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Powhatan County planning commission approves Wawa convenience store design, backs option one
Summary
On April 7, 2026 the Powhatan County Planning Commission approved a pattern-book design for a proposed Wawa convenience store at 1901 Anderson Highway, endorsing staff’s option one by a 5-0 roll-call vote. A resident urged the county to require a full sidewalk and raised concerns about a planned Dominion Energy transmission project.
POWHATAN COUNTY, Va. — The Powhatan County Planning Commission voted unanimously April 7 to approve the pattern-book design for a proposed Wawa convenience store at 1901 Anderson Highway, endorsing staff’s recommended corner-feature design (option one). The approval came after a presentation from county planning staff and brief board discussion about design details and a recusal question.
Planner Charity Cole presented the application, describing the project as an approximately 6,000-square-foot convenience store with a drive‑through pickup window and eight fueling stations, located on a five‑acre parcel zoned Commerce Center and designated Gateway Business in the countywide plan. “The staff has evaluated the architecture and elevations. They are consistent with the comprehensive plan countywide development guide book and the requirements in the zoning ordinance,” Cole said.
Commission discussion focused on which corner feature best meets the ordinance’s requirement for a prominent corner element. Supporters of option one said its shorter, tower-like material accent better draws the eye to the corner; others said either option would be acceptable. A commissioner advised that because a family previously owned the corner property, they did not need to recuse themselves because the family had not owned it since June of last year.
A member of the public, Carl Schwenderman of 1727 Terresa Lane, had urged the commission during public comments to require a continuous 5‑foot sidewalk (or a 10‑foot asphalt path) along Route 60 at the site to match the county’s approved trails master plan. Schwenderman also said he had learned that Dominion Energy plans to consolidate two high‑voltage lines onto a single monopole corridor through the county and asked whether the county could request a trail within that easement; the commission did not take action on that question during the meeting.
A motion to approve the Wawa pattern book as presented (option one) passed on roll call: Commissioners Hall, Bowen, Wynol, Hughes and Hatcher each voted yes, resulting in a 5‑0 vote.
The commission’s approval is for the pattern-book design only and carries design-level consent; any building permits, site-plan approvals, or required right‑of‑way improvements remain subject to subsequent review and approvals.
