CAMP HILL, Pa. — A new Wawa location could be coming to East Pennsboro Township, Cumberland County, but not without criticism from nearby residents.
It would be located near the corner of Erford Road and Hunter Lane, with a proposed exit diverting traffic through a residential area.
"This location doesn’t make sense to us," East Pennsboro Township resident Joe Caviston said.
Caviston has lived in the area for nearly a decade and says neighbors aren’t happy with the idea.
"Our neighborhood is concerned how the proposed Wawa would affect where we live," he said. "A lot of negatives it seems that would come to us as a result of this project taking shape."
Caviston points to several problems, safety, noise, and traffic, among others.
The Wawa would be on the former site of the Rite Aid Corporate Office at 30 Hunter Lane. Other residents like Alan McConnell say they already face several issues from the Sheetz just up the road.
"We’ve had a lot more litter and trash in the neighborhood," McConnell, who has lived on Hunter Lane for 32 years, said. "Other neighbors talk about odors and fumes, and noise level."
Concerns were brought to a planning commission meeting earlier this month. Joe says they were brushed off by the developers.
"A representative from the developer let us know very clearly at the meeting, they're going to move forward with the project," Caviston said.
"We’re concerned that ‘Hey, we need to have a say in that neighborhood,’" McConnell said.
East Pennsboro Township’s Board of Commissioners told FOX43 it's still early in the process, and the proposal will have to go through the planning commission.
Caviston says if the Wawa project moves forward, his family will move out.
"We’ll probably move," he said. "We have a 4-year-old. Can’t have him in the front yard if traffic increases."
A spokeswoman from Wawa said in part via email "It's our priority to follow the processes set forth by our local municipalities."