Research lab development, self-storage building, and expanded convenience store on planning agenda in Whitpain

There are five zoning applications on the March 8th agenda for the Whitpain Township Planning Commission. Three involve commercial properties and two residential. The commercial applications involve research lab buildings, a self-story facility, and a service station expanding its convenience store.

The planning commission’s role is to make a recommendation on the application to the zoning hearing board, which will make the final determination.

The first applicant seeks to develop the property at 795 Jolly Road in Blue Bell with research lab buildings. Variances are needed due to the desire to have larger than allowed storage spaces and the number of loading docks. You can full the full application here.

NO. 2308-21 – ALLIANCE PARTNERS HSP, LLC requests variances from
Article XVIII, Sections 160-111(F), subsections (2), (3) and (4), related to Use Regulations with respect to their property located at 795 Jolly Rd., Blue Bell, PA, in the Township’s R-E Research and Engineering District. Applicant’s requested relief, if granted, will allow Applicants to construct research lab buildings on the property which will have storage areas greater than ten percent (10%) of the building’s floor area and three loading docks per building, all of which are prohibited by the Ordinance

Another applicant is seeking a use variance to construct a three-story, 100,050 square foot storage facility at 953 Penllyn Blue Bell Pike in Blue Bell. The image at the top of the article is a rendering of the proposed building. You can view the full application here.

2312-22 – MADISON CAPITAL GROUP MANAGEMENT, LLC – requests
a variance from Article XIX, Section 160-119 related to Use Regulations with respect to its property located at 953 Penllyn Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, PA, in the Township’s C-Commercial District. Applicant’s requested relief, if granted, will allow Applicant to construct a three story, 38’ 11” high, 100,950 square foot storage facility on its property when the Ordinance prohibits same.

The gas/service station at 646 Skippack Pike in Blue is seeking to expand its convenience store into the service portion of the building. This triggers the need for certain parking requirements and the applicant is seeking two variances specific to parking, plus one involving green space. You can view the full application here.

2313-22 – SIMRAN PROPERTIES – request variances from Article XXVII,
Section 160-192.B.1.q and Section 160-192.B.2.q.2 related to Required OffStreet Parking Facilities and Article XXVIII, Section 160-214.C.1 related to Green Area Regulations with respect to its property located at 646 Skippack Pike, Blue Bell, PA, in the Township’s C-Commercial District. Applicants’ requested relief, if granted, will allow Applicants to construct: (1) 23 parking spaces at the site when the Ordinance requires a minimum of 25 spaces; and (2) first row angled parking spaces of less than 10 feet in width when the Ordinance requires perpendicular parking spaces having a 10 foot minimum width; and (3) an aisle of 17 feet in width when the Ordinance requires a minimum of 30 feet and (4) a reduction of the green area to 24.3% when the existing lot is non-conforming having a green area of 30.6 percent when the Ordinance requires a minimum of 35%.

You can view the agenda for the meeting here. The applications will go before the zoning hearing board on March 17th.

Image: Madison Capital Group Management, LLC.