Lots of people love Chick-Fil-A, but some aren't loving its proposed location in Newtown Township.
A petition opposing construction of the popular eatery at 98 Upper Silver Lake Road, near Newtown-Yardley Road, was launched on April 30, and has gotten [more than] 600 signatures, most from local residents.
"As residents living within 500 feet of the proposed construction site ... we are deeply concerned about the potential negative impacts on our community," states the petition, started by resident Donna Serdula.
Serdula, who lives about 1,200 feet from the proposed 6,000-square-foot Chick-Fil-A, said it will be a traffic nightmare for her neighborhood, Wiltshire Walk, and for surrounding residents, too.
"It’s going to be huge. It’s bigger than the Wawa that’s going to be building near it,” she said.
“Why are they building this here? I mean, they already have a Chick-Fil-A that's a seven minute drive away,” she said. “They aren’t building it for the community. They’re building it to draw traffic from (I-295). They’re building it because the Wawa is going to draw traffic for everyone who wants hoagies and gas.
“Essentially, they’re turning Newtown into a truck stop,” she said.
“I opposed the Wawa for several reasons," said township Supervisor John Mack, "but primarily because there’s a lot of issues with the traffic at that intersection. It already backs up from Newtown-Yardley Road,” he said.
Chick-Fil-A has been scheduled to make its first case for variances for setbacks and signage before the township Planning Commission on April 16, but canceled three hours before the meeting, Mack said. [Many] residents had planned to attend. "Chick-Fil-A chickened out," Mack said.
What's Next?
The next Planning Commission meeting is set for Tuesday, May 21 at 7 p.m. [at 100 Municipal Dr in Newtown PA 18940]. If Chick-Fil-A is on the agenda, it will likely be a packed house. That's because, Serdula said, residents are concerned with that intersection. With Wawa on one corner and Chick-Fil-A on the other, two more corners are prime for similar development.
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The 2024 budget contemplates the establishment four (4) new full-time Firefighters in order to provide paid firefighter coverage in the Township during daytime hours, seven days per week.
The additional Firefighters will be paid predominantly – but not TOTALLY! – by the funds awarded from the SAFER Grant (i.e., $1.556 million; read “Grant Ensures #NewtownPA Emergency Services Has More Firefighters to Cover Weekends and Respond Quicker”).
The Township Manager notes that "as part of the process, the Township will need to come to an agreement with the union in order to change the schedule to provide 7-day (daytime hours) paid firefighter coverage. The intent moving forward is to begin these discussions in the near future.”
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