Business & Tech

New Weis Market Could Get Fueling Stations

The Upper Moreland Commissioners recently reviewed a plan to incorporate gas stations at the grocery store planned for the Marketplace at Huntingdon Valley.

Written by Jen Colletta

The new Weis Market under construction at the Marketplace at Huntingdon Valley may also have a small gas station incorporated into the property.

During the Upper Moreland Commissioners community development committee, backers of the project said the installation of a Gas-N-Go would be stationed in the parking lot of the new supermarket, located at 2100 County Line Road at the site of a former Pathmark. 

The committee elected to pass the issue on to the full board, which would vote at its Sept. 9 meeting whether to hold a public hearing on the project. If so, the hearing would be scheduled for Oct. 7.

The  Gas-N-Go would consist of four dispensers with two pumps each and would be located at the front of the parking lot. There would also be a small market with only window access that would sell such items as cigarettes and small car-care products.

While the committee members present—Vice President Joseph Lavalle and Commissioner Kevin Spearing—and other commissioners in attendance were tentatively supportive of the concept of the project, they did review a number of concerns.

To proceed with the initiative, the commissioners would be required to amend a 1989 "covenant" in the township code that prevents the installation of fuel stations in certain instances.

Attorney Marc Jonas, representing Weis, contended that, when that provision was authored, the drafters were not envisioning the recent trend of small fuel entities being incorporated into larger properties. 

Jonas said that 22 of Weis' 158 stores have Gas-N-Go's, including recently opened stores in Easton, Wyomissing and Fogelsville. Additionally, he noted, the gas component is becoming increasingly popular with other chain stores; of the 206 Giant stores in the area, 107 have fuel additions, as do about a quarter of the Safeway properties in the region, Jonas noted.

Spearing, however, asserted that the 1989 covenant could have conceivably sought to prevent the addition of such a fuel entity.

Township solicitor Kate Harper agreed that the proposal would fall under the guidelines of the provision, but suggested the commissioners could explore amending the covenant.

"I believe the covenant applies here, but it can be amended with a public hearing," she said. "I understand that there are nuances, but the wisest, safest course if the commissioners supported this use is to amend the covenant."

The board must also consider whether the project should be zoned as an accessory unit, which the backers believe it qualifies as.

The commissioners also raised the issue of traffic flow stemming from the Gas-N-Go.

Jonas said the project is not of the scale that it would affect traffic.

"There is an absolute absence of any impact," he said.

However, commissioners suggested that, especially at times of redemption periods for customers of Weis' loyalty program, there could be traffic congestion in the lot around the Gas-N-Go.

Jonas noted that there are a proposed 110 additional unused parking spots that Weis is planning for. He added that, if the project is approved, Weis could put directional signs, such as arrows on the ground and other signage, to ease traffic flow.


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