This is kind of a ridiculous poll that confuses the issue. It's not about whether people want or need a gas station. The real issue is the public safety hazard it would cause for all the pedestrians in the area. Not everyone drives and this is a major pedestrian thoroughfare. The traffic issue has nothing to do with congestion or gridlock, it has to do with the safety of Georgetown Road and the phenomena of a "rewards-based" gas station. Any traffic study done would not be definitive as it would only be guesswork as there is not enough data regarding the "destination" impact of this type of station. This is not a gas station like you would see at Sam's as it is not just a discount station, but is rewards-based. The truth is, it is incumbent upon the developer to prove that this station would not impact the surrounding area before issuing a special exception. Without the data being available showing that a "rewards-based" gas station would not negatively impact the area, there is no way the City should grant this exception as it would be guesswork.

The city should do what they're supposed to do. Have the Developer perform an impact analysis and provide analytic data to substantiate the need and environmental impact. Can anyone tell me how this gas station will benefit the community?

I am not sure I can anawe that question without that traffic analysis mentioned earlier at Sam's Club.
My frustration is the Exxon and Shell stations at the corner which seem to be price fixing and gouging us. Their prices are virtually ALWAYS the same and higher than other Exxons and Shells in the area. Also, a number of us noticed the immediate jump of 30 cents the very next Saturday morning after the huge storm. Someone ought to look into it.

A few comments:

700K at QWP are dawn to dusk when most people are at work

A lower priced gas station might actually make the existing Shell and Exxon more competitive and those stations might actually draw customers seeking a brand purchase.

To alleviate traffic, the intersection at Edgewood and Bay Ridge could be expanded. The conduits are already in place and were required when the CVS was built. So, the majority of traffic could be routed down Edgewood. A left-in lane could be created as well as a right-out lane coming from the center. The Park Plaza in Severna Park does this very well on Ritchie Highway. Between a larger signalized intersection and a non signalizes means of access and egress you can certainly make this work.

And don't kid yourself. Most Giant properties (Giant, Super G, Stop N Go) are looking to build gas stations and some in PA have even built stand alones across from their stores. But once the majority of Giant brand store have them, the Shell promotion will go!

The pedestrian traffic argument is not valid. There are two legal points to cross Georgetown Road. One is at the signalized intersection with W/DW signals and the other is via a painted crosswalk at the uncontrolled intersection of Giant Drive and Georgetown. The crosswalk is on the far side of the intersection.

@Albert - Rewards-based gas stations are in their infancy and their full impact is not yet known. This was confirmed at the BOA hearing. If your only experience is with the Shell stations, than your experience is, at best, minimal. The agreements with Shell and Giant can be cancelled at anytime. This was also established at the BOA meeting. No one is suggesting that 700k visitors will go to the Giant station, but there will be a significant impact. I am glad you agree that the Georgetown Rd issue is signifiucant enough to warrant closing that entrance, but, again, the City has no intention of proposing to create an entrance or adding a light on Bay Ridge Rd as Bay Ridge Rd is already failing capacity standards and the City has many major projects in its plans along that road. In addition, I believe it would be something they would need to get permission from the County to do. It simply won't happen.

@John - A great deal of the visitors of Quiet waters Park visit during rush hour due to features such as the Dog Park (people go before and after work). As amenities increase at QWP (the addition of Wi-fi, the dog beach openinfg next year, there will even be greater visitation) of course the pedestrian (and bicycle!) issue is valid, especially if Giant continues to refuse to put locks on their carts to keep them from leaving the property. In addition, this gas station goes completely against the intent of the Comp. plan. Not to mention there are plenty of pedestrians in the lot. Georgetown Road will still get plenty of additional traffic with the expansion of Edgewood Road in that it is closer to town and will also be used as an exit as well as entrance. Georgetown Rd, with all its features, warrants further scrutiny and perhaps the fence at the end of Victor Parkway should finally be shut permanently, cutting off access to pedestrians and bicycles. Giant wants to lure significant traffic down this ill-equipped Road. Otherwise, Giant could have approached the Exxon/Shell in order to take over their station. Branding as a Giant Gas station will raise awareness to rewards-based stations and there will be significant negative impact with very little reward.

