Credit: Buckingham Retail Properties, LLC.
After an initial meeting with the Falls Township Board of Supervisors on September 2, Buckingham Retail Properties LLC met with the Falls Township Zoning Hearing Board Tuesday night to request 11 variances for the possible construction of a three-building complex at the corner of West Trenton Avenue and Pine Grove Road in Morrisville.
The three-building complex would feature a Wawa convenience store with gasoline pumps, a Rite Aid Pharmacy and a restaurant. Falls residents packed the public meeting hall Tuesday to stress their dismay with the plans to both the zoning board and the site engineer and attorney representing Buckingham.
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After initially requesting 11 variances, five were withdrawn Tuesday evening, all of which referred to signage for the property. Buckingham Retail Properties has still requested variances from the township to approve front yard setbacks and parking setbacks. According to Buckingham, the unique shape of the lot has made their plans for the property and the ability to abide by township ordinances “impossible.”
The current property, which holds an Acme, has been empty for approximately the past two years. The lot would receive a major makeover should the township approve the variances allowing the company to move forward with its plans. The over 57,000-square-foot Acme with 325 parking spaces would be demolished and transformed into a 24/7 Wawa convenience store with 12 gas pumps, a Rite Aid Pharmacy and what is being called a “convenience restaurant” with a combined lot of 139 parking spaces.
According to Buckingham, the new plan with greatly reduce parking as well as business coverage and improve the sites storm water management as well as “curb appeal” through landscaping.
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All businesses and home owners within a quarter mile of the proposed site were notified of the plans and many of them attended to voice their concerns for a project of this size.
Four members sought party status against Buckingham allowing them to bring witnesses to the stage on their behalf and cross examine members and witnesses of the Buckingham team.
Credit: Buckingham Retail Properties, LLC.
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Anthony D’Amico, a resident of Stevens Road for the last 34 years, represented the residents as a whole, questioning the site engineer of the project on how these new plans will effect traffic, lighting and depreciation of his home. D’Amico’s main concern was with the placement and pickup of trash storage containers for the Wawa facility.
According to Buckingham, the most reasonable placement for the trash storage facility is in front of the Wawa building, allowing easy access for Wawa and Waste Management employees, but causing speculative traffic concerns on Pine Grove Road during the hours of pickup. While Buckingham states that all trash will be hidden inside a masonry structure and surrounded by shrubbery, D’Amico said his view of the WaWa facility, specifically his upstairs front windows will be directly of the trash facility.
“If I am sitting in my front lawn, as I imagine any other of my neighbors would do, I would have a direct view of the gas pumps and trash,” he said. “I wouldn’t mind looking at a Wawa or at the grocery store, but not at gas pumps and a trash dumpster.”
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D’Amico as well as attorneys on behalf of local businesses deliberated until 11 p.m. Tuesday before the board made a motion to continue the matter at its next meeting on October 14 at 7 p.m.
