The Newtown Township zoning hearing board’s consideration of variances for a proposed new Wawa and Old Navy have both been pushed back.
Wawa’s hearing was continued until the March 5 meeting at the request of township solicitor David Sander, a move agreed to by the developer’s attorney John VanLuvanee, zoning hearing board solicitor Michael Clarke announced.
Consideration of Old Navy variances were continued for at least 60 days but no actual date has been set, he added.
The 12,500 square-foot Old Navy is being proposed for a spot at the Newtown Shopping Center just off Route 413. Variances being considered also include those for a proposed 400-square-foot expansion of the Chick-fil-A in the same center.
“I understand that the (Newtown Shopping Center) plans are possibly being amended, which would require them to start the (application) process over again,” Clarke said.
[Related: “Survey Says Newtown Area Residents Oppose Old Navy Box Store”]
Developer Provco Pineville Acquisitions LLC is proposing a 5,585 square-foot Wawa with eight fueling stations (16 pumps) for five acres just off the Newtown Bypass near Upper Silver Lake Road.
Provco is asking for 13 variances and has also filed a challenge to the joint municipal zoning ordinance that sets zoning law for Newtown Township, Upper Makefield and Wrightstown because it makes no provision for a combined convenience store/gas pumps use.
A new ordinance that would set aside areas for the use in all three municipalities is being developed but the Wawa must be considered separately because plans for the project were filed before the process for drafting a new JMZO was started, officials have said.
Your new post is loading...
At the February 6, 2020, Newtown Area Joint Zone Council (JZC) meeting, Jointure Solicitor Mary Eberle, of Grim, Biehn & Thatcher, told JZC members that the Commonwealth Court judges "beat up pretty bad" the lawyers representing Wawa at the Plumstead Township Board of Supervisors appeal. She advised the JCZ: "You are allowed to free your mind of the 5600 square foot minimum and the traditional Wawa layout" when drafting the E30 Ordinance to allow a combination gas station and convenience store in the Jointure. Listen to her comments here: http://bit.ly/EberleOpenMind