Barve: Gaithersburg should require Wawa to have EV chargers

Wawa supporters outnumber

opponents in emails to city

The City of Gaithersburg has received additional comment from residents via email on the proposed Wawa gas station and convenience store, which would be located at 405 S. Frederick Avenue. Ten emails have been forwarded by city staff to the Mayor and Council for their review tonight. The emails favor Wawa six to three, with an additional message from an elected official regarding electric vehicles.

Delegate Kumar Barve, who represents Gaithersburg in the Maryland General Assembly, urged the Mayor and Council in an email to require Wawa to have electric vehicle chargers. 

Six residents of Gaithersburg wrote to support the opening of a Wawa. "In all my experience, it has surpassed every establishment in both quantity and quality," one wrote.  A former Pennsylvania resident, whose state is the home base of the convenience store chain, wrote that she is "thrilled" that Wawa is finally coming to Montgomery County.

Three residents wrote in opposition to the store and gas station. A resident of Peony Drive said the Wawa will cause more accidents with students crossing the street, and that drivers already "block the box" at the intersection she uses to access MD 355 as it is. "I'll never get across the street if you add a Wawa," she predicted.