FINDING FREDDY’S
Restaurant wants more signs than code allows
TOWAMENCIN >> The newest restaurant in the region is nearly ready to open, but has made one last request for Towamencin’s officials to consider.
Freddy’s Steakburgers, located at 220 Forty Foot Road just behind the Chick-Fil-A restaurant, is seeking more signage than currently allowed by code.
“It’s good to see some new businesses open and some more of these projects moving forward,” said supervisors Chairman Chuck Wilson.
Last year the board saw a series of presentations outlining the plans for Freddy’s Steakburgers and Frozen Custard, a national fast food chain founded in 2002, to be built on a parcel owned by the Clemens Family Corporation, adjacent to a proposed Firestone auto center. The restaurant chain is named af
"It’s good to see some new businesses open and some more of these projects moving forward."
— Towamencin Supervisors Chairman Chuck Wilson
ter Freddy Simon, a World War II veteran and father to co-founders Bill and Randy Simon, and serves American-style food in locations across the country.
Those plans received final approval in May 2019, and construction has been underway ever since, with the building now complete and sporting a banner that read, as of Wednesday afternoon, “Training in progress: January 28, opening in six days.” Operating hours on the company’s page for that restaurant are 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Wilson and Township Manager Rob Ford said Wednesday that they’ve heard of no major obstacles or issues that would prevent the business from opening on time.
However, Freddy’s has made a different request: for variances to allow three wall signs on the front, back and west wall facades, and a new freestanding sign in addition to the two currently there.
“They have one sign up above the roof line, that’s been put up, and two freestanding signs there right now. There’s one by the extension of Welsh Road, which just says ‘Wawa’ and ‘Chick-Fil-A,’” said Ford, naming two adjacent businesses using the same driveways.
“There’s another freestanding sign a little down the road, and that has ‘Wawa,’ ‘Chick-Fil-A’ and now has ‘Freddy’s,’ and they’re allowed to have two freestanding signs for their development,” he said.
The issue is any signage above and beyond what’s there now: township zoning codes require that an applicant show a hardship or some sort of geographical feature preventing what the applicant is requesting.
“They want to put some additional signage on the buildings, but also to have a third freestanding sign at the site, which our code does not allow,” Ford said.
“You have to show a hardship, why you can’t comply, if there’s a physical defect of the property that doesn’t allow you to follow the zoning code. Personally, I don’t see that there is one, but that’s up to them, to present to our zoning hearing board,” he said.
That zoning hearing board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 6, and the supervisors voted unanimously Wednesday night to send the township’s solicitor to attend the hearing and present opposition to the request.
“I’m sure a lot of us are going to be able to find Freddy’s,” said Ford.
“That freestanding sign that’s out there now, shows up pretty good, and I’m looking forward to it. I don’t know if I’ll be one of the first few in line, but I’ll be out there in the first few days,” he said.
For more information on Freddy’s Steakburgers visit www.FreddysUSA.com, search for “Freddys USA” on Facebook or follow @FreddysUSA on Twitter.
“Right now, they’re fine, they’re complying with our ordinances, and I think they’re as anxious to open as we are.”
— Township Manager Rob Ford