Sounds like most of you folks would like to be traffic engineers, but the real issue is that we don't need another gas station. The venting of the gas tanks goes into the atmosphere. Have you ever been close to the Shell or Exxon stations when they wrest getting a fuel delivery and the air is heavy? Yes, this intense smell of fuel would make the residential area smell like gasoline, not to mention the fact that it goes into the atmosphere. And if you think about an underground leak there are houses thatare on water wells just 100 yards from this site.

Don't want it, don't need it, don't like it. We need more gas stations, traffic, congestion and safety issues in this area like we need a figurative hole in the head--or a new development adjacent to Quiet Waters Park. "Rewards-based" gasoline? Methinks any rewards will go straight to the developers and Giant, not to consumers.

There is no need for another gas station in the area, That should be the crucial test.

Congratulations Annapolis. Pretty soon I will feel like I am back in Southern California...complete with wall to wall gas stations and strip malls. Where you can drive for hours and never know you've left one city and entered another! All we need are a few palm trees to make the picture complete. How quaint. They're "paving paradise and putting up a parking lot" !

Does anyone know specifically how many homes on Georgetown Road will be impacted by this future traffic? Going down Georgetown, there are none on the right--that is Giant property. On the left, there is an alley that goes behind the Main Ingredient to some homes and also a courtyard of towns before you get to Victor(?)/Giant Entrance. Beyond the entrance will not be impacted.

Fairwinds has 388 Units - 24 townhouses directly across from the lot. 100 or so are accessed directly across from the Giant Entrance (Victor Parkway) and about 268 directly following the entrance. Of course, residents past the entrance will have some impact/ congestion with the egress and ingress (Mariner's Point, Georgetown East, etc.). A big issue the large number of pedestrians and bicyclists who use Victor Parkway as a route to and through the shopping center (not everyone drives). The pedestrians are mainly residents of the Victor Haven/Ben's drive area. John, I can understand why you personally would like it in order to save a few cents, but being that you live off Edgewood Rd, you won't be affected by this station.

The people walking/biking from Victor Parkway would be crossing on the far side of the Giant driveway.. I was unaware that Fairwinds was that large.

You are maiking an assumption that all people use crosswalks in a residential area. Another assumption would be that all people turn right in a right turn only lane, or that people all have patience and don't pass on the left side of busses. These area all issues with this road (besides the many cut-aways. Bicyclists will not be crossing via the crosswalk, nor should they. The City is trying to do two things, make this area a bike route and a major thoroughfare. These two approaches are clearly incompatible. If anyone has doubts about this area being used as a major pedestrian route, check out the pics I uploaded showing the indisputable facts.

All of the Alderman are aware of this project. Unfortunately we have some Alderman who are not well-educated and believe in the simplistic ideal that all development is good because it brings money and jobs into the City. Don't get me wrong, I'm not about holding back development. However, not all development fits. We have come to a point of saturation where the city needs to do it's due diligence, which the judge clearly stated he did not believe was done, and follow the law and its own rules. The Fairwinds Community was around well before Giant.

True but at the same time Giant has very deep pockets and if they want to do this they will find a way to push it through and i feel that Fairwinds will not be able to prevent it. So the best way may be to demand changes to the plan and if that means hounding the Alderman and mayor of this city that just may be your only way. That is unless all of the people in Fairwinds would prefer to pay for attorneys and studies on there own to prove Giant is harming them. I for one don't see that as a option. As for complaints about cross walks, Bike paths and traffic. Unless you can prove anything you say no one will listen. Since no studies were done then i don't see how you can prove it. Unless you can get Giant to pay for it. I would think that the city will not do so.
I however i do not care if a gas station is built there or not i am just pointing out the fact that these complaints from the residents in this area can be dealt with if a little logical thinking is used there by dispelling your complaints. You need hard proof.

