The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Council OKs Fayette St. Wawa
Crowd protests planned convenience store at contentious meeting; vote ends yearslong debate
CONSHOHOCKEN » The proposed super Wawa on Fayette Street is becoming a reality, much to the chagrin of a vocal contingent of local residents.
By a vote of 4 to 3, borough council voted Wednesday to grant preliminary/final approval to Provco Pineville Fayette L.P. for plans to develop the lot at 1109 Fayette St., paving the way for the convenience store giant to break ground on the lot that used to house the E.F. Moore car dealership.
The overflow crowd that packed borough hall for the meeting was largely against the move and made their feelings known in unequivocal terms during the public comment portion of the hearing. Residents spill out into the hallway of borough hall in Conshohocken during a borough council meeting to consider a proposed Wawa at 1109 Fayette St. Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017.
But it was to no avail, as the votes of council members Tina Sokolowski, Jane Flanagan, Robert Stokley and Colleen Leonard overrode those of Anita Barton, council President James Griffin and Vice President Karen Tutino, bringing a close to a nearly six-year battle,that in recent weeks saw “No Wawa Here” signs crop up across the borough and even a billboard truck riding through town with LED signs urging a “no” vote.
The meeting started with statements from attorney Ross Weiss, representing the developer, and Gary A. DeVito, who represented two of the residents.
Weiss argued that the property was already in an area zoned for commercial use within the scope of Wawa’s plan and urged council to approve the amendment to the zoning code to allow the project to move forward.
DeVito characterized the planned development as “a square peg in a round hole” that would detrimentally change the complexion of Conshohocken. He also brought up numerous “no” votes by the borough’s planning commission and former councils to highlight longstanding opposition to having a Wawa on Fayette Street.
Many residents echoed DeVito’s sentiments, citing traffic concerns, the smell of gasoline, the anticipated loss of business to other area stores and the deterioration of the borough’s “small-town feel.”
Others wondered why there was a need for another Wawa in such close proximity to stores in West Conshohocken and Plymouth Township.
“If one bully gets in, the next will come,” said Muhammad Chakr, who owns the 7-Eleven at 601 Fayette St., illustrating the slippery slope argument also posed by several other residents,
claiming that approval of the Wawa would open the floodgates to other major chains looking to open up shop in Conshohocken.
Not all of the community feedback was antiWawa, however, as several residents stepped to the podium to voice their support for the project.
Resident John Miller pointed out that a number of businesses in the borough are chain stores and said Wawa would create jobs. Miller cited a proposal to build a hotel and office complex in the area of West Elm Street and West First Avenue to debunk the validity of the opposition’s traffic concerns.
“I just think you (council) ought to think seriously about it, what’s going on, and not be bullied by this community one way or the other,” he said.
Other proponents of the Wawa said denial of the amendment would lead to protracted litigation costing the borough untold legal fees.
After public comments, Weiss once again pleaded his case and showed an artist’s rendering of the proposed Wawa, which was set off from the curb, with a walkway, seating area, architectural lighting and trees. Then came the vote. Tutino said she based her “no” vote on the position of community members who have attended meetings and been largely opposed to the Wawa. She also cited public safety concerns and said the current proposal was not in accordance with the borough’s comprehensive plan.
“My vote and the vote of the majority of Conshohocken will be no,” she said.
“You don’t build a town without development,” Stokley said, defending his “yes” vote. He added that elderly people and other constituents are in favor of a place they can walk to get food and other sundry items.
Sokolowski urged the business community not to allow the vote to cause a deeper divide, but to use it as a springboard for further conversations pertaining to development.
“I spent many sleepless nights going through each message I received from countless residents, business owners and community leaders,” she said. “I’ve worked very hard to keep emotions out of this important community decision so that I could look at various sides of the argument.”
Sokolowski said her vote was not coerced by greedy developers, nor did she fold under pressure or have a lack of vision for the community’s future, but came to her decision after thoughtful contemplation and strategic vision for the community.
She also pointed out that people who have not been attending meetings or gotten civically involved have a voice as well.
“And that voice, I represent,” she said.