This article was updated on Monday, Aug. 21, with new hearing times. The hearings originally scheduled for Aug. 24 and Aug. 29 have been cancelled. A new consolidated hearing date has been set for Tuesday, Sept. 12.
Saddle up, Lebanon: A Wawa gas station and convenience store is looking to take the reins of part of the former Quentin Riding Club at the corner of state routes 72 and 419.
Quentin Associates LLC is seeking a special exception from the township Zoning Hearing Board for 2.49 acres for an 8-fuel pump gas station and 6,606-square-foot building with a seating area.
A hearing was originally scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 29, at Mount Gretna Fire Hall and announced by zoning officer Jeff Steckbeck at the supervisors’ meeting Monday, August 14, but the hearing was later moved to Tuesday, Sept. 12, at 6:30 p.m.
Quentin Associates also has applied for a special exception for 120 age-restricted, multi-family apartments in four buildings at the former riding club. That hearing was originally scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 24, also at the fire hall, but was consolidated with the Wawa hearing and will now take place on Tuesday, Sept. 12, at 6:30 p.m. as well.
In a document dated July 13 and filed with the township, Quentin Associates owner Louis Hurst stated that he has a sales agreement with Provco Pineville Acquisition LLC of Villanova for the proposed Wawa. Provco Pineville has developed Wawa sites in other areas of Pennsylvania.
While Wawa has several gas stations and convenience stores in Lancaster County, this would be its first in Lebanon County.
The special exception application for the apartments lists Quentin Associates as the owner.
In September 2022, the former riding club was rezoned R-1 Low Density Residential Zoning District with a Mixed-Use Overlay Zoning District as part of the township’s revision of its zoning ordinance.
Read More: West Cornwall Township zoning ordinance stokes development anxiety
The mixed-use overlay permits self-service storage facilities, motels, age-restricted apartment buildings, as well as gas stations with or without accessory convenience retail, according to the zoning ordinance.
The revised zoning ordinance sets out a two-step approval process for development in the mixed-use overlay district. The first step is approval of the special exception by the zoning hearing board.
If approved, then a plan for development needs to be submitted to township supervisors, who will review it through their conditional-use permit process. Approval of a conditional-use permit gives a green light for development.
Approval of the special exceptions for both the gas station site and the apartments by the zoning hearing board requires that each meet several criteria.
For the gas station, criteria include a limit of eight fuel pumps for serving a maximum of 16 vehicles, road frontage of at least 200 feet on two sides of the lot and no long-term or overnight parking for tracks or trailers.
Criteria for the special exception for the apartments are fewer but include restriction to individuals 55 years of age or older and their spouses and interconnectivity between residences, service areas and recreation areas.
The zoning ordinance also stipulates criteria for all special exceptions including not having an adverse impact on public health, safety or welfare; adequate ingress and egress to the property; and sufficient off-street parking.
Access to the site and internal roadways have been reviewed by the state Department of Transportation, according to RGS Associates of Lancaster, on behalf of Quentin Associates, in the narratives submitted to the township.
Quentin Associates’ site plan for the entire 46.21-acre property, submitted in July, shows six commercial lots ranging in size from 1.21 to 2.49 acres. None of the other commercial lots have applied for a special exception to date, said township supervisor David Lloyd in an interview Tuesday.
All of the Wawa documents were posted to a Dropbox folder by the township.
In addition to the apartments, the site plan also shows 10 lots for single-family dwellings on the eastern edge of property as well as a riding ring and area for equine use. An application for a special exception for the single-family homes has not yet been submitted.
Quentin Riding Club was a part of Lebanon’s equestrian scene for more than 80 years before closing its doors in 2018. Louis Hurst bought the property for $2.1 million in a 2019 auction. The former clubhouse was burned as part of a firefighter training exercise earlier this year.
Read More:
- Quentin Riding Club’s final flourish: Firefighters train as clubhouse burns
- Quentin Riding Club sells at weekend auction for $2.1 million
- Riding back in time at the Quentin Riding Club
Started in 1964 in Folsom, Wawa has 950 convenience stores, 750 of which offer gasoline, in the Mid-Atlantic region, according to the company’s website.
If you go…
6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 12:
- West Cornwall Township Zoning Hearing Board will review an application for a special exception for 120 age-restricted, multi-family apartments on 14.49 acres on the former Quentin Riding Club property.
- West Cornwall Township Zoning Hearing Board will review an application for a special exception for a Wawa gas station and retail convenience store on 2.49 acres on the former Quentin Riding Club property.
Both hearings will be held at the Mount Gretna Fire Hall and are open to the public.
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