News April 2026

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The sign’s replacement shows that persistence works. It reinforces that transparency isn’t optional—and that when residents stay engaged and demand accurate information, it leads to accountability and better outcomes for the community.  

The effort for the removal of the 'approved' sign matters because that misinformation shaped public perception for months. It discouraged residents from asking questions or participating—making it seem like decisions were 

final when they are not.

 This effort also set a precedent. It sent a clear message that the community is paying attention and expects the same standard of honesty from institutions and developers that residents are expected to uphold in their own dealings. It forced transparency that is essential for maintaining trust—not just in this project, but in future decisions that will affect the community. 

 On April 7, 2026, Concord Township considered a resolution to approve the inter-municipal transfer of Restaurant Liquor License No. R-15669 from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to The Giant Company, LLC for use at the proposed Giant Food Store in the Shoppes at Concord.

The vote resulted in a 2–2 tie, with one council member recusing himself. As a result, the resolution did not pass.

Dana Rankin and John Gillespie voted in favor, while Larry Mutschler and James Hunt voted against. Council President Dominic A. Pileggi recused himself due to a conflict of interest, as he owns neighboring property.

This outcome represents an important precedent: approving a liquor license for a project that does not yet exist is not guaranteed—and requires proper scrutiny and justification.

COUNCIL DENIES LIQUOR LICENSE:

 On February 24, 2026, the developer withdrew its submitted Notice of Intent (NOI) seeking an amendment to its coverage under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

This withdrawal is procedurally significant. Without an approved amendment, the proposed changes to stormwater management and earth disturbance activities are not authorized under the NPDES permit. As a result, any land development plan relying on those revisions lacks the necessary state-level environmental approval.

If the developer submits a new or revised application, an updated review through the Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory (PNDI) will be required. The current PNDI review expires at the end of May 2026 and was tied to a prior plan that is not materially related to the plan accepted by Concord Township in September 2025. A new PNDI review ensures that any updated proposal is evaluated for potential impacts to protected species and habitats.