Wawa store, Chick-Fil-A approved by the supervisors for DeKalb Pike

"A proposed super Wawa convenience store with 16 gasoline pumps and an adjacent Chick-Fil-A restaurant was approved Thursday night by the Board of Supervisors in a 4-to-0 vote.


Supervisor Gregory Philips was absent.
The plans were first submitted in July 2011 by Goodman Properties for the 4.1-acre parcel at 145 W. DeKalb Pike. It is currently occupied by a former Petco building.
A ‘partial’ traffic light at the driveway entrance and two upgraded traffic lights on South Henderson Road at the intersections of Monroe Boulevard and Saulin Boulevard will be installed. The entrance traffic light will allow in-bound left turns into the driveway.
The Wawa building will have 8,601 square feet and eight islands with 16 gasoline pumps. The 142-seat, Chick-Fil-A building will have 4,864-square-foot with a drive-thru window, two ordering stations and outdoor seating on the northern side of the property.
Township Planner Robert Loeper said the Zoning Hearing Board had granted several variances. Attorney Robert Kerns, representing Goodman Properties, said the firm had agreed to all the township conditions.
“Clearly the greatest issue was traffic and access. There will be a partial signal allowing entrance into the site that can be expanded into a full signal later,” Loeper said. “The parking will conform to code regulations. This is a review that has taken a great deal of time.”
In a July 15, 2011 decision, the Zoning Hearing Board granted variances to allow gasoline sales in the C-1 district, 143 parking spaces and 591-square-feet of signs when the maximum allowed was 200-square-feet. On Aug. 3, 2011, the zoning board allowed an additional common sign for four adjacent properties including Wawa and Chick-Fil-A.
Solicitor Joseph McGrory Jr. said that the approval was made contingent on the Upper Merion Township Transportation Authority determining the amount of the Highway Traffic Capital Improvement Assessment Agreement fee. The traffic impact fee will be based on 421 new “p.m. peak hour” trips” minus reductions for new pass-by trips, according to the resolution.

A building permit will not be issued until the traffic impact fee has been agreed to by Goodman Properties.
Supervisors’ Chairwoman Erica Spott said, “I think we came to a better plan.”

“This is a very challenging property. We have to go into this knowing that this is going to be a tight project,” said Supervisor William Jenaway, “and that the signage will generate more lighting.”
Supervisor Greg Waks asked the developer when the project would begin and when it would be completed
Bruce Goodman, the owner of Goodman Properties, said the project could be complete within a year.
During public comment resident Terry Kelly said, “I’m hearing this is a half light but you recognize that you need a full traffic light? You should have a full light first.”
Spott replied, “PennDOT (Pennsylvania Department of Transportation) is agreeable with a half traffic light. We will watch the traffic generated by this. This board shares that concern. We had many meetings about our concerns. Route 202 is a state highway and we have no option but to deal with PennDOT. We will have to go back to them within three years. It is going to be a challenging area.”
Supervisor Carole Kenney said that PennDOT officials did not want to allow any traffic light at the initial meetings.
“We will have traffic studies and we will go back later to PennDOT,” Kenney said.
A $2,693 fee will be made in lieu of dedication for the required open space for the project. Six waivers for the location of landscaping were granted by the board."
http://www.omegare.com/