Springettsbury supervisors approve waivers and conditions for car-wash redevelopment at Route 30 and Whiteford Road

The Springettsbury Township Board of Supervisors voted to approve a set of waivers and attach conditions to a subdivision and land‑development plan for a proposed WLR Auto Group car wash at the northeast corner of Route 30 (York Bypass) and Whiteford Road.

Attorney Justin Tamevi, representing WLR, told the board the company is prepared to make a “multimillion dollar investment” in the three‑parcel site and outlined design changes the applicant says will reduce existing safety risks, including closing the North Hills driveway and altering the entrance alignment. "We're gonna close that off because that has the potential to slow down traffic," Tamevi said during the presentation.

Traffic consultant John Seitz (Transportation Resource Group) summarized field observations and computer modeling. He said weekday peak queuing was usually three cars or fewer and reported a 90th‑percentile queue measurement for the Whiteford approach with development of about 45 feet; in his words, "the 90 fifth percentile in the PM peak hour with development is 45 feet." Seitz recommended eliminating the existing North Hills driveway and supported evaluating a 25 mph speed limit on the nearby portion of Whiteford Road to improve sightlines and safety.

The planning commission had expressed sight‑distance concerns and recommended denying the land‑development plan; the applicant and its engineers argued multiple iterations showed the site could not be flipped or redesigned to meet the commission’s preferred layout while remaining operational. Tom Englert of Site Design said designers had produced more than a dozen sketches and that some layouts would make pay‑station access impractical.

After debate focused on technical conditions — including a photometric (lighting) plan, stormwater and sewer elevations, and sight‑distance standards — the board voted first to approve the listed ordinance waivers. The waivers passed unanimously. The board then approved the land‑development plan subject to conditions including submission of a revised photometric plan, financial security, a test pit to confirm sewer rim elevations, and a requirement that a revised plan reflect the agreed "sharpening" of the North Hills/Whiteford corner. That conditions motion passed on a 4–1 recorded vote.

Supervisor comments reflected a mix of support and concern: proponents noted the redevelopment would reduce impervious surface in double‑digit percentage terms and would clean up a high‑visibility corner; opponents emphasized remaining traffic and sight‑distance risks. The applicant agreed to revise plans to reflect the conditions and to work with township staff on final technical items.

The board also approved related subdivision waivers for the same property and required the land‑development plan to return in revised form for staff review and recording. No building permits or final site construction authorizations were issued at the meeting; the approvals condition plan revision and submission of required documentation before construction may proceed.