At a meeting in February, the Voorhees Township zoning board approved the construction of a Super Wawa at the intersection of White Horse and Burnt Mill Roads, despite complaints from residents who live near the property.
The approximately 3,000-square-foot convenience store that currently stands on the property is considered a Wawa “legacy store,” which refers to older buildings without gas pumps. As long as the Camden County planning board approves work at the intersection in front of the new store, the location will be upgraded to 5,000 square feet on a 2.87-acre plot of land.
The Pennsylvania-based company has two other applications on file with Voorhees Township, both submitted in late December. While the previously approved application proposed to the zoning board in February featured upgrading an existing location to a Super Wawa with gas pumps, the other two proposals are for locations without Wawa stores.
During a meeting in March, the township was scheduled to address the application for a proposed, 5,051-square-foot Super Wawa with 16 fueling stations along Route 73, with access from Kresson Road. But COVID-19 temporarily halted all board meetings for several months.
While the zoning board now conducts virtual meetings, a representative of Wawa said the company would prefer an in-person meeting in the coming months.
“We are trying to schedule hearings before the Voorhees zoning board as soon as possible,” said Tim Prime, a company attorney. “However, Wawa would prefer that approvals be granted pursuant to in-person hearings rather than hearings with remote participation.”
The application for the store along Route 73 and Kresson Road addresses property on 3.48 acres of land, with preliminary and final use plans sought for a Super Wawa with 16 fueling stations. Another application currently on file with the township regards a potential Super Wawa along Route 73 and Cooper Road, on 2.28 acres of land. The project seeks preliminary and final use plan and subdivision approvals with use and bulk variances for construction of a Super Wawa with 16 fueling stations and a potential drive-thru.
Both Route 73 applications show the township was scheduled to discuss the stores during virtual meetings in September, but Wawa’s desire for in-person sessions leaves both applications without a date for possible approval.
The township zoning board has yet to decide when it will revert to in-person meetings.
