By Sunayana Prabhu
TINTON FALLS – A new Wawa convenience store and gas station is set to join a major commercial development near Garden State Parkway southbound exit 105. The store, recently approved by the borough’s planning board, will be part of the Wayside Road project – a campus-style development by Stavola Realty Company that includes multiple commercial buildings now under construction.
The proposed Wawa is one component of a multibuilding development that spans both sides of Stavbro Lane and includes retail and warehouse spaces. Luke Pontier, attorney for Stavola, explained at a planning board meeting last month that the property was previously subdivided from a larger tract of land.
At the July 9 meeting, the developer received final site plan and subdivision approval for the Wawa portion of the property at 1810 and 1830 Wayside Road, which will consolidate the two lots into one 2.64-acre site. A 7-Eleven was initially proposed for the property when it first came before the board in 2021.
The proposed 6,372- square-foot store will feature a 5,280-square-foot fueling canopy with 12 fueling positions and operate around the clock. Michael Riddell, a Wawa representative, said the store would employ approximately 45 workers.
The applicant agreed to modifications, including removing Wawa logos and reducing building identification signs to two at the insistence of the board’s professional planner, Jennifer Beahm. The developer also agreed to eliminate 10 parking spaces and replace that area with landscaping. An additional crosswalk will provide for pedestrian accessibility to the storefront. Following the modifications, a total of 61 parking spaces were proposed at the Wawa property.
Traffic engineer Henry Nay confirmed minimal traffic impact, noting that the project has county approval for access to Wayside Road and connects internally to other campus buildings.
Christine Nazzaro Cofone, the project planner, said the changes align with the town’s master plan goals, adding that the project aims to “promote continued growth and development of the borough’s economic base” and strengthen the tax base through private investment.
The board conditionally approved the project with a final vote planned Aug. 13.
The article originally appeared in the August 14 – 20, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
