Jan Filios on Wawa Environmental Issues

Jan Filios – a Newtown Township resident and member of the Newtown Environmental Advisory Council – spoke about her concerns the impact of Super Wawa (gas station + convenience store on Newtown Bypass) on the environment. The plan submitted by Provco/Wawa will be reviewed by the Planning Commission at its April 5, 2022, public meeting. In her unofficial observations, Ms. Filios pointed out that the plan called for a “visual buffer” – an 18-20 foot berm – that faces the utility corridor – possibly meant to shield the view from a nursing home that might be built on the other side. These berms are usually construction waste covered by sod, which is “ecologically useless,” said Filios. The other issue Ms. Filios called attention to was the fact that there was no mention of how filters designed to catch spilt fuel would be maintained. This also was mentioned by the Bucks County Planning Commission in its review of the plan (LINK: https://bit.ly/BCPC-WawaComments). She also mentioned that there are trees that can help mediate the environmental impact of small amounts of petroleum products in the soil.