After a denial, a lawsuit and years of debate, the Super Wawa proposed along the Voorhees and Berlin Township border has received final approval. For homebuyers, there's a bigger lesson hiding behind the Wawa sign.
It's official.
After a lengthy approval battle, the proposed Super Wawa on Route 73 near Cooper Road received final approval from the Voorhees Planning Board on October 14.
The approximately 5,915-square-foot Wawa with 12 gasoline fueling stations will sit on nearly five acres straddling Voorhees and Berlin Township. Berlin had previously approved its portion of the project. Plans call for access from both Route 73 and Cooper Road.
The project originally faced significant concern from nearby Voorhees residents, particularly over traffic on Cooper Road. After Voorhees did not approve the project in 2025, the developer sued. A settlement reached this year brought the proposal back before the Planning Board and included Cooper Road improvements intended to address traffic concerns.
There's a much bigger real estate lesson here than whether South Jersey needs another Wawa.
Know what's around the property you're buying.
When people tour a house, naturally they're thinking about the kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, yard and condition.
But I also want buyers looking outside.
What's behind the backyard?
Who owns the wooded parcel nearby?
What's across the street?
Is there vacant commercial land?
How is it zoned?
Are there pending development applications?
A beautiful stand of trees behind a house may feel permanent.
Unless the property is protected open space, it might not be.
And development isn't automatically negative.
Many buyers want to live close to shopping, restaurants, highways and everyday conveniences. Having a Wawa five minutes away could be a plus.
Having a busy commercial use directly next to the house may feel very different.
That's why “location” means much more than the name of the town.
Two houses in the same ZIP code can offer completely different living experiences depending on what's around them.
After 31 years in South Jersey real estate, this is one of those things I believe buyers should investigate before they're under contract, not discover after moving in.
Ask questions.
Look at the surrounding land.
Drive the neighborhood at different times of day.
Understand what is already approved or potentially developable nearby.
Your home inspection tells you what's happening inside the property you're buying.
A knowledgeable Realtor should also be helping you understand what's happening around it.
And the long-running Route 73 Wawa story is a pretty good reminder of why that matters.
Check out this article next
