Wawa's Controversial Site Plan In Gaithersburg Gets Green Light

GAITHERSBURG, MD — A controversial plan to build a Wawa gas station and convenience store on South Frederick Avenue has been approved by the Gaithersburg City Council, despite opposition from dozens of residents who said it would increase traffic, put pedestrian safety at risk, and hurt local business owners.

The city council voted 4 to 1 on Monday to approve the proposed construction plan. Laurie-Anne Sayles was the only council member who voted against it.

According to the plans, Wawa would sit on a 1.84-acre lot at 405 S. Frederick Ave. — which is across the street from Gaithersburg High School. The 5,060-square-foot store would be Wawa's first in Montgomery County.

For months, the proposed Wawa site has divided residents — with some saying it would enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in the area. However, opponents say it would have negative impacts on the environment, local businesses, and traffic.

On Aug. 5, residents raised concerns about the proposed site plan at a public hearing hosted by the Gaithersburg mayor and council.

"This is the wrong time and the wrong place for this project," Carol Johnson, a 30-year-plus resident, said in August. "It's the wrong time because we're almost at 2020, and we have a severe problem with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. And I believe there's going to be a disruption in technology altogether where we will no longer be driving gasoline-powered automobiles. The city needs to be thinking about the future and what we need to service electric automobiles.

"Second, it's the wrong place for many, many, many reasons"..."It's my impression they are trying to squeeze a peg in a square hole. It's too small. It's not a big corner lot where you got access."

On Monday, shortly before the council voted in favor of the construction plans, city officials opened the floor to public comments about various projects and proposals. Nine people spoke in opposition of Wawa, echoing much of what Johnson, and others who protested in August, said.

While he encouraged residents to voice their opinions, Mayor Jud Ashman said that the public record was closed on the issue — meaning the city is not legally allowed to take any more comments into consideration.

Troy Parcelles was the first person to speak and expressed concern for small businesses. He fears a big-name company like Wawa will undercut smaller gas stations and hurt them financially.

"The city of Gaithersburg does not need another gas station, especially a hypermarket like Wawa that's going to pump over 500,000 gallons a month," he said.

Deer Park resident Jennifer Jackson says the city is trying to fit Wawa into a master plan that won't benefit the community. After visiting a Wawa in Virginia, Jackson said she was stunned to see so much "vermin" and "trash." She worries that Gaithersburg will be left to clean up a similar mess.

"It was disgusting, and I thought to myself, I said, 'Oh, my goodness. They're going to put one of these over here in my neighborhood too,'" Jackson said.

"Wawa has said, 'Oh we're a good company; we're going to keep it clean.' But really what they are going to do is treat it like they treat anything else. It's going to be part of their portfolio and then we are going to be stuck with the aftermath of it," Jackson added.

Mayor Ashman assured her that the city will have an enforcement team monitoring Wawa for littering and other health-related issues.

While addressing residents concerns, council member Ryan Spiegel explained that certain decisions — like building a Wawa on South Frederick Avenue — ultimately come down to whether the applicant legally meets the city's requirements.

"We're sitting like judges when we deal with situations like these, as opposed to legislators," Spiegel said.

In order for Wawa to come to Gaithersburg, the company must comply with a set of rules imposted by the city. Requirements include providing "at least one addition tree island in the parking lot to break up the parking spaces" and examining the "sidewalk connectivity along the south side of the subject property, between the subject property and the Holbrook Shopping Center."

"City staff, which — by the way — has no dog in this fight, analyzed the applicant's submissions and concluded that the application meets the requirements and recommended approval."

Spiegel, who tried assuring residents that their voices have been heard, said no plan is perfect and will always be met with opposition.

Sayles, who voted against the proposed plans, says she is a "big fan of Wawa" and "loves that Wawa has chosen the City of Gaithersburg."

However, she says this isn't the best place for a Wawa. Her big concern: traffic congestion.

"While it meets all of the classifications and permissions of the zoning, I just cannot support this project at this time. That's where I'm at," she said.