MoCo Council wants to shrink gas station setbacks from schools, playgrounds and steams

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Chevy Chase lake they built an apartment building right next to a gas station. People still chose to live there.

Love seeing Natali turn into a NIMBY now that it’s something that could be built in her district.

1. Yes, people can choose that if they want, just like people can choose to live next to an existing interstate highway. It is something else to build an interstate highway next to someone's home or school.
2. There is a difference between a regular gas station and a mega gas station. Not just the actual gasoline and its storage but also the number of cars idling throughout the day.

There is also a difference between opposing housing and opposing a mega gas station. We need housing. We really don't need a mega gas station.

So your argument is that after you move somewhere there shouldn’t be any changes that increase traffic? Sounds pretty NIMBY. If there isn’t demand for a gas station then Costco won’t build one.

No lol I'm arguing in favor of maintaining meaningful setbacks for mega gas stations from people's existing homes. Try to stay on topic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Disagree, it is not technical, they are changing the rules to make it easier to build mega gas stations where cars will be lining up and idling all day. They are saying the 500 ft, which is not that much btw, now only applies to the fuel dispensers, not the gas station as a whole. In a mega gas station that can be a significant difference. I would not want that behind my house. A regular gas station is one thing but a mega gas station is another.

"One of the signature compounds of concern is benzene a known human carcinogen," writes Professor Patrick N. Breysse in a March 5 letter. "A few studies have documented increased benzene and other compounds in the air around homes close to service stations. For example, a 2007 study in Greece concluded that gas stations are a significant contributor to the total benzene exposures and that this exposure increases leukemia risk from 3-21%. A more recent study in Spain found that elevated volatile pollutants (hexane and benzene) were detectable up to 75 m from service stations."
https://wjla.com/traffic/metro/will-montgomery-county-s-new-jumbo-gas-station-endanger-residents--15004

Surely at some point people have to step back and question auto-dependency. No one wants cars or infrastructure near them but we keep designing in a way that requires them.

There is no location in Montgomery County that "requires" a mega gas station.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think this is dumb because Costco should want to build its warehouse regardless of whether it can build the gas station. The Wheaton Costco is basically always packed, and Costco needs to keep its stock price buzzing, so building another location seems like something that Costco will do regardless. Obviously Costco is out-negotiating the MoCo council, which isn't surprising.

Where in White Oak is Costco planning to build?

+1. Costco wanted a gas station in Wheaton and lost that fight. Why doesn't the Council just say "no" to the gas station? Really having a tough time believing that Costco won't construct another store if it can't do the gas station.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Chevy Chase lake they built an apartment building right next to a gas station. People still chose to live there.

Love seeing Natali turn into a NIMBY now that it’s something that could be built in her district.

1. Yes, people can choose that if they want, just like people can choose to live next to an existing interstate highway. It is something else to build an interstate highway next to someone's home or school.
2. There is a difference between a regular gas station and a mega gas station. Not just the actual gasoline and its storage but also the number of cars idling throughout the day.

There is also a difference between opposing housing and opposing a mega gas station. We need housing. We really don't need a mega gas station.

So your argument is that after you move somewhere there shouldn’t be any changes that increase traffic? Sounds pretty NIMBY. If there isn’t demand for a gas station then Costco won’t build one.

No lol I'm arguing in favor of maintaining meaningful setbacks for mega gas stations from people's existing homes. Try to stay on topic.

You’re just like the people who worry about shadows and obstructed views in cities. NIMBY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:yet we can have weed stores on every corner, and no one says boo.

There are def vape and dispensary regulations, and communities do push back as needed. Maybe you need to say "boo" in your own community.

[Anonymous]

Damn I wish I had a mega gas station at my Costco. Mine is always backed up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They want to change the rules for the County so Costco can build a mega gas station in White Oak.
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/Resources/Files/20250506_2A.pdf

Mink, Jawando and Friedson are pushing this change. Fani-Gonzalez introduced an amendment to retain more setbacks, but the committee blocked it.

Historically, Costco tried to threaten not to build a warehouse in Wheaton unless they allowed them to build the mega gas station. The community fought back and blocked the gas station. Costco still built the warehouse.

We have enough gas stations in MoCo and do not need mega gas stations next to our kids and our homes.

We need density, not sprawl. That means putting commercial properties next to residential lots and schools. This is what density is about. Accept it and stop being an obstacle to smart growth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Disagree, it is not technical, they are changing the rules to make it easier to build mega gas stations where cars will be lining up and idling all day. They are saying the 500 ft, which is not that much btw, now only applies to the fuel dispensers, not the gas station as a whole. In a mega gas station that can be a significant difference. I would not want that behind my house. A regular gas station is one thing but a mega gas station is another.

