Credit: Buckingham Retail Properties, LLC.
Residents, lawyers and the Falls Township Zoning Hearing Board met again Thursday evening to debate the topic on everyone’s mind – is the lot at the corner of West Trenton Ave and Pine Grove Road better suited vacant or home to a Wawa convenience store? Read the original story here.
The Falls Zoning Hearing Board has met with Buckingham Retail Properties, the proposed developer of the site, on three separate occasions in an effort to gather information and hear from residents regarding 11 requested variances for the site. The proposed complex, which would feature a Wawa convenience store with 12 gasoline pumps, a Rite Aid Pharmacy and convenience restaurant, is expected to go under further scrutiny and public comment at a continuation meeting in December.
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According to Buckingham at the first hearing meeting in September, the unique shape of the lot has made their plans for the property and the ability to abide by township ordinances “impossible.” Residents say that’s an indicator that the project just shouldn’t move forward.
Wawa Real Estate Engineer Michael Ridel said he spoke with Anthony D’Amico and additional residents of nearby Stevens Road after the last zoning meeting – where they figured out solutions to some of the residents issues. Ridel has maintained that the proposed trash location has been moved to a separate, more desired location and that plant and landscape buffering will be selected by residents to help protect their views. Ridel also indicated that Wawa would rearrange delivery times of their goods and eliminate music under their canopy to prohibit excessive noise.
Kevin Stillwell, owner of the nearby Plaza Shell, said the new Wawa would sit just 600 feet away from his business. With Wawa’s convenient hours, food offerings and nearly 30 cent drop in fuel prices, the opening of a Wawa could prove detrimental to the stability of his nearly 30-year-old business.
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For Stillwell though, the opening of a Wawa doesn’t mean just competition, it means a drop in overall safety, especially for school bus riders. “There are a lot of concerns I have, just as a Falls Township resident,” he said. According to Stillwell, school bus traffic combined with “destination” Wawa traffic could mean a decrease in safety for those traveling in the intersection.
Ridel, has maintained that Wawa does not typically serve as a destination for motorists, but rather as a place that’s stopped at along the way. Ridel added that Wawa will also take significant actions to discourage the use of their gas and parking lots to drivers of tractor trailers.
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Randall Reber, whose family owns Reber Transportation in Morrisville, said that Wawa will be unable to truly discourage tractor trailers, since there is quite a lack of food in the area for those who work through the night. According to Reber, Wawa will allow drivers to stock up on their favorite items- coffee, hot dogs and hoagies. “Drivers can simply unhook their trailers to fill their trucks with gas there, I’ve done it.”
While three of the four members with party status were present and had the opportunity to introduce and cross examine witnesses, D’Amico’s absence has caused the deliberation to continue on December 9.
What are your thoughts about the placement of a the lot? Do residents stand a chance at fighting Wawa? Sound off in the comments below.
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An earlier edition of this article incorrectly stated the zoning board will meet again on December 10.
