More testimony with little new information, but with some objection, came out of a March 12 hearing in Concord Township regarding the proposed Wegman’s development.
Testifying were a land planner and two civil engineers, one of whom was a traffic engineer. All three said the planned development — with the food store planned for Concord and other retail stores in Chadds Ford Township — would be both safe and beneficial to the community.
The hearing combines a request for conditional use approval and on the creation of a zoning overlay — the Loop Road Overlay — that would allow for the new 140,000 square foot store. Current zoning allows for manufacturing, warehouses and offices. If it passes, the overlay would also allow for retail stores, restaurants and supermarkets. Conditional use approval is needed because of the large size of the proposed market.
Construction will be on 20.3 acres in Concord and 13 acres in Chadds Ford. The entire site is between Route 202 just north of Applied Card Way, the Applied Card building to the east and Route 1 to the north.
Plans for development also call for parking spaces and new retail stores in Chadds Ford and for completion of the third leg of the loop road around the intersection of routes 1 and 202. This segment of the loop would extend from Applied Card Way at Route 1 to Route 202 across from Hillman Drive.
Land planner Dennis Glackin completed testimony started in late January, and was then cross-examined by Rocco Imperatrice, representing Glen Eagle Square where Whole Foods is located.
Glackin said there would need to be stormwater management on the site, but that those plans are yet finished. In all, he said the overlay and the development would be “a significant benefit” to the area, especially because of the loop road. He said the plan would be a benefit without the loop, but the new road makes the plan even better.
Civil engineer Greg Elko and traffic engineer William Lothian echoed Glackin’s sentiments. Both said the plan would be beneficial and that the new road, along with improved intersections into and out of the development, would make for safer conditions.
In addition, Elko said improved sidewalks would also promote safety and that the development would be a benefit to public safety and health.
Attorney Garth Hoyt, representing Applied Card, filed two procedural objections. He first said that the Concord Township Planning Commission had not considered the plan in a public meeting, only in agenda sessions.
Township solicitor Hugh Donaghue responded, saying that while the commission did consider the plan in two agenda sessions, it also reviewed the plan in one regular meeting. He added that agenda sessions are advertized.
Hoyt also objected to the size of parcel in Concord. He said the ordinance requires the property to be a minimum of 20 acres, but that the current owner of the property will be retaining three acres, leaving 17 acres for Wegman’s. That, he said, made the area too small.
Again, Donaghue responded by saying that tract size is determined before subdivision and land development, so the plan is in compliance with the code.
Robert Gundlach, the attorney for the applicant, added that the ordinance allows for the Chadds Ford parcel to be included in determining tract size because it’s part of the project.
The hearing is scheduled to continue 7 p.m., Thursday, April 25 in the municipal building.
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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