Court revives Pennsylvania couple's six-year fight to add drive-through at truck stop

Representative Image (AI-generated) A drive-through window may seem like a small addition to an established convenience store, but for one Pennsylvania couple, getting permission to build one turned into a legal battle lasting nearly six years. Their proposal involved a 5-7-acre truck stop that already sold freshly prepared food and served motorists around the clock. However, local zoning officials refused permission, arguing that township regulations prohibited drive-through facilities at convenience stores.The dispute reached the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, which ruled on October 27, 2026, in Jyotsna Jivani and Anil Jivani v. East Lampeter Township Zoning Hearing Board and East Lampeter Township, according to the court opinion available on Justia. The court overturned the lower court's decision upholding the denial, finding conflicting provisions in the township's zoning ordinance. It also recognised the proposed facility as a natural expansion of the existing business and sent the case back to the zoning board for further proceedings.A truck stop looking to expand its food serviceJyotsna and Anil Jivani own a property at 2622 Lincoln Highway East in East Lampeter Township, ...