The argument that "you can't prove it won't harm us," is frivolous. Every attorney and anyone familiar with the rules of logic know that a negative such as that is practically impossible to prove. The real agument is that people who live nearby just don't like the idea of long queues of noisy automobiles within visual range and earshot of their homes. To make that annoyance more acceptable, I suggest that Costco offer those residents a permanent 40 percent discount on all of their gasoline purchases at its proposed station.

The problem with granting a special exception for Costco gas at Wheaton is that it doesn't meet the legal standard for it. Costco must show a neighborhood need, defined by courts to be that “expedient, reasonably convenient and useful to the public." Well, Costco acknowledges that it will sell gas only to its members, not to the public. In addition, there are already 27 gas stations within a 7-minute drive, and these existing stations offer a full line-up of fuel, including mid-grade and ultralow sulfur diesel, which Costco does not offer. Costco cannot meet the legal standard here.

If they do not plan to sell to the public, they should not get the special exemption. We have a sufficient number of gas stations in that local.

Bruce Shulman - I do NOT live in Kensington Heights and I do NOT want the station. Speak to me so you will not have to repeat your statement that such individuals do not exist.

These types of problems basically boil down to people having an emotional fear of something. That group opposes whatever project is proposed. Therefore, the proponents must submit studies and answer questions asked by the opponents. In the case of the gas station Costco has submitted extensive information negating claims concerning air, water and noise pollution and how it intends to mitigate possible effects from the gas station's presence. However, the opponents will never be satisfied with ANY explanation, no matter how clear, principally because they are responding to feelings - their emotions and fear. The positions taken at last evening's meeting amply demonstrate that both sides want what they want and are not about to draw back. Those opposed want everything to be "perfect" - i.e., no gas station at all adjacent to the new Costco. However, there is nothing perfect in this world.

I will appreciate DC Guy advising where he lives. If it is in DC he really should not participate. if he lives in any of the nearby Maryland suburbs, then he has an interest.

Finally, I do not know where the opponents are getting their statistics. I only count six gas stations located near Westfield Shopping Center - two on Viers Mill Road, one at Georgia Ave and University Blvd., one at Georgia Ave and Blueridge Ave. and two on University Blvd near the PEPCO substation. I will appreciate someone clarifying the claimed number of gas stations within the vicinity.

Mr. Shulman, the opponents are getting their statistics from the proponents--the number of gas stations comes from the October 2010 study prepared by Thomas Point Associates for Costco.

A big concern I have is that people behave irrationally when it comes to finding cheap gas. If I heard you correctly, you travel from Kemp Mill to the Costco in Beltsville to get gas, and I suggest that (without even getting to the "carbon footprint" of this behavior) you burn more in fuel getting there than you save versus buying locally. Costco gas will attract added traffic (including from Chevy Chase, Bethesda, and even DC) in a hunt for cheap gas. That added traffic counterbalances whatever expediency, convenience, or usefulness might be added by a 28th gas station in the area.

1. The proposed gas station will require zoning change
2. The proposed gas station is not consistent with the sector plan
3. The impact of the gas station on the surrounding environment will be worse that it is now. No matter what Bruce Shulman thinks, this gas station will have a negative impact regrdless of the severity.
4. There is absolutely no need for another gas station in the area
5. Residents in the area are all for smart growth and sustainable developments. That is why no one is opposing the Safeway, Sears, Costco, the new apartments near Bally’s, the New Down plans, the proposed apartment on Burbidge, etc.
6. No matter what Bruce Shulman says, he would not like to live near a gas station. And as a matter of fact not many people would.

So Bruce, correct me if I am wrong in my assumption as stated in point 6, would you like to live within 200ft of a mega gas station?

There is no reason to put a gas station there, save that Costco wants to. I am a resident of Wheaton (not Kensington Heights, thank you) and am against giving them a special exemption for a station. They already got $4 million of our tax dollars to help build their store. There are plenty of gas stations around. It's not irrational or emotional to oppose building another one there, especially in a location that close to people's homes.

