Old Navy Planning Newtown Store

NEWTOWN, PA — Old Navy has plans to open a store at the Newtown Shopping Center.

Officials from the Newtown Township Planning Commission said the board supports a variance that would permit the clothing retailer to construct a new building in the Newtown Shopping Center, near Bed Bath & Beyond.

The application includes permission to construct the 12,500 square-foot building as well as 80 parking spots.

The new building will be located in an area that backs up to the high school, which has been reserved for potential future development, Planning Commission Vice Chair Peggy Driscoll told the Newtown Township Supervisors during a meeting Wednesday.

The Planning Commission reviewed the application for the additional development at the shopping center during a meeting Tuesday and is in support of the variances, Driscoll said.

The applicant will come before the Zoning Hearing Board for approval for the variances.

As part of the application, the shopping center is also seeking permission to add 400 square-feet to the Chick-fil-A restaurant. There will also be roadway improvements to reduce traffic backups by restaurant's drive thru.

Driscoll explained the shopping center plans to create a right turning lane into the drive thru, to eliminate cars from backing up into the roadway.

The expansion to Chick-fil-A will be solely for additional kitchen space, Driscoll said. "They can't keep up with the demand need more kitchen space," she noted.

A project timeline was not immediately available.

Once the variances are obtained, the project will through the land development process, explained Township Manager Micah Lewis.