Wawa woes in Fairfield as planning commission rejects request for new location
On Wednesday, the planning commission shot down Wawa's plans for a fourth location in Fairfield. The decision came after significant backlash from neighbors.
Still, Wednesday's vote is merely a recommendation as city council still has the final say.
There are three other Wawa locations in the works or under review in the city.
Neighbors are not sold on a fourth.
"Why would we need nine gas stations within two miles of each other? From 275 to Downtown Fairfield, I have never waited for a pump," said one resident.
Another said, "Does Fairfield really need four Wawas?"
Residents voiced concerns over light pollution, increased traffic, and potential safety issues.
Developers said if they do get approval, they will follow Fairfield's zoning guidelines to the letter.
At the meeting, they showed design mock-ups that they felt fit those parameters.
"We believe we're the highest and best use for the site, the economics work for us, we can get this done," said a representative for Wawa.
The gas station and convenience store put plans in the works to open roughly 60 locations across the tri-state area over the next decade.
Twenty-four acres of privately owned land is for sale.
Wawa put in an application for a little over five acres, leaving the rest to the city as part of the deal.
Because the land is not owned by the government, this all comes down to zoning laws and whether city council will give developers the go ahead at the final meeting over the matter in September.