Chuck E. Cheese Pulls Plug on Unpopular Idea

One month after Springfield residents spoke out against LED lighting at a renovated Chuck E. Cheese's, the company withdrew its continuance and the township voted against it.

Thursday night could have been a contentious Springfield Zoning Board hearing but after Chuck E. Cheese's pulled its request, the issue squeaked away into the night.

Previously, the children's entertainment complex sought to hang LED lights on the building facade facing Baltimore Pike and Andrew Road. In September, residents spoke out against the lights, saying more residential homes behind the complex would negatively be impacted by their brightness.

At that hearing, the ZBA voted to allow other, nonilluminated signage and Chuck E. Cheese's agreed to reevaluate the LED lights in October.

However, at the Oct. 25 hearing, Chuck E. Cheese's removed its continuance request and did not attend. The ZBA voted against the lights 5-0.

Construction continues at the Baltimore Pike site renovation project. Other than an Oct. 18 incident where crews hit a gas line, Chuck E. Cheese's continues its project and has begun hiring employees.