Radnor Township Zoning Hearing Board Meeting – February 19, 2026

The Zoning Hearing Board met on February 19, 2026 at 12:15 PM UTC (7:00 PM local time) to hear three appeals. The meeting began with organizational business including the election of officers for 2026, followed by consideration of Appeal #3233 (continued), Appeal #3255 (parking variance for a spa at 110 Gallagher Road), and Appeal #3252 (multiple variances for the proposed Wawa at 302-306 East Lancaster Avenue). After testimony and deliberation, the board granted most requested relief except the height variance for the west elevation wall sign.

Organizational Business

• The board reappointed the Chairman and Vice Chairman (John Nagel) for 2026 and reappointed the solicitor.
• The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Consent Calendar

• None. All items were discussed individually.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Kevin Haynes (378 Morris Road) noted that Gallagher Road has significant trail parking and cautioned that the spa, combined with existing uses and trail traffic, could increase parking demand. He did not object to the tenant but wanted the board to be aware.

Discussion Items

Appeal #3233 – Medhat Elebah (506 Chaumont Drive)

• This appeal was continued from the December 18, 2025 meeting. The board announced it would be heard at the March 19, 2026 meeting. No further discussion.

Appeal #3255 – Gallagher Trail Holding Company LP (110 Gallagher Road)

• Request: Variance from Section 280-103 of the Code to reduce off-street parking from the required 42 spaces to the existing 34 spaces for a new spa tenant (indoor recreation use). No new construction proposed.
• Testimony: David Falcone (applicant’s attorney) and C.F. Holloway (property owner) explained that the site has six units, 34 marked spaces, and has never had a parking complaint. The spa’s hours (10 AM–8 PM weekdays, 10 AM–5 PM weekends) complement existing uses (Pilates, orthodontist, offices). The spa will have up to five facial therapists. The adjoining neighbor (512 West Lancaster Avenue) expressed no objection.
• Board Discussion: Members noted that more data on customer turnover would have been helpful, but given the history of the property and the testimony that parking has always been adequate, they found the variance warranted.
• Vote: Unanimously approved (4-0).

Appeal #3252 – Wayne Property Acquisition / Wawa (302-306 East Lancaster Avenue)

• Background: Final land development for a convenience store with gas pumps was approved after litigation. Two conditions required ZHB approval: an eight-foot shadow box fence along the southern border and a nine-foot masonry trash enclosure. Additionally, the applicant sought variances for multiple sign provisions.
• Testimony:
  • Eric Britz (engineer, Bowler Engineering) described the site layout, buffering (32 arborvitae, 5 Washington hawthorn trees, shrubs), and the fence/trash enclosure design. He explained the sign package: monument sign (sign A) at 55.5 sq ft (over 50 sq ft due to coping); wall signs B (west elevation, 42.82 sq ft at 21 ft 8 in height) and C (east elevation, 28.19 sq ft at 16 ft 1 in, later lowered to 15 ft); spanner lettering removed; pump island signs (geese on dispensers, 0.63 sq ft each); and instructional signs (pump numbers) at 11 ft 3 in. He argued that the sign code is ambiguous on total sign area and that the applicant had reduced signs significantly from typical Wawa packages.
  • Michael Spiegel (Wawa real estate project engineer) testified that the west elevation wall sign must be high due to structural constraints (steel I-beams, ductwork) inside the tower. He noted that the store design was customized and that the sign height is necessary for safety and brand identification. He also stated that the pump numbers are required by Pennsylvania labor and industry for emergency identification.
  • The township solicitor, David Keatley Jr., opposed the application.
  • The board reviewed exhibits including the resolution requiring the fence and enclosure, and Commonwealth Court orders.
• Board Discussion:
  • Several members expressed that the height variance for sign B (west elevation) lacked sufficient evidence of hardship; they viewed it as self-created and were unsatisfied with the explanation of structural infeasibility. The board voted 4-0 to deny that variance.
  • For the monument sign (sign A), the board found the extra 5.5 sq ft from the coping and the ATM content request to be de minimis or acceptable, approving both.
  • For the wall signs B and C, the board acknowledged ambiguity in the code regarding 50 sq ft per frontage vs. total, and granted the variance for total square footage as a precaution.
  • For the pump island signs (goose height, instructional sign height, ground sign square footage), the board accepted safety reasons (taller vehicles, emergency identification) and the minimal exceedances, granting those variances.
  • The fence height (8 ft) and trash enclosure height (9 ft) were considered necessary for screening and consistent with the resolution, approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Appeal #3233: Continued to March 19, 2026.
• Appeal #3255 (Gallagher Trail): Variance for off-street parking granted unanimously.
• Appeal #3252 (Wawa):
  • Denied: Variance for height of wall sign B (west elevation). Vote: 4-0 against.
  • Granted: Variance for monument sign A (size, content).
  • Granted: Variance for total square footage of wall signs B and C.
  • Granted: Variance for height of instructional signs (sign F, pump numbers).
  • Granted: Variance for height of pump island goose signs.
  • Granted: Variance for total square footage of ground signs (dispenser signs).
  • Granted: Variance for fence height (8 ft) and trash enclosure height (9 ft).
• Next Meeting: March 19, 2026. Applications due February 17, 2026.