The Falls Township Board of Supervisors approved a zoning amendment that is expected to lead to Wawa moving forward with plans to build a convenience store and gas station.
The supervisors voted earlier last month to rezone a roughly 2-acre portion portion of the 15.3-acre Fairless Hills Shopping Center at 500 Lincoln Highway from shopping center to highway commercial.
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The vote does not mean the supervisors will approve the Wawa plan, but it clears a major hurdle for the company. The formal Wawa plans are expected to come before the supervisors in the future.
Julie Von Spreckelsen, the shopping center’s attorney, said during the supervisor’s September meeting that the Wawa would help boost the property. She noted the shopping center has struggled with vacancies since the Pathmark closed years ago.
“Shopping centers need to repurpose and they’re trying to find different uses,” she said in September. “The hope is it will help to boost the viability of the shopping center.”
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At their October meeting, the supervisors also approved a minor subdivision to carve out the 2-acre parcel Wawa will use from the 15.3-acre shopping center.
Under Wawa’s plan, the company would build a new 5,500-square-foot convenience store and gas station at the corner of Arleans Avenue and Lincoln Highway. The Wawa would take the site of Arosso, A Touch of Sicily Italian-style restaurant, which LevittownNow.com confirmed will move to another spot in the shopping center.
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Wawa already operates 10 locations within five miles of the Fairless Hills Shopping Center. About two miles away, Wawa is planning to construct its first drive-thru location.
Also at the October meeting, the supervisors approved preliminary and final land development for a 5,000-square-foot, one-story addition of the Truck Smart location at 905 Lincoln Highway. The addition is designed to expand space for repair.
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