Township Zoning Board Passes Parking Variance for Acme Site

Newtown Township's Zoning Hearing Board unanimously approved a variance for parking Thursday night that will allow developers of The Promenade to continue plans for the former Acme site with less parking spaces than required by the township.

The mixed-use development, which includes first floor retail space and 26 one-bedroom apartments on the second and third floors, will have 116 parking spaces. Local regulations require 152 spaces (two per each apartment and 100 for retail), but traffic engineer Joseph DeSantis presented studies to show that 116 spaces is adequate.

With demand lines fluctuating at different times throughout the day for the rental and retail parking, DeSantis said the peak demand would be 100 spots. However, the developers are willing to go 15 percent above what would be sufficient, which, he said, will be more than enough parking for the site.

"Based on standards of procedures, 116 spaces provides ample parking," DeSantis said.

Though several members of the board suggested reserving one spot per apartment, or having reserved parking after a certain time, attorney Ed Murphy, who represents applicant McGrath Homes, reiterated that the developers are not willing to set aside parking strictly for resident use at this time.

"We won't be able to lease the stores or lease the apartments if there aren't adequate spaces," Murphy said.

He reiterated that the testimony shows there are adequate spaces so there is no reason to reserve spaces. DeSantis agreed and said that it's good to let people utilize the available parking when it is available, since it is a shared-use space.

Conditions were also added so that the apartments cannot have more than one bedroom, and the retail space cannot include full-service restaurants or a drive-through.

The variances were approved by board members Karen Doorley, Timothy Potero and Mario Lionetti approved the variances. Zoning Board Member Brandon Wind recused himself from the issue and Member William Wall did not attend the meeting.

McGrath Homes will now take the scaled-back version of the development with the approved variances before the Township's Board of Supervisors for approval.