Newtown Zoning Hearing Board Denies Wawa's Request for Zoning Variances

At its September 20, 2021, meeting, the Newtown Zoning Hearing Board (ZHB) voted 4-1 to grant a special exception for the Wawa convenience store/gas station, which the Township did not oppose, but DENIED ALL VARIANCES by a 3-2 vote.

That means that the Wawa can operate at the proposed location on Lower Silver Lake Road, however it will be limited to 6 gas pumps (Wawa asked for 8), and there will be no signs other than what is allowed by the E-30 Special Exception ordinace. For more details about the signage variances requested, listen to the testimony: "Newtown Township Versus Wawa: Round 1, Signage."

The ZHB has 45 days from September 20, 2021 (i.e., until November 4) to issue its written decision and the Applicant will have 30 days from the date of the written decision to file an appeal to the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County if it chooses.

Per the ZHB solicitor, the ZHB votes on the Wawa application went as follows:

• On the Special Exception: Wall, Cohen, Potero, and Vlastaris voted in favor. Iapalucci voted against.
• On the Variances: Wall and Cohen voted in favor. Potero, Vlastaris, and Iapalucci voted against.

Newtown Twp - Toll: All Saints Cemetery Proposed Settlement

On September 24, 2020, Toll PA XVIII, L.P. (“Toll”) appealed the September 9, 2020 decision of the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (“BOS”) denying Toll’s conditional use application seeking to develop 45 single family homes on approximately 158 acres of the All Saints Cemetery property located along Twining Bridge Road near its intersection with Durham Road (S.R. 413).

On Friday, August 27, 2021, attorneys representing Toll sent out a letter via first-class mail to Newtown Twp residents in the area outliniing a proposed settlement that "greatly improves the proposed development site layout" (see below). 

At this time, no public meeting has been scheduled at which the BOS will consider the settlement. Toll is informing residents of the possible settlement to provide area residents with an opportunity to comment on the settlement in advance of any public meeting where the BOS will consider the settlement.