Northampton zoners OK Holland Wawa over resident objections; plan heads back to Bucks County court

The Northampton Zoning Board rendered a decision Monday to allow a Wawa with fueling station to move forward over the objections of nearby residents,

For years developer Provco Pinegood Northampton has sought to build the convenience store and gas station at 287 Holland Road in the Holland section of the township.

The board had rejected the proposal, but was ordered to reconsider it when the developer appealed to Bucks County Court. Judge Denise Bowman remanded the case back for additional testimony on whether the proposed Wawa required a conditional use hearing , said Northampton Township Manager Robert Pellegrino.

"The matter will now go back to Judge Bowman for a decision on the legal issues before the Court."

Related:Another Wawa proposed for Northampton

Residents last, and perhaps most remote chance, to delay or altogether halt the project lies with Bowman's decision. No hearing had been set as of Wednesday.

Critics of the project mounted a furious, grassroots-driven effort that included fundraising for legal representation and joining with residents in Newtown Township, who are fighting a proposed Wawa on the Newtown Bypass and Lower Silver Lake Road.

Pam Duffey, a critic of the project and one of the of the neighbors who say they will be adversely affected by the existence of gas pumps mere yards from their house, seemed resigned to the fate.

"We lost with the Northampton Township Zoning Board as we expected. We still have hope that the judge, Denise Bowman, will note that Wawa did not prove that their gas operation is 'entirely' incidental," Duffey said. "The case is all about the word 'entirely.'"

In early 2020, the developer proposed a 5,585-square-foot store with eight fueling stations on the 2.5-acre parcel. It’s near Holland Road’s intersection with Rocksville and Buck roads.

Roughly a year later, Christopher Pappa, the attorney representing the residents, sent a letter to township officials, requesting more information and answers to resident's concerns.

At that time, township solicitor Joseph Pizzo said he and the zoning officer examined the application and determined it does not require conditional use but would need to go through the land development process, which includes review by the township planning commission and consideration and vote by the supervisors.

That led to the issue going court, which remanded it back to the zoning hearing board and resulted in the board's decision Monday.

More on Holland WaWa:Northampton residents oppose proposed Wawa on Holland Road

Duffey was impressed her cobbled-together group made it this far in at least stalling Wawa, and reflected on how it brought the community together. She and the other residents will confer with Pappa to settle on next steps.

"We are a true grassroots effort; a David and Goliath," Duffey said. "I feel so blessed that so many neighbors care and even others, who do not live in the township donated to our cause. Also, most merchants in both surrounding shopping centers, Holland Shopping Center and Pheasant Valley, donated gift cards, certificates, hair products a nd a large chocolate tray donated by Liliy's Chocolate Paradise that we raffled off at our potluck protest raising another $250.

"Wawa needs to pay attention to us, their customers. We don't want them in that location."