Mega Gas Stations Concerns (Video)

On May 10, Montgomery County Council members Marc Elrich (At-large), Valerie Ervin (District 5) and Nancy Navarro (District 4) joined members of the Kensington Heights Civic Association on the front steps of the County Council Office Building in Rockville to discuss their concerns about the building of mega-gas stations in the county.

Elrich recently introduced Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 12-07, which aims to protect residents’ health by prohibiting new mega-gas stations within 1,000 feet of schools, playgrounds, hospitals or other locations used for recreation or entertainment. The ZTA concerns gas stations pumping more than 3.6 million gallons per year. That number is based on an EPA report regarding school site guidelines.

Navarro currently represents the Wheaton area, where there is a proposal to build a mega-gas station on the property of the Westfield Shopping Town. Ervin represents an area adjacent to downtown Wheaton. Councilmembers Ervin, Navarro, Craig Rice and Hans Riemer are co-sponsors of ZTA 12-07. A public hearing on the ZTA is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 19.

At the event, the Kensington Heights Civic Association, which supports Bill 12-07, will present Henry S. Cole, an environmental scientist with more than 30 years of experience. Dr. Cole has reviewed a recent environmental assessment of a proposed mega-gas station and will highlight major problems with that analysis.

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