ROYAL FARMS TESTIMONY – October 8, 2015
PAUL VERCHINSKI - TESTIFYING AGAINST PROPERTY USES AND ANY
CURB CUTS ON SNOWDEN RIVER PARKWAY FOR ROYAL FARMS
TO BE OR NOT TO BE, THAT IS THE QUESTION. WILL COLUMBIA REMAIN A
COMMUNITY THAT IS PLANNED OR JUST SERVE THE WHIMS OF THE REAL
ESTATE DEVELOPERS? WE HAVE A TIPPING POINT
IN MY YOUNGER WORK DAYS BACK IN THE 1960’S I BUILT GAS STATIONS
FORTHE CTRIN OIL COMPANY IN THE GREATER DETROIT AREA. USUALLY
4 TO 6 PUMPS WITH 2 BAYS FOR AUTO MECHANICAL WORK AND ABOUT
100 SQUARE FEET FOR SALE OF CIGARETTES, CANDY, AND A COUPLE OF
VENDING MACHINES. YOU CAN SEE THIS IN A LOT OF THE OLDER GAS
STATIONS IN HOWARD.
FAST FORWARD TO TODAY FOR THIS FDP ADOPTED IN 1969. THE TSR
ASSERTS WITH NO EXPLANATION UNDER "PERMITTED LAND USES
(CRITERION 7) " THAT " THE CONVENIIENCE STORE, BEING ANCILLARY TO
AND COMPATIBLE WITH THE GASOLINE STATION, IS PERMITTED BY
CRITERION 7"
THIS CONVENIENCE STORE OF ABOUT 3500 SQUARE FEET IS TERMED
ANCILLARY YET THIS IS ABOUT THE SAME SIZE AS YOUR MCDONALDS,
BURGER KING, KFC, ETC. ANCILLARY IN THE 1960’S WAS ABOUT 100 TO
200 SQUARE FEET. HOW CAN THIS BE ANCILLARY WHEN THIS IS THE
PRIMARY BUSINESS OF ROYAL FARMS?
THE FOLLOWING IS TAKEN VERBATIM FROM THE ROYAL FARMS WEB
SITE:
"Our History
Your go-to place day or night
Your go-to place day or night for breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner, gasoline and diesel
fuel, and all the things you need! Dine in our seating area or take out.
Since 1959, we've been satisfying the mid-Atlantic area's hunger for real fresh food
served real fast! The Royal Farms Kitchen proudly serves our World-Famous Royal
Farms Chicken - Always Fresh, Never Frozen - lightly breaded and pressure-cooked in
your store in Trans Fat Free cooking oil. Our Western Fries are hand-cut and handbreaded from fresh Idaho potatoes and are cooked right in your store. Custom-built Hot
& Cold Subs, Sandwiches and Wraps. Sun Up Breakfast sandwiches - egg and cheese on
flaky croissants with bacon, ham, or sausage and available anytime of day or night. And,
our Royal Farms 100% Colombian Coffee...always brewed fresh! The Royal Farms
Good-To-Go case features freshly prepared Subs, Wraps, Salads, Fruit and Veggie cups,
all natural juices, and much more!
That's the freshness of Royal Farms. Guaranteed. "
DOES THIS SOUND LIKE AN ANCILLARY USE? INQUIRING MINDS WOULD
HAVE TO SAY EMPHATICALLY NO!!! THIS IS A FAST FOOD EMPORIUM!!
THREE WORDS OUT OF ABOUT 400 DECSCRIBE FUELING WHILE THE REST
IS ABOUT FAST FOOD.
"Company Vision
Motto: Real Fresh...Real Fast...Real Green
Hedgehog Concept: High volume food service"
I ASK THAT YOU NOT APPROVE THIS REQUEST SINCE THIS SO CALLED
CONVENIENCE STORE IS NOT ANCILLARY AND IS THE FASTFOOD PRIMARY
BUSINESS OF ROYAL FARMS.