I wholeheartedly disagree with The Stop Costco Gas Coalition! Strongly disagree! If Costco is conforming to the law, then there is no reason to protest. There are many who will be happy to see Costco, and a related gas station, open in Wheaton.

I agree. Opposing this gas station is such a bloody waste of time. As the cheapest station in the area, it will be a big draw to the new Costco to offset their not being able to sell wine and liquor. Quite possibly one of the other gas stations in the area will close, bringing the number back to present. Back off, folks, let's get on with this new store.

Costco is playing by the rules. If the proposed station is a threat to health, then the mall itself is a threat to health. The health argument was not used to try to stop the construction of Costco, or of Dick's Sporting Goods, or of the full utilization of the mall. An economically healthy mall is good for Wheaton. If there is a human health threat to the neighborhood, let it first be documented with air emissions data. What if we find that the current air emissions are a threat to health; what do we do? Close the school? Close the swimming pool? Close the mall? Those are all questions that can't be addressed until there is sufficient air pollution emissions data. Let's stop the speculation and the scare campaign. Let's get some air pollution data that everyone can see so we can remove some of the emotion from this debate. The bottom line is that NOBODY wants to do anything to put Wheaton's children at risk. Nobody. Not elected officials, not the proponents of the gas station, not Costco. So, let's get some facts on the table as the special exemption process runs its course.

How can the queueing area for the gas station NOT be included in the site plan? The only way they can meet the 300' set-back is with Enron-style measurements.

Current air quality IS a problem! That is why we hear so many warnings during the summer about poor air quality. The government actually tells us to avoid being outside (especially children and elderly) when the air quality is poor. Let us not forget that we have an impact on our environment and our environment also impacts us. There ARE inherent risks with a lot of industries and people who live in close proximity suffer from REAL health problems. It is naive to think that a mega gas station which will pump 12 million gallons of gas versus an average gas station that pumps only 1.3 million gallons will have no impact on the health of the families that live less than 100 feet (that is the length of a tractor trailer!!) will not be impacted. There is data! And the placement of a mega gas station is a choice and we need to make responsible choices that do not place infants, children with special needs, pregnant women, elderly and others in harms way.

Ask any of the gas station owners (Spaids, Freestate) how they feel about it. As noted before, Wheaton has lost 7-8 stations in the last 15-20 years and its not like its been a burden to get gas. And as much as costco has a right to re-submit, so do the neighbors who oppose it. Costco is buying more ill will than good by continuing to push this. Add to the bad air quality concerns those of increased traffic in the Plaza. Hard enough to manuever in and out of there.

Doing business in MoCo
Step 1-attempt to invest in an area
Step 2-NIMBY
Step 3-attempt to satisfy NIMBY
Step 4-Have the county pass a law driven by NIMBY to prevent step 1
Step 5-Comply with law, have NIMBY get new law go back to step 2
Step 6-Give up and move your investment to VA where they iike jobs and communities with ammenities

MoCo -- Where the jobs/stores aren't

the same rubric holds true if you attempt to use market based wages (non-union) or dont kowtow to the check cashing/money laundering/drug money lobby (LEDC)

I want people who actually live near the mall to voice their concerns. If you don't live near here you have no idea what the traffic is going to be like. It is already a disaster and then during the holidays it's impossible. We have enough gas stations here already. Are you going to sit in traffic for an hour to get gas so you gave save a couple if dollars? I don't think so.

Ms Holly above is absolutely correct. COSTCO buyers will drive into the area & go back to their comfortable residences far away from the deteriorating, third-world-looking Wheaton/Kensington area where the bureaucrats are busy building sidewalks and bike lanes while the roads have enough bumps and quarries to rival those in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

The new proposed location puts the mega station within 1000 feet of a school for disbled kids. Some students there are medically fragile, on oxygen and can spend their entire school years at that school. The cars lining up for gas will be idling even closer to them. Please find a differnet spot in Wheaton. Use some common sense.

