Council approves conditional rezoning for Wawa at 524 South College Road after debate over pedestrian connections and access

Wilmington City Council voted 5–2 on first reading to rezone 524 South College Road from ONI (Office & Institutional) to CBCD (Community Business Conditional District) to permit a Wawa convenience store with fuel pumps, then moved to waive a second reading later in the meeting.

City planning staff summarized the proposal as a redevelopment of a 1.76‑acre vacant furniture fair site across from UNCW; staff reported the planning commission recommended conditional approval (6–0) and identified conditions intended to preserve streetscape character, provide pedestrian orientation on the primary frontage and require a vehicular connection from the southern end of the property to the public portion of University Drive. Planner Haley Hopkins told council the project had received two variances earlier in 2026 for a specimen tree removal and a drive‑through setback.

Applicant counsel Sam Frank and Wawa project engineer Paymon Nadimi described site design choices including a right‑in/right‑out primary access on South College Road, a secondary connection to University Drive, 43 parking spaces and a “fly through” order pickup window the team said would not use a speaker or lighted menu. “We do our due diligence when we do our site selection,” Nadimi said, adding the operator expects to employ about 35–40 associates and offer made‑to‑order food that differs from the nearby fuel stations.

Council discussion centered on two disputed conditions. One, condition 7, had required a pedestrian interconnection with an adjacent property; council and the applicant agreed that the city should not impose an obligation that would bind a neighboring private owner. Councilmember Lyle moved to delete condition 7 and instead revise condition 4 to require the applicant to be in substantial compliance with the site plan and to include the southern connection to the public portion of University Drive. City staff and the applicant confirmed that if the applicant cannot secure the required legal access and construct the southern connection, the conditional rezoning would not be able to proceed.

Councilmembers also pressed the applicant on parking and community outreach. The civil engineer said a parking study supported the proposed 43 spaces and that any spaces built above code maximums would use pervious pavement. Councilmember Joiner and others noted nearby properties and asked why the site was suited for another fueling location; the applicant said Wawa’s store model and food offerings create a different service profile than smaller stations.

The council recorded a 5–2 vote in favor of first reading; the motion to waive second reading later passed by voice vote and was recorded as passing unanimously. Staff said the revised condition language would be prepared and filed with the clerk.

The vote allows the council to finalize formal ordinance language for adoption at the next procedural step; the rezoning will not proceed if the applicant cannot deliver the required access described in the condition.