Long-Dormant CVS Property In Hatboro Has A Developer

HATBORO, PA —The long-dormant former CVS property on York Road has a developer.

The applicant —24-28 South York Road Associates, LP —goes before the borough's Planning Commission Tuesday night seeking to build retail and apartments under the new Town Center Ordinance, Borough Manager Diane Hegele said.

The developer will be seeking a conditional use application and preliminary and final land development for the property, which has been vacant for more than a decade.

"Currently, the building isn’t very pleasing to the eye, Councilwoman Nicole Shay said.

The meeting is at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Pennypack Facility on Spring Avenue.

At that time, the planning commission will also review a proposed Town Center Zoning District for Hatboro's main street of York Road.

The public is invited and encouraged to attend these meetings and provide feedback on the application. Residents can review the application at Borough Hall, 130 Spring Ave.

During a public hearing on the mixed-use zoning ordinance in late January, state Rep. Nancy Guenst lent her support.

"My office is directly across from the CVS, which was open 15 years ago," Guenst said. "We want a vibrant main street. Not a lot of people are going shopping. This would be wonderful for the community."

Guenst said that opening up the main street would be good for business and that there are a few buildings now in town that are similar to what the ordinance proposes.

"This is long overdue," she said.

On Jan. 26, the Hatboro Borough Council approved a mixed-use ordinance for a section of York Road after a public hearing before 50 people.

The ordinance allows developers to make proposals that could see building heights go to 60 feet provided they meet certain guidelines, meaning that the downtown district could have taller buildings and apartments.

The option allows for buildings along York Road —from Byberry Road to Montgomery Avenue —to be taller than the current 35 feet allowed.

Other projects are in the pipeline.

On March 27, the council will hold a public hearing for an application received by JERC Partners LXIX, LLC for a zoning change at the properties located at 21-23 & 37 N. York Road.

The applicant is requesting a zoning change from HB-Highway Business District to RC-2 Retail Commercial District.