New building OK’d for Painters Crossing
After months of working with the Chadds Ford Planning Commission, The Henderson Group received approval for a new building at Painters Crossing shopping center.
Township supervisors granted land use and conditional use approval for a 15,000-plus square foot building in the southeast corner of the shopping center, the area closest to the intersection of Routes 1 and 202.
As has been reported since the fall, the new building will sit in the area where Farmers’ Road, Arby’s, and the first location for El Gran Rodeo had been. Those buildings were demolished two years ago.
Approval came following a conditional use hearing for the outdoor dining and drive-thru. The hearing was held Wednesday evening, and the measures passed unanimously 3-0.
The approved building will be 15,580 square feet and accommodate up to five businesses with two being restaurants, one on each end of the new structure. There will be outdoor dining for both, but one, the southernmost unit closest to Route 1, will also have a drive-thru lane.
According to Brian Coyle, president and CEO of Henderson, there are no tenants yet, but Henderson is working with a company that is doing a tenant search. He said during testimony that they are looking for two restaurant tenants, one being a full-service restaurant and the other being a “fast casual” restaurant.
A fast-casual restaurant is defined as a restaurant that blends the convenience of fast food with the quality of casual dining. There is counter service, but no full table service. The drive-thru would be for the fast-casual restaurant.
In the process of the tenant search, they are also looking for traditional retailers to occupy the center units of the new building.
Also during Coyle’s testimony at the hearing, he said “As part of the project we’re going to reconfigure the driveway and parking areas behind the AMC [movie theater] to add green areas, and we’ll also be installing stormwater management systems that are related to the [land] disturbance.”
Additionally, he said, the existing crosswalk system will be reconfigured “to promote walkability and safety for pedestrians,” adding that there will also be new landscaping around the south and east sides of the building, the sides along Routes 1 and 202. Added landscaping will also be added to the corner of the property where the monument sign is located facing the intersection.
Part of the added safety is that the outdoor dining areas will be fenced off.
Other witnesses include engineer Joh. Grant, traffic engineer Matt Hammond, and land planner John Kennedy. Each said the plan would have no adverse effect on the health, safety or welfare of the residents of Chadds Ford.
Approval came with several conditions, most being routine, such as complying with review letters from township professionals and abiding by various township codes, as well as all laws of the United States and of Pennsylvania.
According to conditions read into the record by township solicitor Mike Maddren, the drive-thru may only be used for the fast-casual restaurant. Henderson must also pay a $10,000 fee-in-lieu of traffic improvements and a $29,000 fee-in-lieu of a recreational area. Additionally, Henderson must contribute to the township’s stormwater operation and maintenance fund.
Coyle later said there is as yet no date set when work will begin. There are permits that need to be obtained, including a demolition permit for land disturbance.
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.
New building OK’d for Painters Crossing Read More »
