For the residents of Northampton Township, the evening of Oct. 6 was supposed to be a big one.
During a special meeting, the board of supervisors was slated to vote on Provco Pinegood Northampton’s proposed “Super” Wawa at the intersection of Holland, Rocksville and Buck roads, something many locals have been fiercely protesting for a year and a half.
However, a mere two hours before the meeting was expected to start, the township informed the public that it was canceled due to Provco not being able to make it.
The meeting was recently rescheduled to Wednesday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m.
This last-minute cancelation did not sit well with those who planned to attend. A number adjusted work and family schedules in order to voice their concerns.
According to Holland’s Brett Duffey, who is leading the charge against the Wawa with his parents Pam and Gerry, and brother Shane, there was much skepticism that Provco gave the township only two hours’ notice.
“It might be a strategy to muzzle dissent from residents since there were at least 20 to 30 people planning to speak against the proposal, with another 30 to 40 online comments against the project to be submitted,” he said.
Instead of heading home defeated, the approximately 30 residents who intended to speak at the meeting joined for an impromptu peaceful protest outside the Township Building, located at 55 Township Road in Richboro.
Chants of “No Super Wawa” echoed into the night as attendees held up signs that read, “Say no to gas stations next to our homes,” and, “Preserve Holland.”
The crowd rallied around Duffey, who urged his neighbors to continue to speak out against the project and attend the rescheduled meeting.
“This is gonna be a disaster for this township. Northampton has shown no inkling of wanting to oppose this. They’ve sat back and said it’s a done deal. Well, I’m gonna tell you it’s not a done deal. These people here tonight prove that it’s not a done deal,” he said. “I don’t care if it’s your 10-year-old kid or your 80-year-old father. Come out here and oppose this because this is the last chance. Once this thing is approved, we’re gonna be arguing over how many trees there are. But right now, we’re arguing whether or not it’s gonna go there.”
Board members have until Nov. 30 to vote on the proposed Wawa, which would include a convenience store and 16-pump gas station about 70 feet from some homes.
Residents have been consistently sharing their concerns at each monthly board meeting, even when Wawa wasn’t on the agenda.
They fear that kids and teens will gather in the Wawa parking lot at night, causing a noisy and unsafe environment for those living nearby; traffic will increase; gas and other toxins will funnel down to the streams and pollute the water; and finally, that it will ruin the area’s beloved small-town nature. The Wawa would be located on the Wright property, which many consider to be the “gateway” to Holland.
A petition against the “Super” Wawa has so far garnered a whopping 2,765 signatures and counting.
“Stop covering Bucks County with a Wawa every mile,” exclaimed Pam during the protest. “They will continue to build these every mile like they are through Philadelphia.”
Samantha Bambino can be reached at sbambino@newspapermediagroup.com
