Mega gas station row? Wawa aims to challenge Sheetz in Rockhill.

Just across the street from one mega gas station, there could soon be another one. Wawa has cleared a hurdle with the Stafford County Planning Commission, which recommended approval for a proffer amendment and conditional use permit that would clear the way for a third Wawa gas station on Garrisonville Road in North Stafford.

• The gas station would have 20 pumps and would be located at the corner of Garrisonville Road and Tech Parkway, in the county's Rockhill District.
• A Sheetz gas station across the street opened in 2016 with half the number of pumps proposed for the new Wawa store.
• With the Stafford County Planning Commission unanimous approval, now it will be up to the Board of Supervisors to make the final decision to approve or deny the new gas station next month.

The new gas station will sit on a portion of a six-acre plot of land designated for commercial development.

• A two-story, 29,750 square feet building to be used for office or retail will build behind the gas station.

Developers aim to amend plans from 2008 that called for building a bank with drive-through where the Wawa would sit.

• They also reduced the size of the office building, which was originally planned for 44,590 square feet.

The developers have proffered improvements to the intersection of Garrisonville Road and Tech Parkway.

• They will add new crosswalks across Tech Parkway.
• They'll petition VDOT for a new crosswalk signal in front of the Wawa (one exists in front of Sheetz, so you can walk across with a signal but can't walk back).
• Add a new left-turn lane on Furnace Road for drivers turning from Furnace onto Garrisonville Road.
• The new Wawa is expected to generate 1,962 vehicle trips per day and about $2 million in annual tax revenue for county coffers.

Drivers would be able to get into the gas station by entrances on Tech Parkway and Garrisonville Road.

• The entrance on Garrisonville Road will be a right-turn-in only.

Owners of the adjacent Barley Naked Brewery asked if the Wawa could either not allow fuel trucks to deliver gas between 5 and 9 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays, or plant a dense line of evergreen trees to block their customers' the view of the trucks.

• A Wawa official told the Planning Commission they liked the idea of planting the trees better than limiting fuel delivery hours.

"Before all my constituents say just another gas station...we’ve had conversations about how to bring more businesses to the district," said Rockhill Planning Commissioner Crystal Vanuch.

• With the addition of a second mega gas station, it's possible a new fast-food restaurant would be interested in building on a vacant lot across the street at Sheetz, said Vanuch.

Wawa operates 87 stores in Virginia and also has stores in Deleware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, and Florida.