Lawmakers Push Back As ARD Says Hotel Won't Work For Exton Mall Redevelopment
The West Whiteland Board of Supervisors has reservations about the large-scale mixed-use redevelopment plans for the Exton Square Mall as one member pushes to revive plans for a hotel on the site.
Concerns around the project’s density, the township’s sewer capacity and the fate of several on-site historic buildings were top of mind for the lawmakers, who took a combative stance with Abrams Realty & Development’s lawyer, Marc Kaplin, during a meeting Tuesday.
“This is going to be a development that’s around for the next 50 to 75 years,” board Chair Rajesh Kumbhardare said. “I don’t know whether our residents really want something like this.”
ARD plans to start a 50K SF building for Main Line Health late next year as part of the first phase on the south side of the property, which includes several historic buildings. It aims to demolish the enclosed mall in 2027 and build more than 700 residential units and 280K SF of retail on the 75-acre site.
An earlier version of ARD’s plan instead called for a hotel to be built on the area where the Main Line building is now planned, with one of the historic structures designated as an event space. Supervisor Jo Ann Kelton was still holding out for that.
She said the healthcare building has moved several times as the developer’s plans have evolved.
“You’ve demonstrated that Main Line is flexible,” Kelton said. “I would really encourage you to move it again.”
ARD hired hospitality consultants at Newmark, who determined a hotel wouldn’t be feasible on the site. The developer can’t get financing for it as a result, Kaplin said.
Board Vice Chair Brian Dunn raised concerns about West Whiteland’s sewer capacity.
The township has no sewer treatment facility of its own and a finite ability to export its waste to other municipalities. In the case of Exton Square, the destination is a treatment plant in Downingtown where an expansion is underway.
Kaplin said ARD is already entitled to about 275 equivalent dwelling units, each of which roughly equates to what a single-family home contributes to the system, and that officials agreed to allocate the development another 235.
Township Manager Pam Gural-Bear disagreed and said there are several other developments underway in West Whiteland that will take up some of the township’s capacity.
“You’re in the queue,” she said. “There’s a lot going on here.”
Kumbhardare was unhappy with the level of density the project will bring to West Whiteland if approved.
The proposal was submitted shortly before the municipality amended its town center zoning ordinance to limit the amount of density permitted.
“The bottom line is your solicitors have told you that we’re under the old ordinance,” Kaplin said. “I understand that you may not like it, Mr. Chairman, but you at least ought to agree with me that our plan complies with your ordinance.”
Kumbhardare declined to say whether he agreed with Kaplin's statement.
“I’ll reserve my judgment until after the hearing has closed,” he said.
The ARD team will return for the Oct. 22 board of supervisors meeting, when the master plan hearing is expected to wrap up. The company’s owner, Peter Abrams, said he is eager to continue working with West Whiteland officials.
“Over many months, the Township’s consultants and Code Department have rigorously reviewed every aspect of this proposal,” he said in a statement.
“We have worked diligently to address every concern raised and the Township's professionals, including their Code Enforcement Officer, have indicated our application meets the requirements under the Township’s ordinances.”
