The store alone is going to cause such traffic snafus in an already clogged area - I can't even imagine what kind of traffic the gas station would draw to Wheaton and the surrounding neighborhoods - let alone the damage from environmental issues. What about the all the other gas stations in the area - I am sure some of them will be out of business. I don't think it is fair for Costco members outside of the Wheaton ZIP to have any input to making a decision that is good for the Wheaton neighbor-hood. This is Costco hoping that they can get other members to vote for the gas station as long as it is not in their backyard. I am a Costco member and still did not
want this store because of the impact.

Anyone who has been at the mall on the days leading up to Christmas knows how hard it is to exit the Ring Road onto University Blvd. This will be every weekend once Costco opens. Costco + Gas is unimaginable.

Welcome to URBAN U.S.A. folks! I can do you one better! I wish it was 1864 and General Wheaton had his troops and HQ here. And all there was was a general store and Nairns' old dairy farm, etc. Ah, so nice and quiet (until the shooting started) --oh wait, that was the Revolutionary War! You asked for revitalization; with it comes growth. I feel for you about the traffic--that's why I order on line if I can't find a place to park--and believe me, I am a veteran shopper of Westfield Wheaton! But COSTCO will bring us jobs, jobs, and more jobs. Can you foresee any compromise at all? Can the gas station be moved to the other end of the parking lot?

Linda--Costco store is a done deal. It's being built. I would prefer a different store there, but I don't own the mall and choose the tenants. However, regarding the gas station, the public *does* get a say in that, because they are asking for something they are not entitled to. So, we all chime in, and the county makes a decision.

As I said before put the costco gas staion where the Free State gas station is on Veirs Mill road... Costco can buy that gas station out... They will be able to pump all the gas they want from that station... People will come over there even if its not next to there costco store because the gas will be cheap..It will also make the other gas stations in the area lower there price. Case solve... just pay me for my suggestion..

Gas is already cheap at Free State. Also down Univ. Blvd at the station across from Valero. I've never found Costco gas to be more than a penny or so different from these stations. WHY do we need gas to be sold by Costco, particularly when there is already cheap gas.

Matt Cameron: As a worker of the mall for the pass 20yrs.iI think the whole thing should not have not been put at the mall it is to small of a place,and we surely don't need to have gas that close to the mall OR the homes it is just WRONG.

Rev. Roberson; We all have came along way in our time but there is just some thing are better off lefted alone, Wheaton Plaza was great to shop,eat,meet ppl. now that it's westfeild it has gone to the dogs. WE have to put up with this what is wrong with you all if there is a meeting or a talk, get up and go tell what you think and feel don't allow others to take everything away from us are you nuts get up and fight for youself and your community.

I encourage everyone who disagrees with Costco's plan to keep pushing for the gas station to cancel their Costco membership. I am fine with a Costco, the increased traffic, urbanization of Wheaton, etc. I remember when Wheaton Plaza was open-aired and was a wonderful place. I don't love Westfield but I am not trying to stop progress. But I am saddened that Costco would care so little about the families that live next to the proposed gas station area. This is not an existing gas station and is not zoned for one. It should not be there.

The good news about the Costco letter to members is that Costco has considered other spaces in Montgomery County. The claim that the only place to put the biggest gas station in the County is 250 feet from the kiddie pool has been shown to be false. The bad news is that Costco, and probably their competitors, are planning to place gas stations of comparable impact throughout the County. Kensington Heights is only the first neighborhood in the Costco gas line of fire. The vast majority of the 300 to 400 Costco gas stations are a 1000 feet or more from from homes and schools. Now that Costco is advancing into urban areas, it wants to eliminate buffer zones completely. Their basic claim is that they should be allowed to put 12 and 15 million gallon a year gas stations in any commercial zone in America, without regard to the health and safety of the neighborhood. Should necessary but polluting facilities have to maintain a buffer zone between their operations and sensitive human populations? That is the issue in this case. Costco says No. Friends of a healthy environment will say Yes.

Usually NIMBY complaints are in response to things that are in the common good. For example, the government builds a highway that benefits most people, but those whose homes are in the right of way are impacted. I really can't see the public benefit of COSTCO's gas station.

Sean, would you want a mega-gas-station within 300 feet of your home, school, and/or recreation facility? Costco is going to only tell us what's right about their plan, not about what's known to be wrong.