I’ve heard some recent rumblings regarding the proposed Super Wawa development project at 455 Bridgeton Pike (Bridgeton Pike and Mt. Royal Road), across from an existing Wawa.
Before diving into its current status, I thought you’d be interested in a refresher on the history of this property. In 2008, the original applicant, BVS Mantua LLC, got court-ordered preliminary and final site-plan approvals to construct an Acme supermarket and a CVS pharmacy, after denials from the township’s Land Use Board regarding certain variances and waivers, etc.
Yes, the township was sued and ordered to grant the approvals. Based on my own recollection and information obtained from the meeting minutes at that time, there was pushback from residents in and around the immediate area who strongly opposed the proposed project, including Acme.
In April 2010 – a new applicant, Mount Royal Associates LLC – received approvals for Phase 1 of the plan, the CVS pharmacy on the front portion of the lot. But that never materialized and things remained dormant at the site for a decade.
Mount Royal Associates came back before the Land Use Board in February of 2020 for an extension to preserve and perfect the subdivision, since there was no site plan at that time. In August 2021, the board approved the preliminary and final site plans for what is now Mount Royal Partners LLC to construct a 5,585-square-foot Super Wawa with a service station.
The Super Wawa (Mount Royal Partners LLC) is still waiting on their access permit approval from the NJDOT (New Jersey Department of Transportation). Once these approvals are received, the developer will post bonds and be able to move forward. We still do not have an anticipated time frame for this project to begin, as NJDOT access permits are apparently difficult to obtain.
It’s my understanding there are no holdups for this project at the township or county levels. The intersection at Bridgeton Pike and Mount Royal Road is undoubtedly atrocious and has been for many years. Regardless of what transpires relative to commercial development there, a reconfiguration of the intersection is absolutely necessary. In November of last year, we were informed that $2.8 million will be allocated from the NJDOT’s Transportation Trust Fund for these long-overdue and much-needed improvements.
Regardless of how you feel about Mantua’s progression, it should be noted that the township’s master plan identifies specific parcels of land and their designated zoning uses, among them residential, commercial and industrial. Contrary to public belief, a municipality cannot regulate businesses by preference.
In simplistic terms and by example, a township cannot customarily dictate or deny a commercially zoned project solely because a grocery store is desired by its residents over a convenience store, etc. Furthermore, a variance-free applicant cannot legally be denied if it meets the appropriate zoning criteria.
Over the years, we have preserved a total of 24 farms within our community totaling 1,089.67 acres. We have paved the way with the preservation of open space by securing 696 acres here. To date, that’s the most open space preserved by any of the 24 municipalities in Gloucester County. To provide an overall perspective, Mantua’s cumulative size is 10,008 acres. To date, we have preserved almost 1,786 acres.
The township committee and I have remained steadfast in our efforts to find the right balance for our community. Some change is inevitable with the adherence to our master plan that delineates the specified zoning of land throughout our community, along with the expectation of some progress through community dynamics. Our rural quality of life is a priority, but incorporating ratables is advantageous for tax relief and in essence helps to fund our schools, public safety and other governmental services.
On July 21, the police department held its K-9 golf fundraiser at Pitman Golf Course. I stopped by to support our illustrious K-9 unit of Sgt. Cody Mroz, Cpl. Stephen Wolfsgruber and officers Joseph Craig and Matthew Germscheid. The team is funded solely by your donations, and not at taxpayers’ expense. You can always contribute by contacting one of the K-9 officers. We wholeheartedly support the police and always stand in solidarity behind our great K-9 officers and their furry partners.
