WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — The Wawa convenience store planned for MacArthur and Mickley roads got final conditional approval from the township commissioners Monday.
The Wawa would be a 6,000-square-foot facility with a front and back entrance and exit. It would include 16 fuel stations and be open 24 hours daily.
Monday's meeting was a workshop. The project will go before a full board of commissioners meeting Monday.
"I hope they're going to hold a Hoagiefest."Thomas Slonaker, president, Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners
"I hope they're going to hold a hoagiefest," board President Thomas Slonaker said.
The new store would occupy the former Sears Auto Center at Whitehall Mall, which has been vacant since late 2020 and will be demolished. The Sears business was among the mall’s original tenants when it opened in 1966.
The Wawa project received preliminary land redevelopment approval by Whitehall planners in April.
The proposed Wawa would be the second to operate in the township.
Car wash additions
Also Monday, Hometown Auto Spa’s plan to add two automatic car wash bays at 3318 Seventh St. was given conditional final approval.
The project presented by Keystone Consulting Engineers, of Allentown, also calls for a mechanical room and a driveway loop not to exceed 10,000 square feet.
The board directed that prior directional signs and markings, such as arrows and parking spaces, must be refreshed, because the proposed car wash bays are strictly one way.
Subdivision project moves forward
Fullerton Terminals LLC got conditional approval for a major subdivision plan at 2451 Main St.
A deferral request for the required installation of 840 feet of curbs and sidewalk along Range Road frontage of that address was granted.
The request was made by Don Miller, the applicant, who asked that a deferral be approved until the land development plan is submitted to the township.
The developer is required to make arrangements with the Whitehall Coplay Sewer Authority and Northampton Borough for the water and sanitary sewer distribution services, the commission said.
Coplay Creek Restoration Project
An ordinance authorizing the acceptance of a proposal for Phase 2 of the Coplay Creek Stream Bank Restoration Project also was approved.
The project involves the stabilization of Coplay Creek by Whitehall Township’s Pollution Reduction Plan.
Tasks included design work, bidding, permitting, construction oversight and public involvement.
American Engineers Group, of Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, served as the prime consultant for the assignment and was responsible for providing all services to the township.
The township has budgeted $250,000 for the project from the Capital Reserve Fund. A $149,464 grant from the Watershed Restoration Program has been secured to partially subsidize the cost.
Bids for the project will be opened on Thursday.
Other business
The commissioners approved the return of pension contributions and accrued interest to former Whitehall Township police officers Shawn Monaghan and John Bowlby, who left the police department late last year.
