Rita’s Water Ice will be coming to Chestnut Hill this spring. The Chestnut Hill Community Association board voted at its special meeting to welcome the establishment to the shopping center at 7630 Germantown Ave.

Two concerns of the CHCA Development Review Committee were addressed at the meeting. The issue of trash pickup and disposal was addressed by an agreement for Rita’s that a sweep of the property would be done twice daily to dispose of trash.

Another concern was addressing an older agreement that the shopping center would not be used for fast food purposes.

Larry McEwen, co-chair of the DRC, said the committee decided Rita’s Water Ice did not qualify as fast food in relation to that agreement.

The discussion of Rita’s Water Ice as a tenant at the shopping center was expedited to be discussed at the special meeting because, John Thain, franchise owner of the Rita’s Water Ice and Chestnut Hill resident, said at a previous DRC meeting that it was necessary to begin the process of opening in January in order to be ready for spring, a busy time for the franchises.

Jane Piotrowski, CHCA board president, responded to the unanimous vote in favor of Rita’s as a tenant.

“Welcome to the hood,” Piotrowski said.