WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — Is the Wawa proposed for MacArthur Road and Mickley Road going to receive approval to be built?
The Shorti — er, short — answer is: Maybe.
Discussion regarding the convenience store project was on the agenda for Whitehall Township Planning Commission last week, but was tabled.
The proposed Wawa site is less than two miles and on the same side of MacArthur Road as another Wawa at MacArthur and Mechanicsville roads, which does a busy business.Wawa Whitehall Mall proposal
The convenience store/gas station is being proposed for the property where the former Sears Auto Center stands at Whitehall Mall. The auto center is permanently closed.
The new store would be across the parking lot from Floor & Decor, which took the place of the former Sears store in the transitioning mall and opened for business in December.
The proposed Wawa site is less than two miles and on the same side of MacArthur Road as another Wawa at MacArthur and Mechanicsville roads, which does a busy business.
No other details about the Wawa proposal were given at Wednesday's meeting.
The Wawa application was among four projects tabled:
- Construction by Whitehall Townhomes of 10 townhomes on an 11-lot parcel at 3229 N. Front Street.
- A subdivision development application by Fullerton Terminals LLC at 2451 Main St.
- A land development by Tractor Supply at 3561 W. Columbia St.
- A major subdivision and land development proposed by Emerson Village at 3626 Rural Road.
Whitehall Townhomes suggestions
Attorney Zachary A. Sivertsen of Eastburn and Gray, of Doylestown, represented Whitehall Townhomes.
He told the commission that the stormwater drainage issues it expressed have been addressed and approved by Keystone Consulting Engineers and Lehigh Valley Planning Commission.
The Whitehall Townhomes proposal doesn't allow for access to the rear of the property by residents who may need to “mow their lawn or build a shed.”Whitehall Township Planning Commission Chairman Jonathan Bolton
Planning Commission Chairman Jonathan Bolton said the proposal doesn't allow for access to the rear of the property by residents who may need to “mow their lawn or build a shed.”
Sivertsen suggested his client would create a 10-foot-wide walkalong easement.
Township Engineer Frank Clark said the township prefers a 15-feet-wide easement. Sivertsen said his client would be agreeable to that requirement.
The commission also had concerns regarding a drainage pond on the property that were not addressed to the body’s satisfaction, leading to the proposal being tabled.
The concerns the commission have with the Fullerton Terminals proposal involve providing water service to the property.
The developer proposed on-lot wells, while the commission prefers a public water connection, according to Lee Rackus, township bureau chief of planning.
The commission also said sidewalk curbing in the development is mandated.
Other projects
The Tractor Supply application was tabled because of concerns by the commission regarding installation of sidewalks, grading and a fire department connection to a fire hydrant.
Mark A. Magrecki. regional manager at PennTerra Engineering, said his plan “just needs tweaking, then we’ll be in a much better position” to proceed.
Justin Strahorn of WB Homes land acquisitions acknowledged to the commission “a fair amount of work” needs to be done before moving forward with the Emerson Village project.
Strahorn detailed the waivers being sought by his client, including the widening of Rural Road to just 14 feet, not 16; a handful of stormwater management waivers; landscaping issues; and a partial waiver for fencing around the storm basins.
“This has been more than one year since development was proposed, but we still don’t have an answer to how many trees will be removed,”Resident Karen Pashefko
Resident Karen Pashefko, of Fellowship Community, expressed to the commission her opposition to the project, specifically the planned reduction of the forested area.
“This has been more than one year since development was proposed, but we still don’t have an answer to how many trees will be removed,” she said.
Strahorn said only about one acre of the 6 ½ acres of trees will be preserved.
Final approval was given to Lehigh Valley Health Network for consolidation of three parcels in the 3900 block of Mechanicsville Road and at 3052/3220 MacArthur Road.
The planning commission’s next meeting is May 15.
