Lemon Bay Isles residents say 'whoa' to Wawa

ENGLEWOOD — A planned Wawa store and gas station may be coming to Englewood, but a lack of public comment has residents feeling unheard.

Project developers submitted plans for a 5,537-square-foot Wawa at 2960 S. McCall Road, at Oriole Boulevard and South McCall Road, the site of McCall Plaza.

Charlotte County public relations manager Kellie Stewart said the plan was discussed in September, and county officials are waiting for paperwork for a formal review.

Stewart said zoning at the site is already commercial so no public hearing is required, just compliance with code and staff-level approval.

"Development is market-driven,” she said.

Lemon Bay Isles Property Owners Association Vice President Bruce Ramos is concerned about the plan.

Lemon Bay Isles is a 55-and-older community behind the planned Wawa. The entrance and exit for the neighborhood is Oriole Boulevard.

"We have a little over 350 houses in Lemon Bay Isles Property Owners Association, but there's also two other associations that use that entrance," Ramos said. "When you combine it, it's pretty close to 800 people in this community that we have, and so it affects a lot of people."

For Ramos and others, it's more about trying to understand why another gas station and convenience store is needed.

"We're not against Wawas ...but we are opposed to a Wawa going there in that location," Ramos said. "We have three gas stations and convenience stores within maybe 500 yards of us on the other side (of McCall Road), and they don't back up to a community like this."

Nearby gas stations and stores include a Circle K at San Casa Drive and McCall Road; Murphy USA at Walmart, and RaceTrac at Winchester Boulevard and South McCall Road.

None directly backs up against a neighborhood.

"It just doesn't fit with the community because there's Falcon Drive that goes right by there," he said. "It's maybe a 100 feet from the lot to the nearest house, so that's pretty close for a convenience/gas station."

According to the concept plans, the new building and gas station islands will replace the two-story office building. A separate building that houses three businesses — Partners by Design Hair Salon, H & H International Realty and Surfside CAM Services — at 2980 S. McCall Road, is not included in the site plan.

The plans show Wawa would have four entrances and exits. One of those driveways is directly on Falcon Drive, behind the complex, while two are planned for Oriole Boulevard and one on McCall Road.

The island on Oriole Boulevard separating traffic affects left turns to get back onto McCall Road from the two side driveways at the planned Wawa.

"If they want to make a left on South McCall, they can't get out of the gas station," Ramos said. "They have to come into our property, and then turn around...We're a golf cart, biking and pedestrian community, so the traffic hazard is very concerning for the community."

Ramos said the plaza was once full of daytime businesses. Wawa would add a 24/7 business to the area.

"You're talking about noise 24/7 to the nearest house 100 feet away," he said. "If you have a night business, you're going to have those taller and brighter lights for security."

Since Hurricane Ian, Ramos said, the community has experienced a lot of crime.

"We're not a gated community, so it's concerning," he said. "I'm not saying Wawa will attract crime, but convenience stores tend to, especially those that sell alcohol."

A lot of community homeowners put money into rebuilding after Hurricane Ian, he said. Ramos is worried property values will go down significantly for some.

"I don't know how those individuals are going to sell their home for anything if they want to leave," he said. "I wouldn't want to buy across the street from a gas station, and I don't think most people would either."

The planned Wawa site plan also shows the Lemon Bay Isles signs gone on Oriole Boulevard, but the association has an easement for both signs.

"We were approached by the present owner to remove those easements and signs," Ramos said. "Our property owners overwhelmingly, 100%, said no."

Without the easement or signs, Ramos said, anything could go there.

"We want our entrance to be welcoming, and not like an alleyway between two buildings," he said.

Ramos had no clue a Wawa was planned for the location since McCall Plaza never mentioned it when he met with them in November. Ramos and Lemon Bay Isles members are circulating a petition while also reaching out to Charlotte County Commissioner Bill Truex for help.

"We're doing everything we can to try and stop it, but we may not be able to," Ramos said. "We're concerned the public doesn't have a voice."