As much as I like Costco, I don't think they should build any gas station near a residential area, let alone a mega one. The surrounding properties' value will drop if they put a gas station there, since no one will prefer to live near one. And saying there is no environmental impact due to idling cars and chemicals is like saying there is no correlation between exhaust gas and global warming.

"He also said Costco prefers not to locate stations across the street from stores because that can hamper the company's ability to respond to an emergency."
I doubt the argument is valid. Costco at Columbia has its gas station across street, albeit a small street.

The saddest part of all this is that the local civic groups and politicians who were so eager to get a Costco were naive enough to think that a multinational conglomerate such as Costco would ever stop pushing for their gas station, much less engage with the community. It's a simple matter of numbers. Costco has plenty of full time employees and consultants to throw at this and the opposition doesn't. Also, what are local Wheatonians going to do when our local gas stations, and their mechanics, go out of business? Even if one becomes a member, is Costco going to repair our vehicles?

If Mr. Shulman wants a Costco gas station so badly, then let's put it near his home and let him choke on the fumes. Let's see if he reacts principally out of fear or emotion. Let's see if he is still eager to exchange convenience for gridlock, pollution and plummeting home values. Unfortunately, we won't get that chance because the Costco is being built in Wheaton, not Kemp Mill. A densely populated area such a Wheaton is just as inappropriate an area in which to build a Costco as is Kemp Mill. Any protestations by Mr. Shulman to the contrary will be as hollow as Costco's assertion that placing their pumps elsewhere can hamper the company's ability to respond to an emergency.

If people are reacting out of "emotion" and "fear", that is due largely to the dearth of information that has been made available about this project. SIlverman and the County Council knew there wasn't enough information about this project before the last elections. They acknowledged this is in pre-election voters' forums I attended. Very few people even knew that the $4M was for Westfield, not Costco, much less than that it was solely to build a second story. The County kept it as quiet as possible.

Hans Reimer, who wound up supporting the $4M boondoggle, stated in a Kensington voter's forum that I attended, "The best thing to do with Wheaton Westfield is to bulldoze it." How were we to know that he would do such a dramatic about face? In this case, bad information is even worse than no information.

Where are the traffic studies? The only traffic study, released afte the fact, was prepared by Costco. A comprehensive traffic study for a proposed Fauquier County Costco estimated it would generate 17,000 to 22,000 daily individual vehicle trips daily! This is in addition to all the tractor trailers that will be arriving daily. Even if half that much traffic is generated, gridlock in downtown Wheaton will become permanent. If I wanted to live in Tysons Corner, I would moved there years ago.

I live about a mile from Westfield Shoppingtown and have spoken with dozens of people who, as the real story unfolds, have replaced their fear with anger. I can only hope that the silent majority coalesces into a viable political force before Wheaton is totally destroyed.

SWN - Why do you suggest that Wheaton will be destroyed?

My compliments to Dan Shereiko of KHCA on the videotape of his 10/25 presentation. This is a mega gas station that should be placed in an industrial park, not next to a residential community. This gas station will bring lots of traffic and lots of noise (7 days a week) . Georgia Avenue and University Blvd are going to be a mess. As a secondary affect, this gas station will increase pollution and put local gas stations out of business (probably impacting those as far away as Kensington and Glenmont). Lastly, the gas station will significantly lower property values of local homeowners. My opinion.......the mega gas station is a big win for Costco and a big lose for the community.

The exact same gas station (not Costco) is now proposed immediately across the street from my home in North Carolina. I agree that the benefits/injuries of such a gas station are terribly unbalanced, with all of the benefits accruing to the corporate interests and all of the injuries accruing to nearby residents. Here, the oil company is offering to provide a landscaping shield in my front yard. Should I agree to that, and what, then, when existing health issues worsen and new ones emerge?