Royal Farms debate

I have been attending two days of appeals court hearings on the proposed Royal Farms store on Mt. Carmel Road in Hereford.  This picture "kinda sorta" shows the exterior.  The Hereford Community Association asked for architectural details (a porch across the entire front) that are consistent with the Hereford area. It would be located on the Burton property which is next to the Graul's store.

It has been very interesting to hear the attorneys presenting their case and the rebuttal. Although the project had the overwhelming support of the Hereford Community Association, the Sparks-Glencoe Community Association (located 5-6 miles away from the site) decided to appeal. They have deep pockets and generally oppose all new development.

So far, only the plaintiffs have presented their case.  The first day of the hearing before the three judge panel (volunteers, I understand) dwelled on the environmental impact of the project.  Although it already has been approved by the Baltimore County government, they are arguing that the potential for environmental damage is great. Although Royal Farms is promising to build with double-lined tanks and keep the rain water on the property, they don't seem to care.  Some of the testimony was so scary that it left us shaking our heads whether any gas station should be built anywhere...and whether the Exxon should be closed immediately.

The second day of the hearing was a trip down memory lane and was based, in part, on this book "From Marble Hill to Maryland Line".  The testimony consisted of pictures taken of the historic ("old") houses in the Hereford area and a bucolic recitation of the wonders of those old houses. Significantly missing from the testimony was any mention of the modern buildings in Hereford including the Evans Funeral Home, the new veterinary hospital, the Baltimore County Public Library building, the large expansion of the Hereford High School, and the new buildings constructed on the south side of Mt. Carmel Road.  It also failed to mention the large addition to the rear of the Hereford Fire Hall (Summit Manor).  To me, the witness was trapped in some sort of time warp and refused to see what is happening now.

We heard from additional witnesses including the owner of Michael's Pizzeria who lives in Pennsylvania and thinks his business will be hurt (Royal Farms doesn't sell pizza, by the way).  Another witness produced pictures of the Exxon gas station from 4pm until 6pm that she couldn't remember who asked her to shoot the pictures and stopped by for only a few seconds.  They were supposed to show that the Exxon gas station isn't busy at that hour but that isn't surprising since they charge about 15 to 20 cents more than anybody else.

The last witness, Ken Bullen Jr., the manager of the Graul's Supermarket, was in my view the most compelling because he lives behind the Subway building on Mt. Carmel Road and had severe problems with a drain pipe that fed onto his property from Mt. Carmel Road.  It took three years, but the county government eventually ordered changes made by the Subway building owner.  He also has concerns about runoff from the Royal Farms project, but they have maintained that there project will trap all of the rain water on the project.

I'm still waiting for my opportunity to testify in support of the Royal Farms project.  It really upsets me that Exxon charges so much more than the other gas stations.

(Addendum:  the appeals judges approved construction of the Royal Farms project, but it is expected to be appealed again.)