Newtown Township In Settlement Talks Regarding Wawa Project

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — The township is in discussions with Provco on a potential settlement of litigation regarding its proposal to build a Wawa convenience store and gas station in the township.

The supervisors have been meeting in executive session to draft a settlement agreement, according to township sources. No additional details were forthcoming.

It was also not known if the settlement is for all the litigation regarding the Wawa project or just one aspect.

Provco’s validity challenge of the township’s zoning ordinances was scheduled to resume on May 30 before the zoning hearing board with testimony and arguments from the township, which is opposing Provco’s appeal.

During the last several meetings, Provco has argued its case with expert testimony from a traffic engineer, a civil engineer and a signage expert.

That meeting was continued to June 1 and is expected to be continued again at the board’s June 1 meeting.

Provco has been fighting the township on a number of legal fronts, including the validity challenge before the zoning hearing board and an appeal in Bucks County Court of the township’s vote denying approval of its land development last fall.

Provco is seeking to build a Wawa convenience store and gas station on Lower Silver Lake Road and the Newtown Bypass in the township’s office-research zone.

Provco’s plan for the nearly five acre site at Lower Silver Lake Road and the Newtown Bypass depicts a 5,585-square-foot food market with six fuel dispensers and a canopy.

Plans show the store facing the Bypass with front and rear store access, pedestrian walkways, bike racks, one electric vehicle charging station, two air pump stations and 60 parking spaces, including three designated for ADA.

Access to the store would be off of Lower Silver Lake Road via a right in entrance only and a full intersection at the entrance to the store across from Crossing Community Church.