Two Wawas in Happy Valley? What we know about a potential State College location
A variance request with Ferguson Township shows Wawa is looking to expand its footprint in Centre County.
The Ferguson Township board of supervisors will discuss a variance request for a Wawa at 169 W. Aaron Drive, State College during their 7 p.m. Aug. 15 meeting. The agenda for Tuesday’s meeting states the client is requesting a variance from the township’s zoning ordinance that “prohibits all structures from being located in the setback.”
Land development plans included with the request are labeled “Wawa at Aaron Drive.” Only the variance request is on the agenda — not approval of any other Wawa plans.
According to the request, a 110 square foot variance is needed for a gasoline canopy. The current building, which was formerly a car dealership, encroaches in the setback, the request states, and removal of that building will result in reducing the setback encroachment from 1,625 square feet to 110 square feet.
The property is zoned general commercial.
The staff recommendation is that the board of supervisors remain neutral on the request. The Ferguson Township zoning hearing board will hold a hearing on Sept. 26 to hear the variance request.
The township website does not show any formal land development plans submitted for the site. The plan included with the variance request shows a 5,330 gross square foot building constructed with 60 parking stalls at the intersection of North Atherton Street and East Aaron Drive.
Though seemingly early in the process, this could be Centre County’s second planned Wawa site. In March, plans were revealed for its first location in Happy Valley at the corner of Benner Pike and Eagle Point in Benner Township, between Dunkin’ and Fulton Bank, and across from Sheetz.
Wawa, founded in 1964, is a convenience store and gas station chain with locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Florida, according to its website. It is known for its made-to-order hoagies and lineup of freshly brewed coffee.
This story was originally published August 11, 2023 at 7:37 PM.
