A Chick-fil-A On The Bypass Intersection Across from WAWA?

A somewhat vague item appears on the agenda for the 16 April 2024 Newtown Township Planning Commission (PC) meeting: “Newtown Equities, LLC., 98 Upper Silver Lake Road” (Variance Request #1213-24) under Zoning Hearing Board applications for review by the Commission.

Who is “Newtown Equities, LLC”?

When I saw that, I shrugged, thinking it was just another citizen wanting to build a swimming pool. The “LLC,” however, should have tipped me off to the fact that LLC's are usually created by developers to hide exactly who they represent.

So who is “Newtown Equities, LLC” and who do they represent?

It’s a New Jersey Domestic Limited-Liability Company created on June 22, 2021. That tells me nothing, but luckily the Variance Request Document that was distributed to all Commission members revealed that Newtown Equities, LLC is seeking variances for a proposed 6,110sq.ft. drive thru Chick-fil-A restaurant. See the plan (with my insert) attached.

The application states that this restaurant will be located on an existing “3.21-acre corner property, with frontage on Newtown-Yardley Road and Upper Silver Lake Road, where a bank (TD Bank) with drive-thru are currently located [but currently empty]. The proposed restaurant with drive-thru will require a rise variance for the inclusion of a drive-thru service; dimensional variances for setbacks, drive aisle width and to allow the use withing (sic) 300ft. of Newtown-Yardley Road and Newtown Bypass; and relief to allow additional signage on the property; and to allow a sign to face the Bypass...”

Signage Armageddon!

Not only is this a new Zoning Armageddon battle, it will also specifically be a new “Signage Armageddon!” battle. Recall what the township had to go though to defend its signage against Wawa’s onslaught (read, for example, “Wawa Traffic Engineer Says Monument Sign Needed to Mitigate Dangerous Condition on Bypass That Would Be Caused By Wawa!”

Find the variance application here...

Chick-fil-A "Chickened Out"!

Meanwhile, at the last minute, Chick-fil-A has CANCELLED its scheduled presentation at the April 16, 2024, meeting of the Planning Commission.

UPDATE: The developer was granted an “indefinite extension” for its zoning hearing (read "What Is Chick-fil-A’s Next Move?").

The opinions expressed here are solely those of John Mack and do not represent the opinions of any other person or entity.