Chestnuthill Township supervisors and Three Twins Realty, the owner of Rita's Italian Ice, were unable to come to an agreement on a sidewalk issue.

Its land development plan was tabled until the Tuesday, May 6, meeting.Chuck Gould, Chestnuthill Township supervisor chairman, said he was not in favor of approving the plan until an issue of a sidewalk is resolved.Three Twins Realty owns the property where Rita's Italian Ice is located. The owner wants to put in additional businesses upstairs and is awaiting approval. But it has been noted that there is a safety concern with Rita's current parking situation.During busy business hours, Rita's customers have been parking in the adjacent parking lot where the First Northern Bank & Trust and other offices are located in a building also owned by Three Twins Realty.Rita's customers are seen walking along Route 209 to get to the business.Ralph Matergia, attorney for Three Twins Realty, said that they were not encouraging Rita's patrons to park at the bank site."I'm not saying you do, but an employee of Rita's was seen with a sign telling its customers to park there," Gould said."I'd like to see a solid sidewalk from the bank to Rita's. It would be safer than people walking along that busy highway."Matergia said that the cost is a concern."We can police it or provide signage," Matergia said."I think sooner or later there will be a sidewalk built, whether it's by us and we bill the owner or by the owner. It's a safety issue and needs to be addressed now."Matergia wanted to know if a pervious sidewalk would be possible.Township engineer Chris McDermott said pervious would be acceptable. He said the shortest distance would be to come from the sidewalk at the end of the bank building across a grassy area to Rita's, a distance of about 105 feet.Gould said he would like to see it as solid concrete along Route 209.Matergia said he will talk with the owner and be back at the May 6 meeting with an answer.Resident Stuart Thody asked the supervisors how many parking spaces were zoned for Rita's.McDermott told him seven spaces, which was in compliance with the zoning ordinance."Approving that business for only seven parking spaces was not very wise," Thody said.