A STATEMENT BY COUNCILMAN WADE KACH:
11th HOUR ROYAL FARMS PROPOSAL COMES UP EMPTY
For the last four months, I have repeatedly asked Royal Farms for a detailed covenant that would protect the people and businesses of Hereford in the event of an oil spill. ONLY LAST NIGHT AT 7:26PM, did I receive a proposed draft of a covenant which was purportedly intended to satisfy my long standing concerns.
While it could have been the basis of a meaningful document after consultation with experts and negotiation involving all interested parties, the eleventh hour proposal did not provide nearly enough time to do so.
I am very angry that Royal Farms waited so long to take action to address these serious concerns. It shows a lack of good faith on their part.
Everyone, supporters and opponents to the Royal Farms CZMP issue number 3-007, have known all along about my stated concern about the health, safety, and welfare of the people of Hereford in the event of an oil spill. Royal Farms’ last minute and half measured attempt to offer a covenant is nothing but a PR stunt to cover for their own failure to follow my clear and repeated advice.
I am very angry that Royal Farms would stoop to this level when it comes to the safety and security of the Hereford community which they claim to care so much about.
I have seen FIRSTHAND what happens to a community that is not properly protected in the event of a spill. The town of Jacksonville is still recovering from the spill which took place ten years ago. I cannot in good conscience allow Hereford to be left similarly unprotected.
While Royal Farms has made public assurances that their proposed safety measures to prevent a spill would be the most advanced to date, the fact remains, because of the possibility of human error and the risk of technological malfunction, that there is no oil spill safeguard that is 100 percent guaranteed. Just ask the many residents and businesses in Jacksonville who have still not been made whole ten years since the spill.
This is why a covenant clearly spelling out protections for residents and businesses was so important for this issue. Because of Royal Farms’ inaction, I have downzoned the property to prevent Royal Farms from constructing a gas station.
~Wade
I’m very disappointed in your decision to down zone the property to prevent the construction of the Royal Farm in Hereford. Have you asked Exxon to provide the same covenants that you requested from Royal Farm? If you haven’t, the maybe you should considering the terrible response to the spill you referenced, which you failed to mention was created by an Exxon location! The Royal Farm would have been constructed with latest spill and containment protection which I’m sure is better that the Exxon’s current level of protection. Very poor reasoning to justify your decision. Your decision seems, on the surface, to protect a small portion of the community and does little to benefit the community at large. Wade, I’ve supported you In the past but this decision will make me take pause in the future.
Mr. Kach
I am concern that no matter what the people of the real Hereford area want you will still listening to outside influence. I have lived within a mile and half of the center of Hereford for almost 37 years and have always been disappointed that there is no real competition to business’s like Graul’s food market and the Exxon gas station. When we finally get a chance to have some business competition against these you stop it. I am very disappointed. Where was the concern when the Exxon station in Hereford had a breach of their own tanks some years ago and caused a lot of people trouble with their cars. It did not breach the Brine protection surrounding their tanks but it was still a breach. I was one of the many that was affected by this issue and settled with the owner. Luckily it did not go beyond the Brine protection but no gas station is 100 percent spill proof as you stated.
I feel disappointed and sad for the people of Hereford and the Royal Farms company. This would have been good for the area
Don’t be sad, there is a Royal Farms as well as many other gas stations and restaurants just 5 miles away. You don’t speak for all of Hereford. Progress and development are all around us. Preserve why people move here in the first place.
I am very happy with your decision. I have been a resident of the Parkton Hereford Zone for over 19 years. I enjoy the countryside , streams and serene atmosphere. Thank you for your concern and our well being.
Unfortunately this is another example of bowing to the vocal minority. The Exxon gas station has no such covenant and has already had one leak so this is a hollow excuse. You have made it clear that you are not interested in the wishes of your constituents and this is just a political excuse for that. I hope you receive your due next election.
Well Done, Wade! Heath and Safery First! You offered a path for development they chose not to take. Way to stick by your guns! I agree.
