Costco to change gas station plans after Montgomery vote (Monkey County Maryland)

Washington Examiner ^ | 7/24/2012

[markomalley]

The Montgomery County Council unanimously voted Tuesday to tighten gas station zoning restrictions, effectively blocking Costco's highly disputed plans to build a station in Wheaton -- at least for now.

The decision bans large gas stations from locating within 300 feet of public or private spaces like schools and playgrounds. That means the warehouse retailer won't be allowed to build a large gas station near a community swimming pool and tennis court. The store, under construction at the Westfield Wheaton Mall, is still expected to open in October.

"Our current plan does not comply with the zoning text amendment as approved today," said Erich Brann, Costco's director of real estate development. "We are going to be looking at our plans closely and are hopeful that we can make it work. We will need to resubmit our application for a special exception to move forward."

County Executive Ike Leggett previously pushed through a $4 million subsidy to convince the retail giant to open a store in Montgomery County.

Before Tuesday's vote, council members were adamant the legislation was not trying to block Costco specifically. Rather, several members said the ban was to protect neighborhoods from large stations that are becoming more common and may pose health risks.

"We've got data that shows there's an increase risk of cancer from exposure to benzene and other things [at these stations]," Councilman Marc Elrich said before the vote. "I don't know how many cases of cancer are going to be caused. I don't need to find out how many are going to be caused. I don't need to use a neighborhood as a guinea pig and discover later on down the road this was not a particularly bright idea for us to have done."

The original zoning amendment attempted to ban gas stations that sell more than 3.6 million gallons of gasoline a year within 1,000 feet of homes and public spaces. But Elrich proposed shortening the distance to 300 feet as a compromise to help it pass.

"The goal would have been better achieved with a 1,000-foot buffer," said Councilwoman Valerie Ervin, who co-sponsored the amendment. "But ... it's legislation and it requires the majority of the council to sign off. ... But it seems to me the community still comes out ahead."

Leggett commended the compromise but said he's not sure how valid the health concerns are.

"[Elrich is] making an assumption that there has been a demonstrated health assessment made that it is in some way contrary to people's health," Leggett said. "But if it was clear, I think I would have very well supported it. But that's not clear."

Instead, Leggett argued the council should stay out of the issue. He said Costco should go through the typical government channels to assess the risks and decide whether it's OK to build.

Kenmont Swim & Tennis Club, which operates the nearby pool and tennis courts, declined to comment.

[visualops]

Bethesda used to be a wonderful town. We’d ride our bikes and go for ice cream or penny candy at the corner store. I think it was a great place to grow up. Of course, at that time, if you went out River Road past 5 miles out from the DC line it was country...and lots of corn and tobacco.

[gusopol3]

I looked up Montgomery Ward on Wikipedia, their explanation is as consistent with what you say as with any other theory.

“The brand name of the store became embedded in the popular American consciousness and was often called by the nickname Monkey Ward, both affectionately and derisively.”

I really don’t know that I heard that contraction much around Philadelphia, where there is also a Montgomery County. However, the store itself wasn’t a presence in Philly, the way it apparently had been in Baltimore

“The Baltimore Montgomery Ward Warehouse and Retail Store was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.”

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

I wonder if Kenmont Swim and Tennis club is a major political donor to council members.

Maryland “Freak State” PING!

[Albion Wilde]

I wonder where/how “monkey “ became a nickname for “Montgomery?”

It's because of the old-time Maryland accent, which has to be heard to be believed. It's almost impossible to write in our alphabet; but here are some approximations:

Maryland = Merlin
County = Cowny (sometimes written Canny)
House = Hayuce
Files = falls
Out = ayoud
Moon = mewn
Ground = graynd
Down = dayn
Store = stewr
Bel Air = Blair
Montgomery = Mgummy (which has become tricked up to become Monkey)

[Albion Wilde]

PS

ironing = arnin (You can hear an example of this in John Travolta’s performance of Edna Turnblad in the 2007 movie Hairspray)

[gusopol3]

Thanks, that’s great.