Wawa, Gas Station May Be Built Along Meadowlands Parkway

SECAUCUS, NJ — A developer is seeking to open a hotel, a Wawa and a gas station on the large empty lot along the Hackensack River off Meadowlands Parkway, Patch has learned.

This lot has sat empty for years. You might have noticed work crews at the site; they are currently doing soil remediation, said Mayor Mike Gonnelli.

The developer still needs approval from the Secaucus Planning Board and the Zoning Board, should they need any variances to build there. Prior administrations in Secaucus have rejected ideas for a gas station at any point along Meadowlands Parkway because of the drainage into the Hackensack River. There were concerns gas or oil could leak into the river. So it remains unclear if the gas station would be approved. Ironically, a Hess gasoline terminal actually used to be located there, but that was decades ago.

Gonnelli said he did not know the name of the hotel. However, he said he welcomed all three being built at that site: the Wawa, gas station and hotel.

"I think it would be very convenient," said the mayor. "The hotel would be a nice hotel, also. (In other words, not a budget motel)."

The Empire Hotel by Clarion used to be located just a short distance away, near Osprey Cove. However, they were shut down by the town after the property owner started converting the hotel into residential housing, without getting the town's approval.

"We don't need more housing," said Gonnelli this week.

The exact address of the site is 35 Meadowlands Parkway. The lot is owned by the Opper Group of Elmwood Park, which purchase the 7.5-acre site in 2017 for $2.5 million, NJ.com reported.