A new development could bring at least three businesses, a new traffic signal, and road widening to the intersection of Bethlehem Pike (Route 309) and Stump Road in Montgomery Township, writes Dan Sokil for the Lansdale Reporter.

Township officials gave the first approval Monday night for a plan to build a complex of new buildings, including a planned Wawa fuel station and convenience store, a Wendy’s restaurant, and a Citadel Bank branch, on the parcels surrounding the current Sal’s Nursery and Landscaping.

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“A lot of homework has been done on this. Normally, a plan like this would come in, and I get to the first step in six months, but since we’ve been looking at this for years, he’s way ahead of the curve,” said Director of Planning and Zoning Bruce Shoupe.

Nursery owner John Antonucci and a team of consultants made the case to the township supervisors Monday night for changes in the township’s highway limited industrial zoning text to allow for larger lot areas and reduced length of stacking lanes for drive-thrus in that area.

“The text for drive-thru banks requires eight cars to stay in line. When was the last time you saw eight cars going through a drive-through at a bank?” Shoupe said.

Attorney Robert Brant described the proposal to the board, saying it has already gone through the township’s zoning hearing board and planning commission, both of which have supposed those changes.

Various versions of the plan have been discussed informally for the better part of the decade, according to Shoupe and Brant, and several outside agencies including PennDOT, the Montgomery County Conservation District, and the state Department of Environmental Protection have already been included in those talks.

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