Thank you, Wade, for looking past Royal Farm’s immediate ‘solution’. I don’t think most folks who support this development understand the consequences of what would happen (not if, but when) any gas station would be allowed to be built in that particular area. Would a few theoretical pennies on the gallon be worth the very cause of Graul’s store closing due to well contamination? Gas spills do happen; we need Mr. Graul to stay in our area so we can support his store, and likewise, he can continue to support so many of our neighbors, fire dept, teams, associations, etc.
Thank you for having the foresight to deny the upzoning with out guarantees for responsible development. And not just leaving it in the community’s hands to work out issues without any leverage because they got their zoning (during CZMP). This happens to often!
There are a number of problems with the proposed Royal Farms station. The risk of a serious fuel spill is only one of them. Thank you for taking a firm stance to protect the rural nature of the Hereford village and the health and safety of its residents.
Wade,
You caved to a group that is not representative of our community. If the Sparks Glencoe organization is your idea of good citizen input you have lost my support. You are angry with Royal Farms but I have to go to Hunt Valley for gas. Goodbye.
It would have been nice to have a Royal Farm store in Hereford, but I am glad to see that you put community first.
If Royal Farms was serious about a Hereford store/gas, they should have done their homework. Shame on them.
Sad commentary on Royal Farms that they did not want to provide the information/collaboration that you requested to keep Hereford community safe. Thank you for taking a stand.
Royal Farms cared about the community and Balto. Co. had approved the plans and they made changes that they asked for and what else were they suppose to do. You refer to Jacksonville’s oil spill and that was an Exon station, if we are concerned about an oil spill, maybe we need to get rid of the Exon station that is in Hereford. There are a lot of Royal Farms around and have they had any location problems with spills. The owner of the property on Mount Carmel Rd. has been trying to sell it for years and always runs in to a problem, his zoning has been changed numerous times. The shopping center never wants anything there that he tries to sell to and so why don’t they buy his property.
Down zoning is right on target. I agree as well!
What safety measures are in place for the Exxon monopoly next door? What is the standard for all new gas stations in the county? Was your request extraordinary?
Your decision went against the Final Staff Recommendations and Planning Board Recommendations. Why were they satisfied to keep the current zoning code yet you were not?
You say that you’re very angry for Royal Farms “failure to follow my clear and repeated advice.” If it’s mandatory, it’s not advice, it’s a requirement. Stop trying to wordsmith your excuse.
You’re very mad at Royal Farms, well I’m HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED in you. You chose to let monopolies continue in our district.
I will be encouraging everyone I know in your district to vote you out at the end of this term should you seek re-election.
I wonder…..Does the current gas station in Hereford have a covenant spelling out exactly what they would do if something were to go wrong? They are much older and have been around for many years. Are they meeting the high quality safety standards???
So we can assume that the existing Exxon station has all the safeguards required and that a repeat of the Jacksonville spill is impossible?
Just to be clear the price of Hereford Exxon gas does not bother me, it’s what the market will bear. What bothers me is the lack of gasoline stations in the area. I think we are underserved.
I agree with most of your positions and you have the community’s support especially compared to Huff but let’s get another gas station somewhere between Belfast and. Shrewsberry.
Thank you, Wade Kach!
Thinking about this, how old is the infastructurer at the Exon? Maybe the County needs the same covenant from them. Exon has not had a run of good luck with spills. Maybe their potential spill will be grandfathered.
Thank you for acting to protect the environment of northern Baltimore County. Please demonstrate the same level of scrutiny towards the Exxon in Hereford. The Exxon has a history of MTBE leakage (Case No. 2005-0522-BA3). While the owner has taken steps to mitigate the problem, he has never demonstrated that the communty is his first priority.
The thinking and the request for a covenant is backwards. Trying to find a solution after the spill has occurred is not attractive for anyone. It is pointing to a foregone conclusion that there is no room for a second gas station in Hereford. A spill from the existing Exxon station is equally likely but does not seem to be part of the discussion
The basic problem is that today’s gas stations are built to a code that does not guarantee with high probability that a spill will not happen.
But the legal structure of this country is based on incurring the lowest legal risk when following the mandated codes.
When you look at these underground tanks before they are buried, it does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that some will end up leaking.
I think what our legislature should do is actively seek better solutions and not accept the status quo.