I live close to the Wheaton mall and I am a Costco shopper. I think the Costco gas station is a terrible idea. The community does not want it so why should it be forced on us? I have NEVER purchased Costco gas simply because the lines of idling cars at any location are far too long and not worth the effort. I doubt it will be any different at the Wheaton location. Also, the Costco in Brandywine has far more square footage outside the store than the Wheaton location and cars at Brandywine sit and idle for 20 minutes or more. There is not enough space for this activity , there is barely enough parking at this location. Traffic on the wheaton mall circle is atrocious as is. I am sure my trips there will decrease significantly so as not to have to deal with the traffic.

In live 5 minutes from Wheaton plaza and the Giant for 9 years and I have probably been to the mall and the Giant 10 times . I go to the Columbia Mall and Giant on my lunch break and it is much better. At Wheaton parking sucks and it is always congested. Wait until the gas station comes. Those who are for it are going to the first ones complaining. Watch.

There are several things to keep in mind about this station even if you leave aside the health issues (hard to do with 30-40 cars routinely idling near homes and schools). One, this station is as big as 6-8 normal stations, so it's not a "gain one, lose one" situation. Two, there are already between 25-30 stations in a couple mile radius, who needs more? Three, those stations stay open longer and have other amenities that Costco does not -- if they close due to Costco coming, the entire neighboring areas loses services. Four --only 25% of the area is expected to be Costco members, so 100% of use will suffer for "benefits" that only 25% at best will enjoy. Not a great tradeoff!

Let's just remember that this will be by far the busiest gas station in Montgomery County. My family has been shopping at Costco for fifteen years, but we maintain that Costco gas stations belong in industrial parks and next to highway interchanges - not 125 feet from single-family residences in a metro-served transit-oritented urban arts & entertainment district that Wheaton strives to be!

Please see uploaded above graphics and images that speak louder than words.

I went to the Panera at the mall today and the parking lot was virtually full, and the Costco, which uses the same parking lot, hasn't opened yet!

Mega-gas-stations pumping cheap gas are helping to accelerate Climate Change. Say hello to more frequent hurricanes, more intense floods and more droughts and heat waves.

The law currently says Costco may NOT put in a gas station, of any size much less the biggest one the whole county has ever seen. That's why Costco is applying for a Special Exception to bring in a gas station. Why would we give them an exception to set a precedent for building the largest gas station closer to houses and schools than Costco has ever built a gas station anywhere in the country? This is not a NIMBY issue, this is a NI-Anyones-BY issue.

A gas station will put out a lot of fumes, and toxic chemicals. If you sit on any porch anywhere close to a road, you can smell, feel and taste the exhaust of the cars. The Wheaton Mall is now a HUGE mall with less parking than it has ever had, and will be an absolute mess for shopping, especially around the Christmas holidays. Gas stations add to the toxic fumes, because of running cars, and the input of gas into a car, where other types of toxic fumes are emitted. The issue is not whether a gas station is a good idea in wheaton, it is whether it is a good idea so close to where people want to (and might I add, have been doing for many years) sit outside and enjoy family gatherings, cook outs, play, and basic property enjoyment without being concerned with added threats to health. It is not a difficult issue to understand, unless narcisistic thoughts are prominent. I am personally sorry that the gas station has even been suggested, as it leaves nearby neighborhoods wondering who the mall is really concerned about (or should I say 'what'). All money is not good money. And believe me, COSTCO will make enough money without a gas station to justify their long time residence on this site.

Money talks whether on or under the table. Toxic fumes? Not an issue for the County Executive and the Council. Increased traffic and perhaps even an escalation in crime? Not important. (Check the latest statistics on armed robbery in Wheaton). Putting other gas stations out of business? Incidental.

Not a betting person but would be willing to bet that WE THE PEOPLE will lose this one as they have so many others in a one-party County and State. However, a peculiar form of amnesia sets in during the political process. Can guarantee that after the storm has died down, come election time, the same people will be voted in regardless of their stands on the issues or their previous actions. The strains of kumbaya will echo in the air and those that opposed WE THE PEOPLE will win by comfortable margins.