National Pundit Weighs in on Conshy Wawa Debate

Add Philadelphia Daily News Editor Larry Platt to the list of people who has “Gotta Have a Wawa.”

Well, he might not personally need a Wawa – though he does seem to be a fan - but he definitely thinks Conshohocken should have one, according to his column in Philly.com titled "Why Not in Their Back Yard?"

The editor and author, who previously managed Philadelphia Magazine for eight years, attended the Jan. 22 Conshohocken Planning Commission Meeting, in which the group voted 2-1, with two abstentions, to reject a text amendment that would have moved along the process for Wawa to build a 4,000 square foot Wawa with 10 gas pumps on 11^th Ave and Fayette Street, the current location of E.F. Moore Chevrolet.

Patch previously reported on the meeting, and the thought process behind the planning commission’s decision to vote down the text amendment to zoning – primarily that it violates the Conshohocken Revitalization Plan, an issue that Platt didn’t touch on in his column.

Platt did, however, question several other aspects of the meeting.

While developer Provco Pineville Fayette L.P.’s attorney, Ross Weiss, drew a chorus of jeers at the meeting after comparing Wawa to a “corner store,” Platt doesn’t think he’s so far off.

“I'm all for walkable towns, and if this were some big-box invasion, I'd be right there with the protesters,” said Platt.  “But we're talking Wawa here - an iconic local brand that is one of the few things that keeps our region from looking like Anytown, USA.”

At the meeting, business owners and residents took to the microphone to present on behalf of the Conshohocken Revitalization Alliance, which has been leading the charge against Wawa. Platt questioned the motivation behind some of the speakers.

“I found neighbors who really care about the character of their town,” Platt said. “And gas station owners – whose prices residents complain about – who are afraid of competition.”

Platt quoted the Robert Rigsby, the creator of the “We Want Wawa” YouTube video, which he developed after two anti-Wawa “crusaders” came to his door.

"Hypocrisy raises my blood pressure, and the convenience stores and gas stations opposed to Wawa all really want to be Wawa," Rigsby said. "I'm sure that, years ago, Wawa had a tough time competing. Competition is healthy. And when a local company competes, I'm with them. That's why I'm with Comcast and not Verizon."

Other issues for Platt included the walkability that Wawa is proposing to keep through offering outdoor “plaza” seating, and polling that shows 51 percent of the town supports the development, although the opposition shows similar numbers.

Platt also pointed out the apparent tunnel vision that plagues some anti-Wawa residents regarding development.

“After all the shouting, the room cleared out - and only six people stayed to hear the case of a proposed 300-unit apartment complex,” Platt said.

Editor’s Note: This is a re-cap of a Philly.com column regarding the Conshohocken Wawa, based upon the opinions of Larry Platt.  For fact-based reports on the development process, visit any of the following articles:

   Conshy Wawa Discussion on Council Agenda

   What Should Go Here: Moore Chevrolet (Residents state what they would like to see on the property, if not Wawa)

   Conshohocken Planning Commission Votes 2-1 To Reject Wawa Amendent 

   UPDATE: Conshy Planning Commission to Review Wawa Plans

   Crowd Packs Conshy Planning Commission Meeting for Wawa Proposal