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Proposed Newtown Wawa Requires Zoning Change or at Least 10 Zoning "Variances"

Proposed Newtown Wawa Requires Zoning Change or at Least 10 Zoning "Variances" | Newtown News of Interest | Scoop.it

There are plans for a Wawa in Newtown Township but before you get excited for your cheap coffee and shorti hoagie, brace yourself. You'll likely be waiting a while.

 

The proposal for a Wawa with fuel pumps and a 5,585 square-foot convenience store off the Newtown Bypass at Lower Silver Lake Road was revealed earlier this month (read “Developer and Attorney Present Their Case for a WaWa Superstore on the Newtown Bypass”). It requires a zoning change, as the site is within the office research zoning district. The proposed use would be retail store with service station, which is not allowed in that zone.

 

In order for the project to move forward, a zoning amendment would have to be considered by the Jointure.

 

According to Newtown Township Supervisor John Mack, as of May 23, the township has not yet received a draft of such amendment.

 

"That would be the first step in the process before anything goes to the Jointure. The Newtown Supervisors would review the draft and it would come up for discussion at a public meeting of the Board of Supervisors BEFORE going to the Jointure, if at all. People should keep an eye on the agendas of upcoming meetings of the Newtown Board of Supervisors before attending Jointure meetings," Mack said on his personal blog (read “Residents Present Their Case For and Against a Super WaWa on the Bypass”).

 

The process may take several months, he noted.

johnmacknewtown's insight:

If the ordinance is not amended, the developers would have to seek at least 10 “variances” from the Zoning Hearing Board, including:

 

  1. To permit a proposed convenience store with motor fuel sales in the OR Office Research District.
  2. To permit a minimum lot area of 5.09 acres, instead of the required 15 acres.
  3. To permit a front yard of 61.0 feet (from proposed canopy) along Newtown Bypass, and 100.3 feet (from proposed building) along Lower Silver Lake Road, instead of the required 150 feet.
  4. To permit a minimum lot width at the building setback line of 170 feet instead of the required 400 feet.
  5. To permit access to roads less than 200 feet from intersection of any street.
  6. To permit primary building or use to be erected on a lot that is less than the minimum lot area in the Office Research District.
  7. To permit a 16-foot drive aisle along Lower Silver Lake Road strictly right-in traffic only.
  8. To permit signage for a joint use that has a combined lot area greater than five acres.
  9. To permit signage for a joint use to be greater than the maximum allowed 20 square feet.
  10. To permit a freestanding sign for joint use that exceeds the 5-foot maximum.
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Newtown News of Interest
These Scoops are excerpts from articles published in local newspapers and other sources that may be of interest to Newtown area residents. Please click on the "From" link to access the full original article. Any opinions and "insights" appended to these article summaries are solely those of John Mack and do not represent the opinions of any other person or entity.
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