Planning is moving forward for Rutter’s second location in Centre County.
The Ferguson Township Planning Commission on Monday recommended conditional approval of the convenience store and gas station chain’s preliminary land development for a proposed store at the corner of Blue Course Drive and West College Avenue.
The York-based company, which opened its first Centre County location in 2020 near Bellefonte, first revealed plans for a State College-area location in 2022 when it requested a subdivision for a lot in Ferguson Township. A final subdivision plan was approved in October 2023, and Rutter’s submitted a preliminary land development plan in December.
Plans show a 13,470-square-foot store and 16 fuel dispensers on the 6.3-acre lot, along with 96 parking spaces — including four ADA spots and 27 for RVs and vehicles with trailers.
The floorplan for the store shows a beer cave, wine wall, kitchen, ordering kiosks, dining area, retail displays, coolers and hot and cold beverage stations.
A new store prototype — the first of which is being constructed in Northumberland County — will be used for the Ferguson Township location, TIm Bieber, a site development and project manager for Rutter’s, told the planning commission.
Fuel pumps will include automotive diesel, but not high-speed diesel for vehicles like tractor-trailers, Tony Fruchtl, of project engineer PennTerra, said.
“This is not geared for trucks,” Fruchtl said. “Some of Rutter’s sites are geared for trucks. This is not. There are large spaces here. Those are for RVs and vehicles with trailers and such.”
Access to the site will be along West College Avenue and at two points on Blue Course Drive.
Along College Avenue, traffic will access the property from the private drive formerly known as Old Block Road. The driveway, which will not be signalized, will have right-in and left-in access and a right-out exit west onto College Avenue, but will not permit left-out traffic turning east onto College Avenue.
A right turn deceleration lane approaching the access point will be developed along College Avenue.
On Blue Course Drive, a fully signalized intersection will be installed to enter and exit the property. That entrance driveway will then connect to the former Old Block Road along the Blaise Alexander Hyundai property, creating road and driveway borders around each side of the Rutter’s.
A right-in only entrance also will be created between the new signal and the light at College Avenue. A dedicated right-turn lane on Blue Course Drive for the right-in entrance and to go west on College Avenue also will be developed.
As part of the project, the grade of Blue Course Drive at the opposite intersection next to the Waffle Shop will be lowered to address visibility issues.
The traffic impact study for the plan has been completed and submitted to the township, and Rutter’s has applied for a Highway Occupancy Permit from PennDOT. The company also is currently waiting on a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for its stormwater management plan.
Sidewalks will be added along Blue Course Drive and West College Avenue, connecting with the sidewalk in front of the neighboring Blaise Alexander property. ADA compliant sidewalks will connect to the store, which also will have bicycle parking.
The Rutter’s location is one of two proposed gas station and convenience stores in the works for Ferguson Township.
Wawa, which is also planning a location in Benner Township, is looking to build a store at 169 W. Aaron Dr., near the intersection with North Atherton Street, and in September was granted a zoning variance for the site. The Philadelphia-area chain has not yet submitted a land development plan for the location, and residents of the nearby Overlook Heights neighborhood have raised concerns about traffic impacts.
