Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
The Penndel Borough Council voted 6-1 on Monday night to grant preliminary and final approval for a project expected to bring a Wawa and Rite Aid to the town.
The only major opposition to the project that would bring a 5,600-square-foot Wawa with gas pumps and a 15,000-square-foot Rite Aid Pharmacy to the lot bordered Durham Road and Legrande, Bellevue and Park avenues came from councilwoman Barb Heffelfinger. The councilwoman raised issue that the developer has not fully acquired all of the properties necessary for the land development.
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According to the developer’s representation, the Wawa would still be possible, albeit in a different form, if all of the 11 tax parcels are not acquired. The Rite Aid would likely need to be dropped, attorney Tom Hecker said.
“I cannot justify voting until you have all of the properties under contract. That’s my only problem,” Heffelfinger said.
The majority of the discussion at the work session centered on the traffic implications that Wawa would have on the area. Worries about the traffic implications including volume and the danger of increased volume was voiced, but traffic studies helped to ease tensions among residents.
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The borough will receive a payment to supplement metered parking spaces lost. Also, the developer, Tom Verrichia, has agreed to provide some extra parking spaces at the site.
In order to express gratitude towards the borough, the developer offered to offer a contribution of $20,000 towards the police department renovation.
