Super Wawa for Route 130 in Hamilton approved

The back-and-forth over the proposal to build a 24-hour Wawa gas station and convenience store on Route 130 in Hamilton has finally been resolved: last night the planning board unanimously approved construction at the site of the former Harry’s Army & Navy Store.

Earlier this month, Princeton-based developer Hamilton Crosswicks 130 LLC presented its application to construct a “super Wawa” – a 4,691-square-foot store with 12 fueling stations – on the corner where Route 130 meets Crosswicks Hamilton Square Road. At the time, however, the planning board delayed their final vote to allow traffic engineer Jeff L’Amoreaux sufficient time to assess traffic concerns for the intersection.

Last night’s unanimous vote of approval came after L’Amoreaux informed the board that he perceives “no operational difficulties after reviewing the evidence and report” even at peak hours of operation.

Another potential obstacle to the Wawa development project could have been its proximity to other gas stations in the area, but the township council’s April vote upended an ordinance that formerly prevented gas stations from being within 1,500 feet of each other. The closest gas station to the proposed Wawa fueling site is Garden State Fuel, which at a quarter of a mile away could have triggered the buffer zone law.

There are currently two Wawas in Hamilton Township, both along Route 33, but neither has fueling stations.