 11,600 square-foot complex will be built. That is slightly smaller than the old buildings where Panera and other businesses stood.</p><p>Tovon recently relocated to the Dallas Shopping Center.</p><p>Thomas Zedolik, Wilkes-Barre Township zoning and code enforcement officer, said the free-standing building will be built as a restaurant and will contain 4,941 square feet. Zedolik pointed out that on the plans, that single building is labeled &#8220;Panera Bread.&#8221;</p><p>Other buildings in the Commons are Smokey Bones, Petco, The Dress Barn, Marshall&#8217;s, Bob&#8217;s Discount Furniture, Catherine&#8217;s and Target. They were largely spared damage and reopened days after the tornado.</p><p>Wilkes-Barre Township Mayor Carl Kuren said he&#8217;s pleased to see the Wilkes-Barre Township Commons coming back.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s an important development for the township,&#8221; Kuren said. &#8220;A lot of people patronized those businesses.&#8221;</p><p><strong>More building updates</strong></p><p>Zedolik said the Latona Building located near Mundy Street will be demolished and a new building with two restaurants and office space above will be built. The Latona Building is owned by Robert Tamburro, trustee and general partner of TFP Limited &#8212; owners of the Arena Hub Plaza. Tamburro declined comment on the development.</p><p>Meanwhile, Zedolik and Mayor Kuren said they have no information on two large, vacant sites along Mundy Street where Ashley Furniture and Kurlancheek Home Furnishings once stood. Both were destroyed by the tornado. The township officials said they have not received any paperwork on either property. Ashley Furniture has opened in a nearby building and Kurlancheek is in a temporary location. </p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Wilkes-Barre Township zoning and code enforcement officer Tom Zedolik points out the proposed new location for Panera Bread in the Wilkes-Barre Township Commons complex off Mundy Street. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/web1_TTL121218WB-TWP-Zoning1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Wilkes-Barre Township zoning and code enforcement officer Tom Zedolik points out the proposed new location for Panera Bread in the Wilkes-Barre Township Commons complex off Mundy Street. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Wilkes-Barre Township Commons rebuild plan moves forward; Panera could return