 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Costco Gas Station in Wheaton Would Contaminate Air and Water, Encourage Long-Distance Driving
From Kensington Heights Civic Association—The Sierra Club is committed to smart growth and transit-oriented development (TOD) and those principles are applied in Wheaton where the Metro station and associated bus lines are in the center of the business district, easily accessible for most residents. However, Costco and Westfield propose to build a 16-pump gas station at the rear of the mall, directly adjacent to the surrounding homes of the Kensington Heights Civic Association (KHCA).
Costco and Westfield have requested a Special Exemption for the proposed gas station. The KHCA vehemently opposes the station at its proposed location and believes that Costco cannot show that it meets the zoning requirement that there must be a "need" for the gas station there. In addition to the cars at the pump, the station is designed to accommodate 32 idling cars, potentially as close as 200 feet to surrounding homes and a large outdoor pool and tennis facility. Emissions from the cars will contaminate the air and the runoff from the gas station will create a risk of contamination of the surrounding area drained by streams in the Rock Creek and Sligo creek watersheds. Creating a new "mega" station that encourages customers to drive long distances to buy gas less than half a mile from the Metro makes a mockery of TOD. Especially since there are already 30 other stations within a few minutes drive.
KHCA has already absorbed several increases in zoning density because the residents of the projected housing units are expected to walk to Metro but the approval of the proposed Costco gas station contradicts the premises on which that density was granted. KHCA strongly opposes the Special Exception request.
For more information, see Diane Cameron's blog, contact the DC Sierra Club Treasurer Karen Cordry, or visit the KHCA website.
Habitat Protection News
Proposed Megachurch in Olney Threatens Forests and Waterways. From the Audubon Naturalist Society e-News—ANS and partners continue working to prevent a proposal by the First Baptist Church of Wheaton to build a 46,500-square-foot structure and a parking lot for 200 cars on Emory Church Road in Olney, MD. The site includes eight acres of forest, including 46 specimen trees. (One is an American chestnut.) Even more disturbing is the fact that the site contains the headwaters of the Northwest Branch and significant wetlands. The Olney Master Plan recommends against extending sewer to this site. This oversized project cannot be built without a grinder pump sewer extension and is the direct result of Council and Planning Board disregard for the Master Plan. To learn more and get involved, contact Dolores Milmoe at the Audubon Naturalist Society
Chevy Chase Golf Club Drops Use of Toxic Herbicide. By Jane Huff—In a recent announcement, Chevy Chase Golf Club officials stated that they would not use methyl bromide, which the EPA has banned in stages, with a complete ban going into effect in 2013. Chevy Chevy Golf Club deserves thanks for doing the right thing! Neighbors of the Golf Club and members of several local environmental organizations urged the club not to use this highly toxic herbicide on their greens to remove weeds. In addition to methyl bromide's fumigant properties which kill plants, insects, invertebrates, vertebrates and virtually all living organisms in the soil it is capable of destroying the earth's protective ozone layer. Considering the chemical's highly toxic nature and the Club's proximity to a residential neighborhood we are pleased that this proposed use was abandoned. Hopefully, in the future, golf professionals will consider revising the standards for course turf to preserve playability while decreasing the need for toxic chemicals to create acceptable turf.
Here's Your Chance to Get Involved With Your Local Sierra Club
By Kate Konschnik—Join us for a planning meeting on Sunday, November 20 at the Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veteran's Place, Silver Spring, MD, from 2:30 pm to 5 pm.
The Montgomery County Sierra Club is the largest organized environmental voice on county issues ... but we're not satisfied. We want to grow and energize our membership, to help us protect the natural beauty of our country, and the wellbeing of its residents.
Sure, we read the same newspapers you do. We hear about public discontent with Congress, and concerns about the direction our country is heading. But we know that's not the whole story. Everywhere, people are volunteering, getting involved in local government, helping their neighbors and their environment. An October Gallup poll found that almost 70% of Americans have a "great deal" or "fair amount" of confidence in local government. The Department of Labor states that one in every four Americans volunteered at least once in 2010. People like you are thinking positively about the future, and donating their talents and time to make our communities more livable.
We see the value of volunteers every day. Our local successes—removing invasive plants in three beautiful County parks, helping our County become one of the first places to require LEED standards in new buildings, winning a more participatory process for West Gaithersburg development plans—have been achieved entirely by volunteers.
With more volunteers, our successes can grow! That's why we're hosting the meeting on November 20. Please join us! Come hear what we've been up to, share ideas on how to build progress in our three issue areas—smart growth and transportation, energy efficiency, and habitat protection—and sign up for new volunteer opportunities. Together, let's make Montgomery County a healthier, safer, greener place to live. Register for this important event here.
