Wawa a no-no on Mantoloking Road

Agroup of local business owners has banded together to fight a proposed Wawa gas station and convenience store on Mantoloking Road.

The application is slated to be discussed at the March 26 Brick Township Planning Board meeting.

For Lisa Wheeler, whose father opened up Joe's Service Center on Mantoloking Road back in 1958, it's a matter of safety as well as profit.

"Until Wawa starts repairing cars, they are not going to put me out of business," she said. "But I'm very concerned about the stability of this community should that go in. It's not a competitive thing for me, it's a safety thing. I think it will negatively impact the traffic and the safety of our children."

Wawa is seeking several conditional use variances on the site, which is located in Brick's general business zone.

The zone prohibits the use of a gas station within 1,000 feet of an existing church or school, andwithin 2,000 feet of an existing gas station.

Wawa's proposed use is less than 1,000 feet from an existing church and less than 2,000 feet from two existing gas stations.

Toms River attorney Edward F. Liston Jr., who represents the business owners, says Mantoloking Road is no place for a large gas station and convenience store.

"They already have more than enough gas stations on Mantoloking Road," Liston said. "And Mantoloking Road at that location, it's going to be a traffic nightmare. That's why we are hiring a traffic expert to respond to their traffic experts."

Wawa's plans call a 5,589-square-foot convenience store and eight double-sided gas pumps under a lighted canopy.

"Basicallywewill be arguing that they do not qualify for a conditional use variance," Liston said.

The businesses includeWheeler's Liberty Gas and repair shop, Sandy's Exxon, Mike and Sons Repair Shop, Eagle Gas, Brick Town Sunoco, 7-Eleven and the Fat Cat Bake Shop.

Wheeler first learned of theWawa application at the beginning of January.

"We had heard it was a possibility prior to that," he said. "We got the legal notification in the beginning of January."

As soon as the notification came,Wheeler had her employees go door-to-door to neighborhoods in the surrounding areas.

"We felt itwas going to impact them," she said. "They were outraged."

"I'mnot just a business on the street, I'm also a resident. I have two teenage children who ride their bikes on the street."

Wheeler's father opened the repair shop back in 1958. The business is primarily a repair shop, but also sells gas.

"I can foresee us having to take the pumps out," Wheeler said. "Wawa sells gas at cost. I can't competewith sellingmy gas at cost."

"This is not how I wanted to celebrate our 50th anniversary," she said.

Wheeler is hoping to get as many people to the Planning Board meeting as possible. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. in the municipal complex on Chambers Bridge Road.

"We are trying to rally everybody to realizewhat is going on," she said. "Some people already think this has been approved. They don't realize what is being planned."