NORTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — A major business development in Schnecksville is a step closer to approval.
North Whitehall Planning Commission on Tuesday recommended approval of a preliminary/final plan for the King’s Route 309 Business Park on 12 acres at Schneck Road and Route 309.
The commercial development would have a Wawa with gas pumps, an Autozone, a medical office building and a commercial building.
It would replace the intersection of Routes 309 and 873 with a two-lane traffic circle.
It is owned by King’s Real Estate Management & Development Company. The developer has presented several revisions of the plan to the Planning Commission.
Lehigh Valley Health Network is in talks to occupy the medical office building. But King’s Real Estate Vice President of Legal Affairs Jerry Blecker said the agreement is on hold because of the planned merger with Philadelphia-based Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals.
Blecker said the commercial building also does not yet have a tenant.
When asked whether the Wawa may have a drive-thru as do other regional locations, Blecker said there is not enough space. But he said the company will try to get a liquor license for the location.
The plan will now go before the township Board of Supervisors, likely in April or May, Township Manager Randy Cope said.
Because it is a preliminary/final plan, it would not need any other township approvals before construction.
When would it be built?
Blecker said that if the supervisors approve the plan, he expects to break ground in August or September.
Construction would begin with the traffic circle, which would be built in two parts over six months.
“Traffic flow is going to be pretty well-handled."King’s Real Estate Vice President of Legal Affairs Jerry Blecker, about the construction of the traffic circle.
Blecker said he does not expect significant traffic delays in the area.
“Traffic flow is going to be pretty well handled with the way we have it set up with the staging,” Blecker said.
Blecker said he plans to begin leasing the land to the companies by March 1, 2025. That is when the Wawa would begin construction, he said.
Housing developments discussed
Planners also discussed three potential housing developments.
The first was phase two of the new Ridings at Parkland housing development, which would construct 44 single-family homes on Spruce Street.
The second was Vistas at Park Valley, which would construct 10 single-family homes along Park Valley Road.
The third was a revised final plan for Views at Fells Creek, which would construct 27 single-family homes along Neffs Laurys Road.
All three plans were tabled, meaning they will go before the Planning Commission again at a future meeting.
