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Politics & Government

Dreher Group Illustrates Giant Plan Detail

The Board of Supervisors held another meeting to continue discussion on the proposed Giant at the Davis Pontiac site in Richboro.

Procedural activitues continued Thursday evening as the Board of Supervisors listed to testimony from Urban Land Planner James Constatine regarding the Davis Pontiac site in Richboro.

About 60 residents attended the meeting, which was held in the Administration Building and also televised. 

Constantine responded to questions from Dreher Group attorney Marc Kaplan and cross-examination from township attorney, Tom Smith, and John Ryan, attorney for a group of citizens concerned about responsible development who oppose the plan.

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Using many enlarged photos of the current appearance of the Davis site, Constantine showed artist concepts to illustrate how attractive the proposed façade of Addisville Commons would be along the Second Street Pike, while repeatedly stressing how unpleasant looking and pedestrian-unfriendly the current site is. He said the proposed development would enhance the streetscape and safety along the 700-foot border of Second Street Pike. 

Constantine said that in his opinion, the proposed development meets the township requirements for conditional use and is consistent with the requirements of the Village Overlay District in which the property is located.

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The Dreher application proposes to build five units, the minimum number of units required to meet the description of a shopping center under Northampton Township Code.  The site would have the one 54,000-square-foot supermarket on the corner where Second Street Pike and Bustleton Pike intersect, plus four much smaller units totaling 4,200 square feet at the northern end of the property.

Constantine stressed that sidewalks and a bike path would border the entire development.

The remainder of the nearly three-hour hearing continued with testimony from traffic engineer James Dimmerling, who said that his study showed that this development would have no impact on traffic on the adjacent roadways during peak weekday rush hours.

Dimmerling presented a list of eight roadway improvements, primarily to Second Street Pike, which he stated would mitigate any increase in traffic volume due to the development.  He, too, was cross-examined by attorneys for the township and for the concerned citizens.

Supervisors Chairman George Komelasky announced there will be no meeting next Thursday, Aug. 11, because one of the attorneys is unable to attend, and there will be no meeting August 25. There will still be a meeting Aug. 18 in the Administration Building at 7 p.m.

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