Holland residents rejoiced in November 2021 when the Northampton Township board of supervisors voted against a proposed “super” Wawa at the intersection of Buck, Rocksville and Holland roads.
For about two years prior to the vote, the community fought against Provco Pinegood Northampton LLC’s project proposal, which would have constructed a Wawa convenience store and gas station at the Wright Property.
In fact, an online petition garnered over 2,800 signatures.
Locals believed the Wawa would ruin the small-town feel of Holland by causing an influx of traffic, teenage loitering and pollution. The supervisors’ vote was certainly a win for the residents, but given Provco’s ability to submit an altered plan, they knew the fight might not be over.
And it’s definitely not.
Recently, it was announced that Provco appealed the supervisors’ denial and submitted a new preliminary site plan for a “super” Wawa that, according to opposition leader Brett Duffey, “appears equally as disastrous as the last.”
A letter sent to residents by Northampton supervisors chairman Adam Selisker said the township’s Zoning Hearing Board determined in May 2021 that the proposed spot for the Wawa at 287 Holland Road is a “retail use and is permitted by right in the township’s C-2 Zoning District where the subject property is located.”
This was appealed to the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas by a number of residents, who attended a hearing on the matter last Monday morning at the Bucks County Justice Center in Doylestown.
They also were expected to attend a Newtown Township planning commission meeting the following evening to support Newtown residents in protesting another proposed Wawa expansion.
“Wawa must be stopped from covering our beautiful towns and villages in Bucks County with super gas stations every mile,” said Brett’s mother Pam Duffey, who has been leading the charge against Provco since the beginning.
Selisker said that, at this point, the board of supervisors is not required to take any formal action on the updated plan, but it will be reviewed and commented upon by township staff and professionals, including the township engineer, planner, traffic engineer, zoning officer and fire marshal.
“The township staff and professionals are conducting their respective reviews at this time,” he added. “These reviews will be provided to the applicant. Upon their completion, the applicant may request a public hearing on the sketch plan.”
If this occurs, Selisker said residents will be informed: “We are constrained as to what we can say publicly regarding land development and subdivision plans and applications that are pending with the township. At the same time, however, we want to provide as much information as possible to our residents.”
Brett stressed that he, Pam and an ever-growing group of angered Holland residents are “ready to stand in opposition against this next wave.”
Throughout 2021, the contentious store and gas station were the hot topic of numerous supervisors meetings, which saw attendees come armed with anti-Wawa picket signs and T-shirts.
The final meeting in November spanned five hours and welcomed over 60 public comments, every single one adamantly against the proposed addition to Holland.
At the time, Ilya Breyman, who recently announced his bid for state representative in the open 178th Legislative District, also voiced his concerns.
Selisker, Frank O’Donnell and Kim Rose rejected the plan, while Eileen Silver abstained from the vote. Barry Moore was not present and did not vote because of a conflict of interest.
This meeting was originally scheduled to take place in October 2021, but was canceled a mere two hours before it was supposed to begin. Township officials said Provco was unable to make it. Rather than head home defeated, residents held an impromptu protest outside of the Richboro-based township building.
Opposition against the Wawa has been steadily building for over two years, meaning Provco will have its work cut out for them in housing the chain at Holland’s beloved Wright Property.
Samantha Bambino can be reached at sbambino@newspapermediagroup.com
