A board-approved special-use permit for a gas station at the Marquis at Williamsburg shopping center in Upper York County has been extended for three years.
Manager of the Marquis Williamsburg RE Holding LLC Patrick S. Todd wrote a letter to the York County Board of Supervisors requesting the extension “in order to provide flexibility with respect to the timing of construction of the gasoline sales component of the Marquis project.”
Interim County Administrator Mark Carter said it was “not uncommon” for a project of this size to request an extension on a special-use permit.
In a memorandum to supervisors, Carter said he and the planning staff are not aware of any extension request on a special-use permit being denied in the last 20 years.
The permit, which expires Nov. 29, was originally granted in November 2013 after the Board of Supervisors reviewed modifications to the design and layout of the retail center and Sam’s Club gas station. If the gas station was not built within two years, then the permit would be terminated.
Thanks to the supervisors unanimously voting to renew the permit at their first meeting of the year Tuesday, the Marquis has another three years to put together the gas station.
Sam’s Club announced it would be joining Target, JCPenney, Kohl’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Best Buy at the 127-acre Marquis site in February, about five months after Marquis developer Shawn Todd said he would be adding retail space and 650 homes to the development.
Site and development plans for Sam’s Club and the accompanying gas station were approved by county staff at the end of September, Carter said.
Sketch plans show the gas station and the 136,500 square-foot discount retail store will be located across from the existing JCPenney.
Had the extension been denied, Todd would have had to reapply for a new special-use permit, which would be subject to public hearings at both the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors level.
In October, the Board of Supervisors approved a bond of up to $5 million for additional infrastructure at the shopping center. The bonds will not be issued until construction of the new retail development is underway, county documents show.
Related Coverage:
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