Even though Concord Township ruled against Costco in a conditional use hearing last year, the discount club store still wants to build in the township. That was the word from attorney Mark Kaplan who is representing the developer of the property along Evergreen Drive.
The site is to the north of the Crozer medical facilities in Brinton Lake.
Concord denied the application last year because of a disagreement over the dedication of Evergreen Drive and because Costco wanted to include a gas station within the proposed parking area.
Costco has appealed the denial, but a court date has not yet been set.
Kaplan told supervisors during the July 12 board meeting that Costco is willing to dedicate Evergreen Drive as a loop road—linking Baltimore Pike and Conchester Road—and would improve Conchester, but it still wants a gas station, though it has moved the proposed location out of the parking area.
He said that without the gas station, Costco would walk away from negotiations. He added, though, that a big box store—140,000 to 150,000 square feet—would still go in, though he didn’t say which that would be.
“Costco insists on a gas station or it’s not coming,” Kaplan said. Even if not Costco, “There will be a big box user” in that location.
A number of residents from both Concord and adjoining Thornbury Township expressed concerns about traffic, specifically on Conchester and nearby Aldan, Mill and Thornton roads.
Concord Township solicitor Hugh Donaghue weighed the situation: “They’ve come back with some improvements… If Costco pulled out someone else would come in. We have no idea who that might be. We’d have to take our chances.”
He added that Costco’s willingness to improve Conchester Road is a benefit to the township and that if “Costco wants gas, that gives us leverage.”
“The loop road and gas are the two issues. If they’re off the table, the township is not in the same negotiating position,” said Donaghue.
Kaplan’s presentation was preliminary only. He told the board he wanted the go ahead to take the plans to the Planning Commission, but the board, with two people on vacation, made no decision.
Other business
Ginny DeNenno of the Historical Society said Pennsylvania’s Civil War Road Show is expected to come to the Township in August. She said the show would be at Garnet Valley Middle School from Aug. 12-14.
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
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