A brand new Wawa is officially coming to Falls Township.
On July 19 during the board of supervisors’ first in-person meeting since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, preliminary and final land development approval was granted for a 5,585-square-foot Wawa in the Lincoln Highway shopping center.
The Wawa will replace the existing 5,200-square-foot Arosso, A Touch of Sicily restaurant, which will be demolished. Arosso owner Dave Monterosso will move his business to a 3,000-square-foot space inside the shopping center, adjacent to Big Lots and in a portion of the former Family Dollar Store. He previously told the board that he “needed the smaller space” because it’s “more functional.”
Arosso officially closed the doors of its original location over the Fourth of July weekend.
When conditional use approval was granted by the board during its April 19 meeting, the “super Wawa” was slated to feature a convenience store, gas pumps, ample parking and a drive-thru window, the latter of which would have included a right-in entrance off Lincoln Highway and Arleans Avenue.
However, future Wawa patrons won’t enjoy this luxury.
“They’ve done away with the drive-thru and it’s just a straightforward Wawa,” explained board chairman Jeffry Dence.
Last year, the supervisors modified the zoning at the intersection of Lincoln Highway and Arleans Avenue from shopping center to highway commercial zoning. The goal was to help fill vacancies in the shopping center. This zoning change allows for the planned demolition of the former Arosso building and for the Wawa with eight fuel pumps to be built in its place.
Other site improvements will include a 6-foot-wide sidewalk along Lincoln Highway and upgrades to the existing push buttons for walk signals. Designated crossing to the front and back of the store will also be added.
In other land development news, the supervisors voted 4-1 to grant preliminary and final land development approval to Bumm Holdings Company, LLC to demolish an existing structure on its property, located at 140-A Oxford Valley Road and construct a 2,400-square-foot storage building and parking lot in its place.
The board’s vice chairman Jeff Boraski was the single “no” vote.
Next on the agenda, the supervisors voted unanimously to adopt several changes that were proposed earlier in the year to the Falls Township Parks Ordinance. The amendments bring the township in line with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, according to township attorney Lauren Gallagher.
As adopted, the ordinance prohibits the release of helium balloons and luminaries. Many families, according to Parks and Recreation director Brian Andrews, release balloons in memoriam of a loved one. However, he said these released balloons contribute to litter and pollution and have been known to kill wildlife that mistake ribbons and balloons for food.
Sea turtles, dolphins, whales, fish and birds have been found with balloons in their stomachs. Balloon ribbons and strings can also cause entanglement, which can result in death.
Also under the amendment, wading and swimming are prohibited.
In other news, the supervisors authorized advertisement to solicit bids to replace the roof at Three Arches. The historic building, located at 335 Trenton Road, is owned and maintained by the township. The Parks and Recreation department holds its monthly meetings at the building and oversees special event rentals at Three Arches.
Samantha Bambino can be reached at sbambino@newspapermediagroup.com
