WAWA MARKET HITS A ROADBLOCK: 24-HOUR GAS SALES

The planned opening of a new Wawa Market on Springfield Avenue has recently hit a bump in the road that could kill the project outright, according to Township Committee members who discussed the issue at the Tuesday night's TC meeting.

Township Attorney Roger Desiderio informed the TC that Wawa had made several zoning requests before agreeing to move forward with the project.

Among them is a request to operate gas pumps as part of its 24-hour sales schedule.

Currently, gas stations along Springfield Avenue are not allowed to operate after 11 p.m. and before 6 a.m. under current Township regulations.

Desiderio indicated that if the Township did not allow 24-hour gas sales, Wawa would likely pull out. He said Wawa could seek a variance from the Board of Adjustment for an exception, but the company has indicated it does not want to do that.

"The reality is they are not coming here unless they get to sell gas 24 hours," said Mayor Vic De Luca.

After a lengthy discussion, the TC agreed to fashion an ordinance that would allow 24-hour gasoline sales along Springfield Avenue. It will likely be introduced at a meeting in June. 

"We'll have a public hearing on it and the public can weigh in on it," said TC Member Jerry Ryan.

 "I would not expand this beyond Springfield Avenue," De Luca said.