Actually, the City Code states that in order to gain the special exception, the burden is on the developer to PROVE the project will not harm the surrounding community. This is an impossible task as all traffic studies are guided by industry standards that are not quite up to date and are in their infancy regarding the assessment of "rewards-based" gas stations. No data=no exception. It should be as simple as that. The approach Fairwinds has taken and the approach that they took was very logical and was further reinforced at the appeals court level. Remember, this has gone on for two years and Fairwinds and surrounding communities have been pretty effective so far. These communities have engaged legal representation and have financial backers to help them in their fight. In addition, a large postcard petition has been going on for quite awhile. The challenge is to get the City to follow its own laws and guidelines. The City has to change its mindset of merely rubber stamping projects and catering to the whims of developers. I'm all for people being able to use their property (in this case, leased property) as they desire, but not when it puts others at risk.

That sounds great grand and wonderful but it seems to me that the proof as too wether it will hurt anyone is the key. Now how hard do you really think it will be for Giant to prove it will not? It seems to me you are waiting for your opponent to hand this over to you and i can tell you that is not going to happen. If there is proof you would do well to present this proof to the city or else you are wasting time and money and i can tell you Giant will win this matter. Deeper pockets always do and that is a fact that most can see very clearly. I don't like it as much as the next but it is the truth. If you are waiting for the city to do this for you i would suggest you not hold your breath.

Now the question that i have for you is this. If Giant decided to close the entrance to there parking lot from Georgetown Rd would you still say NO Gas Station in the parking lot?
That is what i would like to know. Or is this about more then what is being said hear?

Of course there are always minor concerns about a gas station (safety in the lot, poss. Environmental issues, etc), but I personally wouldn't be passionate about opposing it. However, this a moot point as the City has already expressed that they have no intention of blocking the Georgetown access and that is off the table. In addition, any access off Bay Ridge would not only probably need county cooperation, but also would affect the City's extensive plans for the Samaras property as well as other developments along Forest Drive. Does that answer your question?

No it do's not. You see the problem i have is there are too many could's and probably's being thrown around. So until there are concrete answers you will not be able to answer my questions. Oh and by the way the city has been known to change it's mind on issues. Think about the Parking garage that was proposed for the lot on Compromise street. The city changed there mind on that one and it was a much larger project then we see hear.
Do you understand now? Until Fairwinds comes up with concrete proof that this should not happen some of us cannot get behind the residents of Fairwinds if we could i would like to think that calls and emails would be made.But at this time there is no proof and it sounds like just neighbors complaining about neighbors. Good luck Fairwinds you will need it.

All I am asking is that people not allow the City not take risks with its citizens and abide by it's own laws as opposed to catering to the whims of developers without any thoughtful consideration. The residents of Fairwinds, Victor Haven, Georgetown East, and the Ben's Drive neighborhood should not be treated as an experiment. The facts are clear: 1. The city approved a project that conflicts with the comprehensive plan (confirmed by the appeals judge). 2. The City approved a special exception despite not doing its due diligence (also confirmed by the appeals judge) 3.There was no evaluation at all of Georgetown Rd. , nor was there any traffic study of this road 4. Alan Hyatt reached out for support of communities about this project, but somehow overlooked Fairwinds (the closest) who found out only by chance two weeks before the planning commission hearing. 5. Victor parkway is a major pedestrian and bicycle route (see city bicycle plan and pics attached to this article). 6. There is a strong public outcry against this project from not only Fairwinds, but by Mariner's Landing and other surrounding communities/groups.
7. The legal opinion speaks for itself.

The City did not change it's mind on the parking garage. The Board of Ed rejected this project soundly. Yes, there were some members of the City who changed their mind. But was this because of popularity and the fact that they knew it would never pass the Board of Ed, or was it because they realized they made a mistake in supporting it previously?

Ok i am done with this. No matter what anyone else brings to this you will only see what it is you want to see. Good luck you will need it.

@Albert - I am sorry you see it that way. This is not a simple case. It has gone on for two years and a lot of options have been explored during this time. I appreciate all of your suggestions, however many have already been analyzed and addressed exhaustively. The City has been very clear with regards to flexibility and one can only hope that projects are looked upon based on their merits and not merely on the depths of pockets. We'll see. I am very encouraged by the amount of support that all of the surrounding communities have given.