The Panning Commission reviewed a proposal for a Wawa at the corner of Main Street and Rt. 50 in Berlin.

By Cindy Hoffman, Staff Writer

(Dec. 21, 2023) The Berlin Planning Commission last Wednesday tabled a decision on changes to a pre-approved site plan for a convenience store and hotel at the intersection of Route 50 and Main Street.

The original plan, dubbed Athena Plaza, included a 7-Eleven and Fairfield Inn.

The partial revision to the approved plan replaces the 7-Eleven with a 6,000 square-foot Wawa convenience store and gas station. Since there were significant changes to the development plan for the convenience store, the commission needs to approve this new plan.

Based on the proposal, the front of the Wawa would face Route 50, with a trash enclosure facing Main Street. The developer said the placement of the trash enclosure was for easy access for trash collection.

The plan calls for two signs along Route 50, with one identifying Wawa and gas prices, and the second identifying the Athena Plaza along with the hotel and the Wawa.

The larger of the two signs would be 23 feet 7 inches tall. Building codes allow for the sign to be 25 feet tall.

Commission members asked for a smaller and shorter sign, and possibly just one sign instead of two.

With the traffic entrance to the proposed Wawa on Main Street, the commission had concerns about the safety of people walking to the Wawa from the doctors’ offices across the street. Sidewalks are not part of the proposal.

“I have a major concern of increased cars on that road. I feel like we are dancing with the devil if we say let’s do this,” Commissioner Matt Stoehr said.

“Convenience stores are not a destination. We are not creating more traffic. Convenience stores are accessing the traffic that is already out there,” developer Fred Whittig replied.

“This is a nightmare traffic situation,” Commissioner Ron Cascio said. “People coming off the highway with no idea of how difficult that intersection is will make it so much worse.”

“It’s not unreasonable to get an updated traffic study,” Chairman Chris Denny said. He noted that the original study was done during the covid-19 epidemic, when traffic in the area was considerably less.

While there was clear support for Wawa by the commission, the decision was tabled until the commission could look further into the impacts on traffic, and the developer could come back with alternative options for the location of the trash off of Main Street and bring back different options for the facade and signage.

“It’s our Main Street, it’s our entrance to town,” Ron Costa said. “We want something that looks like Berlin, not any other place in the country.”

This is not an unusual request. Members noted that the design of the Wawa in Wildwood N.J. reflects the historic “doo-wop” roots of that community.

“Give us a building that is special,” member Pete Cosby said.

 “We’ll see what we can do,” Whittig replied.