Long delayed Wawa proposal resurfaces

WEST BRANDYWINE » If you don’t succeed at first, try, try again, might be the motto of Wawa.

The convenience store chain first introduced plans to build a Wawa market, in the township, about 10 year ago. Monday night, the Delaware County company presented a conditional use application to build a convenience store on the northwest corner of Horseshoe Pike and Springton Road.

The property owner of the 9.07 acre site is Horseshoe Pike Re

alty of 2168 Harts Ln., Conshohocken.

Christopher Hoffman, real estate project engineer forWawa, said atMonday’s conditional use hearing that a CVS pharmacy is also planned for the site.

Hoffman said that the Wawa will be “slightly smaller” than most Wawa’s and the design would mimic the nearby Reeceville Road Wawa.

The site would be divided into three parcels. Both the Wawa, planned to sit on 4.06 acres, and the CVS that would occupy a 4.12 acre site, would exceed the township’s limit of 4,000 square feet.

Plans call for the Wawa to cover 4,725 square feet and the CVS would sit on a 14,823 square feet parcel. An existing residencewould be preserved on 1.22 acres.

The store would provide 12 gasoline pumps for the chain that Hoffman said is “a convenience store first that just happens to sell fuel.”

Hoffman also said that Wawa’s typically have three “cash register rings” in the store for every sale at the pump. Like the vast majority of Wawa’s, the store would likely operate 24- hours per day.

Delivery truck traffic was examined. Hoffman stressed that deliveries would most often not occur during the peak hours of 7-9 a.m. and 3-5 p.m.

Hoffman said that tractor trailers delivering freezer, refrigerated and other goods would unload behind the store every other day. Smaller dairy truck deliveries of milk and iced teas would also take place every other day.

Fresh foods, which spoil quickly, would typically be delivered daily. The frequency of fuel deliveries would vary depending on the volume of sales and likely occur up to two times per day.

Independent vendors like Lay’s and Pepsi would park in one of the market’s 67 stalls.

The hybrid meeting was held in- person at the township building and on Zoom. Several of the Zoom participants complained of poor audio quality and the meeting was halted prior to the previously announced end time.

The properties of many of those in attendance at the township building directly abut the proposed site.

Several in the audience were seemingly opposed to the project and wore pins with the Wawa logo, with a red slash across it.

Hoffman said thatWawa is a good community member and regularly donates food and drinks.

“( Our markets) take on the character of the neighborhood,” he said, “with good stewardship of the community.

“We hire fromwithin the community.”

Lighting and noise concerns were voiced by the public.

Hoffman said the company “fully intends to meet the township’s lighting ordinance” and can turn down, or off, the music and advertisements generated at the pumps.

Alcohol will not be sold at themarket, but Hoffman did say that the company might choose to sell alcohol at a future date. He said that only two Wawa stores in the Commonwealth currently sell beer.

“At this moment we are not proposing to have alcohol sales at this store,” he said.

Gasoline spills and leaks were discussed. Hoffman said that Wawa has never had a tank leak. The company has experienced a couple of vapor leaks. Spills on the ground are considered leaks.

A cashier regularly monitors the pumps, shut off valves are on- site and a dedicated team cleans up all leaks.

Amix of 35 to 40 full- and part- time employees will be hired.

Nodecisionsweremadeat the conditional use hearing. The hearing will continue, likely both virtually and inperson, Oct. 5 at 7 p. m.