WILMINGTON — Another Wawa will be added to southeastern North Carolina after Wilmington City Council voted in favor of site plans for the College Road franchise location Tuesday night.
Executives with the northern gas station and convenience store brand Wawa, represented by local land use attorney Sam Franck, requested a rezoning of 524 S. College Road from its office and institutional zoning to the community business district. A Furniture Fair used to operate on the 1.76-acre site before closing in spring 2025; the site has been vacant since.
Ultimately, council passed the rezoning request in a 5-2 vote, with council members David Joyner and Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Spears dissenting.
READ MORE: Wawa to celebrate grand opening of second New Hanover County store
“I don’t think Wilmington is looking to build more gas stations as a community need, versus I think we are looking to build more housing as a community need,” Joyner said.
Spears said Joyner made a good point, noting he hears a lot of complaints from residents about the amount of gas stations coming to the city.
“What do you got? Got glitter in the gas, or you got the up-to-date snacks?” Spears said. “What does the Wawa have that you can’t get between the BPs and Cook Out?”
Payman Nadimi, a project engineer at Wawa, said the company offers made-to-order food, cleaner restrooms and stores, and all-around better operations, including “livable” wages with full benefits for its workers.
Council member Chakema Clinton-Quintana asked if Wawa surveys nearby community members or, in this case UNCW, located across the street. Nadimi said it’s not typical, though Franck pointed out the rezoning request required a community meeting. It was attended by three people.
Spears said it was, thus, fair to say the surrounding community was not aware of the project and wouldn’t be until they saw council approved it.
“If we approve this thing tonight it will be too late,” Spears said. “And then they’ll have an issue with us.”
Council member JC Lyle said the applicant fulfilled all the community input requirements, but suggested council look at potentially changing requirements if the appetite was there.
Joyner also asked if Wawa, being so close to UNCW, would sell alcohol, tobacco and THC products. A Wawa representative said yes but didn’t comment further on these products being in the gas station’s business model.
Much of the discussion Tuesday revolved around conditions on the development and transportation connectivity. The request for a conditional rezoning means council and planning staff could place restrictions or stipulations on the property owner in order for the project to move forward.
Access to the property will be from a right-in, right-out driveway off South College Road; originally, the site plans included two driveways off the major corridor, though one was taken away after community feedback.
The site plans include another access point connecting to University Drive, which will require Wawa to obtain easements from the adjacent property owner. The property owner and Cape Fear Development have submitted plans to replace what used to be the Glen Apartments with a 320-unit multi-family complex.
“Without question, the applicant is on the hook to establish a connection to the public right of way from this end of the property,” Franck said.
If the easement is not granted, the project cannot move forward.
Another condition also requires a pedestrian connection to the adjacent site upon redevelopment; the property is currently zoned for high-density, multi-family.
Franck said the applicant has no problem agreeing to the condition, noting it would look like a break in the hedge line planned as a buffer between the properties. The space would be replaced by a gate for people to walk between the two properties. Franck said the neighbor is not amenable to the connection, although is supportive of the gas station overall, and has asked for the pedestrian access condition to be struck.
“[They said] nothing about the conditions on this approval should bind another property owner,” Franck said.
Assistant Planning Director Brian Chambers said the intention of the condition was for Wawa to make future connections possible in the future, in line with city practice of promoting connectivity.
The condition was removed in the passage of the rezoning request.
At Port City Daily, we aim to keep locals informed on top-of-mind news facing the tri-county region. To support our work and help us reach more people in 2026, please, consider helping one of two ways: Subscribe here or make a one-time contribution here.
We appreciate your ongoing support.
