The following residents of Locks Road communities in Martin County FL and other Martin County residents hereby submit this petition in OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED WAWA to be located at the corner of Kanner Highway and Locks Road in Martin County, FL.  We urge the Growth Management Department and Sarah Heard along with all Martin County Commissioners to reject this proposed WAWA for the reasons outlined below.

** Background:**

Concerned residents of the Locks Road communities in Stuart, Florida, are strongly opposed to the proposed development of a Wawa at the corner of Locks Road and Kanner Highway. Our neighborhood is comprised of over 1,000 homes, and location for Wawa poses significant added risk to an already inadequate design at this intersection.  Further, environmental and municipal codes have been bypassed to permit this project to move forward.  This commercial establishment is not only unnecessary but also detrimental to the well-being of our community.

**Call to Action:**

We respectfully urge the Growth Management Department and the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) to halt the proposed construction of the Wawa gas station. We request that the needs and concerns of the local residents be given priority over commercial interests and that alternative solutions be sought that better align with the character and integrity of our neighborhood.

**Reasons for Opposition:**

1.**Violation of Martin County Code:**  Regarding landscape buffers, the Land Development Code is clear.  According to 4.663.B, "It is the intent of this provision to encourage the preservation of existing vegetation for use in buffers as opposed to clearing and replanting designed landscapes."  Construction of the proposed bioswale will require clearing of all existing vegetation, excavation, and replacement with new designed landscape.  Such development specifically violates the intent of the Martin County Land Development Code.  But, project approved.

2. **Traffic Gridlock:**  The Locks Road intersection at Kanner is already quite problematic.  Vehicles queue up for half a mile at times preventing some residents from even turning out of their development or their driveway.  There is a curve at the intersection preventing adequate sightlines to pull into traffic.  Vehicles unintentionally veer into the right turn lane of Savannah Estates.  School buses pickup and drop off here, the fire station further up Locks Road has to enter opposing traffic to get through the intersection, and Wawa wants to add an entrance and exit in this same location!  A traffic study was conducted and confirms this yet the project was approved to continue.

3. **Impact on Community Safety:** The presence of a Wawa gas station would attract increased traffic from the nearby highway, bringing in non-residents and potentially leading to a rise in crime rates and other safety concerns. Our neighborhood is currently a quiet and safe residential area, and we fear this development would compromise that safety.

4. **Preservation of Residential Character:** Our community is not opposed to progress, but we believe that development should be in harmony with the existing character of the neighborhood. The Wawa gas station does not fit within the residential nature of our area and would disrupt the tranquil environment that we cherish.  Debris and noise levels will be disruptive.

5. **Redundancy of Services:** The proposed Wawa would be the sixth gas station within a one-mile radius of our community. The area is already well-serviced by existing gas stations, making the addition of another entirely redundant

**Conclusion:**

We, the undersigned, strongly oppose the development of a Wawa gas station on the corner of Locks Road and Kanner Highway. We request that the Growth Management Department and the BOCC reconsider this proposal in light of the valid concerns of the local residents. We believe that with careful consideration and community input, a more suitable alternative can be found that benefits everyone involved.

Funding Request:

I apologize for asking but it is costing money for signs and other efforts to oppose this Wawa.  

DONATE AT GO FUND ME AT: https://gofund.me/83ce8e50    Any left over funding wlll be donated to the United Way of Martin County and a full accounting will be available upon request at the conclusion of the activities.

Donations below on this page do not go to the computer they go to support change.org services  - donations are encouraged here also but they do not fund our local efforts.

Any questions or concerns may be sent to stopwawaat34997@gmail.com