"One of the signature compounds of concern is benzene a known human carcinogen," writes Professor Patrick N. Breysse in a March 5 letter. "A few studies have documented increased benzene and other compounds in the air around homes close to service stations. For example, a 2007 study in Greece concluded that gas stations are a significant contributor to the total benzene exposures and that this exposure increases leukemia risk from 3-21%. A more recent study in Spain found that elevated volatile pollutants (hexane and benzene) were detectable up to 75 m from service stations."
https://wjla.com/traffic/metro/will-montgomery-county-s-new-jumbo-gas-station-endanger-residents--15004

OK, let's compromise. So people aren't pumping gas next to homes, let's say those pumps need to be 500 feet away, well over a football field, and twice the distance where elevated levels of hexane and benzene were found.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Disagree, it is not technical, they are changing the rules to make it easier to build mega gas stations where cars will be lining up and idling all day. They are saying the 500 ft, which is not that much btw, now only applies to the fuel dispensers, not the gas station as a whole. In a mega gas station that can be a significant difference. I would not want that behind my house. A regular gas station is one thing but a mega gas station is another.

"One of the signature compounds of concern is benzene a known human carcinogen," writes Professor Patrick N. Breysse in a March 5 letter. "A few studies have documented increased benzene and other compounds in the air around homes close to service stations. For example, a 2007 study in Greece concluded that gas stations are a significant contributor to the total benzene exposures and that this exposure increases leukemia risk from 3-21%. A more recent study in Spain found that elevated volatile pollutants (hexane and benzene) were detectable up to 75 m from service stations."
https://wjla.com/traffic/metro/will-montgomery-county-s-new-jumbo-gas-station-endanger-residents--15004

OK, let's compromise. So people aren't pumping gas next to homes, let's say those pumps need to be 500 feet away, well over a football field, and twice the distance where elevated levels of hexane and benzene were found.

Have you seen the lines to go to a Costco gas station?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They want to change the rules for the County so Costco can build a mega gas station in White Oak.
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/Resources/Files/20250506_2A.pdf

Mink, Jawando and Friedson are pushing this change. Fani-Gonzalez introduced an amendment to retain more setbacks, but the committee blocked it.

Historically, Costco tried to threaten not to build a warehouse in Wheaton unless they allowed them to build the mega gas station. The community fought back and blocked the gas station. Costco still built the warehouse.

We have enough gas stations in MoCo and do not need mega gas stations next to our kids and our homes.

We need density, not sprawl. That means putting commercial properties next to residential lots and schools. This is what density is about. Accept it and stop being an obstacle to smart growth.

It's funny how high density urban areas don't tend to have mega gas stations. Why is that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Damn I wish I had a mega gas station at my Costco. Mine is always backed up.

That's exactly why you'd flip out if it was next to your home or kids' school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Disagree, it is not technical, they are changing the rules to make it easier to build mega gas stations where cars will be lining up and idling all day. They are saying the 500 ft, which is not that much btw, now only applies to the fuel dispensers, not the gas station as a whole. In a mega gas station that can be a significant difference. I would not want that behind my house. A regular gas station is one thing but a mega gas station is another.

"One of the signature compounds of concern is benzene a known human carcinogen," writes Professor Patrick N. Breysse in a March 5 letter. "A few studies have documented increased benzene and other compounds in the air around homes close to service stations. For example, a 2007 study in Greece concluded that gas stations are a significant contributor to the total benzene exposures and that this exposure increases leukemia risk from 3-21%. A more recent study in Spain found that elevated volatile pollutants (hexane and benzene) were detectable up to 75 m from service stations."
https://wjla.com/traffic/metro/will-montgomery-county-s-new-jumbo-gas-station-endanger-residents--15004

OK, let's compromise. So people aren't pumping gas next to homes, let's say those pumps need to be 500 feet away, well over a football field, and twice the distance where elevated levels of hexane and benzene were found.

Have you seen the lines to go to a Costco gas station?

That's because people won't flinch over spending $3 for some guac at Chipotle (pro-tip: buy a container at the grocery store for not that much more), but will gladly waste 15 minutes of their lives to wait in line to save $1 on filling up gas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yawn. Gas stations are fine.

The vapors are actually not fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They want to change the rules for the County so Costco can build a mega gas station in White Oak.
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/Resources/Files/20250506_2A.pdf

Mink, Jawando and Friedson are pushing this change. Fani-Gonzalez introduced an amendment to retain more setbacks, but the committee blocked it.

Historically, Costco tried to threaten not to build a warehouse in Wheaton unless they allowed them to build the mega gas station. The community fought back and blocked the gas station. Costco still built the warehouse.

We have enough gas stations in MoCo and do not need mega gas stations next to our kids and our homes.

We need density, not sprawl. That means putting commercial properties next to residential lots and schools. This is what density is about. Accept it and stop being an obstacle to smart growth.

It's funny how high density urban areas don't tend to have mega gas stations. Why is that?

If White Oak were a high density urban area then Costco wouldn’t be trying to build a gas station there. Let landowners and the market determine the best use of land. It’s funny how the YIMBYs took that position when it was Friedson’s attainable housing plan at stake but now you’re all NIMBYs because you don’t like the proposed land use.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only a sociopath would think this is okay. You really have to just not care about kids to allow them to put something like this next to a school, Jfc. Anything for those political donations I guess.

and yet we're apparently totally fine with pot dealers opening store fronts next to schools