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Health & Fitness

4th Annual No-Costco-Gas yard sale/pot luck/music/dance EXTRAVAGANZA!!!

The nation's 4th largest retailer is being matched toe-to-toe by a small group of residents

Entering its fifth year, Costco Wholesale's record-setting bid for a Special Exception to build a mega gas station in Wheaton, MD is facing stiff opposition - the nation's fourth largest corporate retailer is being matched toe-to-toe by a small group of capable and committed residents of Kensington Heights that need your help now!
 
The battle could have been won two years ago, when a Montgomery County bill for mandatory gas station setbacks came up for a vote, but the text was changed at the last minute to render the law essentially meaningless.
 
Another chance for victory came last summer, when Costco's own best-money-can-buy science showed that the mega gas station would create a pollution hotspot that can generate more than double EPA's maximum one-hour exposure levels of nitrogen oxides - a major source of air pollution and related health risk - just a mere 118 feet from single-family residences... but the sham affidavit motion filed by the community was denied and Costco was allowed to change its air quality story.
 
Fast forward to three weeks ago, with their air quality science still fatally flawed, Costco environmental experts changed their story again!  While residents took last year's decision in stride, the latest move has sparked outrage, as these new substantive changes to the science were introduced three months after Costco rested its case-in-chief, yet the community's motion to strike was again denied and Costco allowed to proceed.
 
The Westfield Wheaton Costco expansion project asked for and received a $4 million subsidy from Montgomery County, along with tax credits, additional zoning and environmental waivers and exemptions, to replace the Hecht's Department Store that closed after Macy's, a store owned by the same corporation, opened at the Wheaton Mall with the help of another $6 million from County taxpayers.  Westfield Group - one of the largest retail real estate property holders on Planet Earth based in Australia - received more Montgomery County Economic Development Fund dollars than whole industries combined.
 
In the 11th hour, Kensington Heights needs all the help it can get to continue this epic battle with billion-dollar bullies.

If you can't make our Extravaganza, please consider donating online at www.savekh.org (orange Donate button) or by check to KHCA Legal Defense Fund c/o Erl Houston, 10723 St. Paul Street, Kensington, MD 20895.

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