Representatives of a Pottstown oral surgery practice appeared Tuesday before the Pennsburg Planning Commission to discuss its sketch plan for an office at the intersection of Routes 663 and 29.

            The Pennsburg Oral Surgery Center will provide outpatient procedures Monday through Friday during normal business hours and possibly one evening a week, according to Paul Schmoll, the project's engineer.

            Pottstown Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates, Inc. wants to construct its second satellite office on a vacant parcel across the street from the former Rite Aid, according to project manager Chris DeLuca. He told the commission that the split-level building will include parking on Fourth Street.

            According to DeLuca, the office will provide a headquarters for one surgeon. He said the building will include four treatment rooms.

            "There might only be a four-day work week," he said during the 23-minute meeting.

            The project manager estimated the need for eight parking spaces to accommodate a staff of four to five employees and four to five patients per day.

            The plan, received on Feb. 15 by the municipality, calls for building the office opposite the intersection. Schmoll told the commission that his client plans to demolish the foundation that remains at the property.

            All three lots – which cover 18,700 square feet – are empty, according to Lisa Hiltz, Pennsburg's administrative manager. The three properties near the square have been vacant since 2007.

            The parcel closest to the intersection, listed at 7,000 square feet without a numbered address, previously hosted the Alma Mullen Park and prior to that, the Keeler Building. The adjoining parcel, located at 371 Main St., hosted a five-and-dime store and later a video rental store. At 369 Main St., a theater was later converted into an inn and then a restaurant.

             DeLuca told the members that the developer plans on beautifying the property near the intersection and to make sure it's connected to the rest of Main Street. He said the business would be willing to remove an old sign, flagpole and pine tree.

            In August 2019, Pennsburg Oral & Maxillofacial purchased three parcels near the intersection. The business paid $360,000 for the property in the 300 block of Main Street, according to Montgomery County Property records. It purchased the land from Wilson Pennsburg LLC, which was incorporated in September 2011 and has an office at 455 Pennsylvania Ave., Fort Washington, according to opencorporates.com.

            Since the purchase, the practice -- described on its website as a full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery with expertise ranging from dental implant surgery and wisdom tooth removal to corrective jaw and temporomandibular joint surgery -- constructed and opened its initial satellite office at 239 South Reading Avenue in Boyertown, according to DeLuca.

            Schmoll said the next step in the process would be to present the commission with fully developed plans. DeLuca told the members that the developer would be willing to work with the borough to create a Main Street facade that fits the environment.