Collingdale zoners defer action on Wawa plans
COLLINGDALE » There was no vote by the Collingdale Zoning Board on July 26 on almost 20 variances to allow a proposed super Wawa to be built in the borough.
The three-member board opted to announce at its next meeting on Aug. 2 to declare if it will allow relief from borough code to Lordston Equities Inc., the Mount Laurel-based developer who plans to convert 8.8 acres of commercial and residential zones for a new store. Lordston is looking for variances in regard to parking spaces, retail usage with gasoline dispensing stations, front and side yard setback, building height and 14 variances for signage, all in a residential zone.
Wawa is proposing to move its store presently at 930 MacDade Blvd. to a plot of land that will demolish a former business at 910 MacDade and four homes on Upland Terrace. A portion of borough property will be leased by Wawa for the project. A 5,500 square-foot store has been proposed for the land with 12 gasoline pumps. A new sanitation building and concession stand will be constructed for the borough as part of the deal.
Access points to the site are slated for MacDade Boulevard and Upland Terrace. A third access point will be made from Clifton Avenue, linked to the super convenience store behind borough hall via an access road. Traffic planner Matthew Hammond said the number of entrances and exits is not to concentrate options for consumers.
Traffic is expected to increase approximately 15 percent, according to Hammond.
At the zoning hearing for the variance application residents were against the idea of having a super Wawa built in town, noting the number of gas station offerings in close proximity and citing traffic concerns for the area, the use of an access road from Clifton Avenue and the entry point from the dead-end, narrow street of Upland Terrace.
“One thing we don’t need in Collingdale is another gas station or another Wawa,” said Upland Terrace resident Gail McCune. “We’re perfectly happy with the one that’s up the street ... I don’t think we need a bigger one.”
“I don’t think we need another gas station, quite honestly,” added resident Nicole Chennault, a professed Wawa lover. She further addressed concerns about children who use the back parking lot of borough hall and the rec fields and the slow speed traffic that will pass through there on the access road.
George Barbine, a 31year resident of the borough and homeowner on Upland Terrace, geared a portion of his public comment toward the character of his community and how to balance commercial proposed and
“It may be a significant part of our commercial district,” Barbine said of MacDade Boulevard, “but it’s not the major thing … Is it worth Wawa, a big corporation? Everyone loves Wawa, but is it worth residential properties. tearing down half of my neighborhood to put a bigger store right next to one they already have?”
Public comment lasted approximately 30 minutes from 14 speakers following 70 minutes of testimony from experts. None of the experts believed that the plan would be a hindrance to public safety or health.
The board went to executive session for about 10 minutes following testimony and public comment before announcing it would not be ruling on the applied variances.