For years developer Provco Pinegood Northampton has sought to build a Wawa convenience store and gas station at 287 Holland Road in the Holland section of the township.
Attorney Christopher Papa argued Monday the opinion could set a precedent allowing developers a way to tack on primary uses as accessory uses to circumvent local zoning laws. We feel that this is sort of a rubber stamp to this big use that is going to impact this community, Papa told the board at the start of the two-hour hearing Monday night.
The appeal also argues that a lack of a conditional-use hearing denied the public an opportunity to voice concerns to the township.
Soloman testified that his initial opinion, made about a year ago, was inline with the township s ordinance and in part based off of a previous opinion on a similar Wawa project from 2018.