Thank you, Wade Kach! That is great news! Have lived in Hereford for over 50 years. Thank you for looking out for our community. Happier than words can say.
Thanks Wade for helping to preserve our beautiful H.Z. country life and the relatively dark nighttime skies.
Whose pocket are you in? This community is gouged by the high prices of Grauls’ Market and the Exxon gas station. If your so concerned about a gas spill then why not change the zoning for the Exxon gas station as well. Hereford needs the compition.
Hey Kach,
I don’t see where you stated what Exxon has done as far as safety measures to prevent any oil spillage. You do understand that Exxon has had spillage before. Or are you just another politician who feels that the residents and business owners should not have a chance to decide where to buy their gasoline. Just as you want a potters field on Resh Mill Road, which the residents do not want. I’m glad to see you are actually against the wishes of the community. You have lost my vote and I hope next election you lose your position in office. You worthless piece of crap.
Wade,
Thank you for caring about the community.We are ever grateful.
What is the revised zoning and what does it permit?
I left a respectful post that question the decision by Councilman Kach and it was struck from the record.
Do you not want to hear from your constituents? Or do you only want to hear from those who agree with you?
Funny that the Exxon next door which is older doesn’t get the same scrutiny. It seems that two powerful family’s with monopolies win and the little man loses.
Seems to be a common theme in politics today. Guess that’s why so many people are attracted to Donald Trump.
Passed by the Hunt Valley Royal Farms today. Glad the smell won’t be up here. Thank you Wade Kach!
Wade must think voters are stupid. He is likely to find out differently.
Councilman Kach,
As usual , You politicians always side with the money…and not with your constituents. Your excuse for the downsizing is weak and pitiful. Look at the dilapidated Exxon and you want me to fall for the excuse that you care about the neighborhood. You are nothing but a spineless rino tool. Goodbye
I hope you enjoy your last term in office.
Good luck in the future Wade. Hope you already have your next job lined up. Great job letting the old Exxon continue to screw the people up here and be much more of an environmental disaster due to old technology and poor stewardship. And we thought Huff was bad……
First and foremost I am a Hereford Zone resident and have been for 35 years. I still miss the days of Foster Brother’s Hardware, the days before Highs, let alone 7-11. Mr. G’s pizza!! But that being said I really don’t care one way or the other whether Royal Farms moves into that spot or not.
I do know that their presence will not significantly impact the gas prices up here. The days of gas price wars are a relic of the past. And it certainly will not impact the high prices at Graul’s. As long as there are people willing to pay the price that won’t change and more than the commercial nature of Mt Carmel Rd.
But I also know we do not need another gas station. I can easily get gas in the area. We don’t need a place to get snacks. We don’t need more traffic congestion on Mt Carmel Road. We don’t need another bank branch. What do those banking people think? Is this Charlotte NC? We don’t need another dentist, doctor, antique shop, eatery or insurance agent. The list could go on.
We don’t need another traffic light! Between that light, and the commercial nature of Mt Carmel Rd I already avoid that road unless I must go on it. What were the experts thinking when they set the timing on that light? What were they thinking when they had the light in front of the high school stopping traffic during the day in the summer?!
So when it comes to the experts and the HZ I am already skeptical. I like Wade. I won’t second guess his motives or actions. But I doubt that this is the end of this matter. If Royal Farms simply takes his action as the last word I’ll be shocked. I am not a lawyer. I am a pragmatist. I doubt that Royal Farms has a bunch of bozo lawyers who didn’t know how to draw up a covenant. I doubt they are cowed by Wade’s anger. I suspect that his action will be challenged appealed or whatever legal next step that they see as more advantageous to having their gas pumps and high cholesterol chicken showing up in the HZ.
And finally I ask. Who will be working at the Royal Farms Store? Will it be locals? HHS students? Rhetorical.
So what is my point? I say that I really don’t care one way or the other. This is because I have no control over this. And I already avoid Mt Carmel Road as much as possible. When I am returning home from working in Baltimore I get off at Belfast Road and head north on York Road so I can avoid the Mt Carmel Mess.
And secondly my not caring is not really not caring. It is a sense of futility. There is not a single good thing I can envision that another gas station will bring to those of us who live here. So for at least a while we are safe from another onslaught.