Preliminary plans for a Wawa convenience store in the village of Hometown were approved by the Rush Township Zoning Hearing Board Tuesday night.

The approval is one of the first steps needed for development plans to go forward.

Wawa is eyeing a site at 347 Claremont Ave. (Route 309) for a 66,600 square-foot store with six fueling stations.

Developers from Provco Pineville Acquisitions LLC, of Villanova, were on hand to explain plans and seek approval for several variances.

Pineville asked the zoning board to approve a request to have 50 parking spaces for the store, which is less than what is required under the zoning ordinance. It also asked for variances for a trash enclosure and several air pumps.

Wawa plans to combine multiple parcels for the development. Among them are those at 341 and 347 Claremont Ave., which include a garage and a beer distributor, along with vacant land behind those properties.

The beer distributor, My Brother’s Beer Barn, would continue operations from its building, where 47 parking spaces will be created.

Owners of the properties include 347 Claremont LLC; PA Bates LLC; Kory B. Bates Jr.; Joseph C. Franko and David Russo.

The parcels are near the intersection of Route 309 and Tide Road and across from the entrance to the Hometown Commons Shopping Plaza and Walmart.

Township zoning officer William McMullen expressed some concerns about a single entrance for the Wawa and beer distributor. The intersection, he noted, sees quite a bit of traffic.

“If something happens at that (traffic) light, there is no way to get out,” he said.

Shawn Muntz, who designed the plans for Provco, said an additional entrance could be considered. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is involved in the planning process.

Muntz stressed that plans were preliminary and with variance approval, the firm would compile land development plans for approval by the township’s Planning Commission.

The hearing brought about 45 members of the public who questioned noise, access and possible drainage issues.

“This is only a first step. They will have to submit a land development plan,” Attorney Chris Reidlinger told residents.

Other issues will be addressed once Provco prepares and submits a land development plan. Muntz said that can take several months.

Reidlinger is solicitor for the Rush Township board of supervisors, which will have final say on the Wawa plans.

The board issued unanimous approval to the variance requests and preliminary plans.