Local Voices: How to Inform Yourself about the Costco Gas Station Special Exception

You can get on the county's mailing list to receive updates on Costco’s application, such as hearing date changes, by becoming a "Party of Record."

Planning Department Opposes Gas Station Zoning Text Amendment

The planning board will discuss the ZTA this Thursday.

The special exception process already in place sufficiently regulates gas stations in Montgomery County, the Planning Department staff wrote last week in a memo to the Planning Board on Zoning Text Amendment 12-07. ZTA 12-07 would prohibit the construction of gas stations that dispense more than 3.6 million gallons annually within 1,000 feet of “any public or private school or any  park, playground, or hospital, or other public use, or any use categorized as a cultural, entertainment and recreation use.” If the county council enacts the ZTA, Costco will not be able to build its proposed 16-pump gas station at Westfield Wheaton, next to the Kensington Heights neighborhood. The special exception process already underway for the Costco gas …

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WRAC Discusses Predatory Towing and Costco’s Gas Station Special Exception

Emotions occasionally ran high as two of Wheaton’s most controversial issues were discussed at the Wheaton Redevelopment Advisory Committee's May meeting.

In contrast to the April WRAC meeting, which saw a packed room including three members of the Montgomery County Council and numerous citizens, the May meeting was slightly more subdued, yet the topics discussed – predatory towing and Costco’s gas station special exception request – garnered a similar level of passionate debate and discussion. Rob Klein, manager of the Redevelopment Program for the Department of General Services, first offered a brief redevelopment report that included updates on Parking Lot 13 (where recent drill tests did not reveal any significant obstructions to construction) and completion by Lowe Enterprises of the sketch plan phase for the “Computer Building” located at 11141 Georgia Avenue. Klein also announced a …

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Despite Setback, Costco Persists With Gas Station Support Efforts

With the special exception process put on hold, Costco is asking its members to contact the Montgomery County Council to show support for the proposed gas station.

Costco is now using the email addresses of its members to appeal for their help in convincing the Montgomery County Council not to pass legislation that would block Costco's business interests in Wheaton. In early May, Costco sent letters to its store members in Montgomery County (and reportedly as far afield as northwest D.C. and Boyds, Md.), asking for support for the proposed Costco gas station at Westfield Wheaton. The letter asked members to attend the May 17 Planning Board hearing for Costco's special exception application and to send in a pre-paid postcard expressing their support. But now that the Montgomery County Board of Appeals has put the brakes on the special exception process, the May 17 date is out the window--and Costco …

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William

12:40 am on Tuesday, September 25, 2012

How can you be serious? It's a gas station. The Costco itself is opening. I think it's a great Idea and I live less than a stones throw away from where the gas station will be.   more ›

WRAC Vents Frustration, Disappointment to Councilmembers about Redevelopment Vote

Costco’s fueling station special exception also discussed.

Two of the larger issues facing the Wheaton community took center stage at Wednesday's Wheaton Redevelopment Advisory Committee meeting: the recently approved plans for Wheaton Redevelopment (in a straw vote by the Montgomery County Council) and the proposed special exception for a Costco gas station. Wheaton Redevelopment Echoing sentiments expressed during an April 10 Wheaton Urban District Advisory Committee meeting, WRAC members aired their frustration over the process that led to the Montgomery County Council tentatively approving a Wheaton Redevelopment Plan that includes a new M-NCPPC headquarters office building and a town square. Councilmember Hans Reimer shared his opinions and concerns about how things will move forward with …

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