A popular donut maker is coming back to Montgomery Township.
Krispy Kreme Donut Corporation will soon open at the old Applebee’s location at 1281 Knapp Road at Bethlehem Pike, a 6,500-square-foot property at Montgomery Square Shopping Center that lies within the township’s Expressway Corridor Preservation Overlay District.
Supervisors granted preliminary and final approval of the land development plan for Krispy Kreme back in August 2021.
Along with the approval came the contingency that its drive-through queuing must further be evaluated and addressed.
The site plan indicates availability for only “eight queued vehicles from the pickup point,” states language in the approval resolution. “Additional vehicles would extend into and could block the shopping center traffic.”
Krispy Kreme proposed to demolish the exit 5,762-square-foot Applebee’s and its 14 parking spaces and construct a new 4,011-square-foot drive-through restaurant, with 480 square feet of outdoor dining and eight parking spaces, according to a report from township engineer Gilmore & Associates Engineering & Consulting Services to Bruce Shoupe, director of planning and zoning for Montgomery Township.
The restaurant use is permitted by right within the ECPOD district, but Krispy Kreme had to receive approval for the outdoor dining area via special exception from the township zoning hearing board in November 2020. The special exception approval also allowed a variance for a driveway within the required 20-foot setback from the ultimate right-of-way, per the report.
There will be no changes to the shopping center access or traffic circulation.
A traffic engineer report recommended pedestrian crossing amenities at Bethlehem Pike and Knapp Road, as well as compliant ADA curb cut ramps at the intersection. Instead, the township accepted a financial contribution to cover the cost of reconstruction of the curb ramp, according to the engineer’s report.
“In addition the applicant should consult with the township regarding their participation in overall improvements to provide pedestrian accommodations at the intersection,” per the report.
Krispy Kreme was previously located across the street, right past the Route 202 overpass, at 931 Bethlehem Pike, where AT&T now exists.
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