Wawa stores have come online all over, from Levittown to Doylestown, Montco to South Jersey. In several places, like Horsham, Lower Southampton and Mount Laurel, locals have called “Stop!” to Wawa’s advance on corner lots and pockets of open space. It’s happening again in Northampton Township, in a neighborhood called Holland Village.

 

Holland is largely a bedroom community. Sandwiched between Buck, Holland and Rocksville roads, are several beautiful acres of open space that will be cleared and graded for a Super Wawa. The store will be about 5,600 square feet, and have at least 16 gas pumps.

 

A notice for the April 12 meeting of Northampton Township's Zoning Board on the issue of approving land development for a 16-pump Wawa gas station and store along Holland Road.

 

 [Northampton Zoning Hearing Board on Monday, 12 April 2021, 6:30 PM: Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8167... Meeting ID: 816 7268 6216]

 

Neighbors nearby have opposed this plan for at least two years. One old timer drove me around for an hour in his car, showing me the store’s footprint. His house, where he has lived since the 1950s, is about 200 feet from what is set to be the store’s parking lot.

 

Wawa is open 24/7. Large canopies over the gas pump are lit all night. There will be traffic and truck deliveries. As I said, I like Wawa. I just don’t know if I’d like to live 200 or even 2,000 feet from one.

 

Which is why residents began an online petition to stop the Holland store, which is characterized as “intrusive.” Increased traffic and decreased sense of “community” as well as a loss of the “quaint feel” of the Holland area are the concerns.

 

I know Wawa has the zoning in Northampton, or most of it, but does it really need that store at that location? Does it want to tick off the 1,300 people who’ve signed the petition?

 

When I was covering the township, it always had a budget surplus of $20 million. If any dough is left, maybe buy the property and create a recreation area. It’s a beautiful piece of land. I can see why Wawa wants it, and why neighbors don't want Wawa there.

 

“Gotta have a Wawa” oh, yeah. But in this case, maybe you gotta put the Wawa somewhere else.

 

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