WEST WYOMING — The Moonlite Drive-In has been closed for more than 30 years, but an Exeter man saw his plans to reopen the former hotspot take a big step forward this week.
Some residents, however, are concerned about the potential increase in traffic and noise once the drive-in starts showing movies.
Borough council unanimously accepted Eric Symeon’s offer to buy the site at 1190 Shoemaker Ave., according to council Chairman Gary Stavish.
Stavish said there were liens against the property, so council delayed accepting the offer until they could be cleared. It voted at a special meeting Monday night to approve the sale.
Symeon was granted a variance last month by the Luzerne County Zoning Board that would allow him to operate the theater. He now just needs final approval of the deal by the banks involved before he can begin to rehabilitate the property.
Several residents spoke out about the sale at Monday’s meeting.
Jason Azarovich, who has become the unofficial spokesman for neighbors concerned about the project, lives “just a few feet” from the drive-in.
“My main concern is to make sure everything is done legally,” he said.
The property, Azarovich said, is known to flood. Residents worry what is going to happen when Symeon removes trees and other vegetation from the overgrown lot.
“I want to make sure the guys don’t take shortcuts,” he said.
The zoning variance came with conditions — a PennDOT highway study must be conducted; the concession stand and ticket booth, which Symeon plans on renovating, must be brought up to state code; movies must be legitimate and not bootleg versions; and the drive-in has to be a single-screen theater.
Azarovich also anticipates increased traffic on Shoemaker Avenue as well as noise coming from the property after movies are shown.
During the earlier zoning meeting, Symeon’s consultant, Carmen Barletta, said Symeon plans to keep traffic from blocking the road. He would make cars wait for the ticket booth to open in the entranceways, which can hold up to 70 cars, instead of on the avenue. The developer also plans to use a flagger team during operating hours — as well as post signs to keep people from being a disturbance to neighbors.
“I’m not confident,” Azarovich added. “There are still so many legal hoops.”
Previously, Symeon said he hoped to have the drive-in open sometime this year.
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