Preserve Lisbon

01/05/2021

THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER!

We have just received information that counsel for Reliable Real Estate, LLC has indicated that they will hold another Pre-Submission Community Meeting before they would file a Conditional Use to build a fueling station and convenience store on the current Myers Mini Barn property.

01/16/2020

Today we received the minutes from the PRE-SUBMISSION COMMUNITY MEETING that was held on 12/19/19. Click on the link to see them.

12/29/2019

Lisbon in 1912

12/24/2019

Santa was spotted in Lisbon today! Merry Christmas Eve!

12/23/2019

An area resident responded with some thoughtful comments and questions to the previous post that recapped the Pre-submission meeting. Our response is copied below-

Of course the owner has "the right to do with it whatever they want as long as the zoning fits." That is exactly the reason members of the community oppose a Motor Vehicle Fueling Facility (gas station). It is not permitted as a matter of right in a B-2 zoning district. This is precisely the reason that 7-11 must receive Conditional Use approval to establish a gas station on this site. Howard County Zoning regulations state that "Conditional Uses are certain land use types in various zoning districts which are not permitted as a matter of right but which may be permitted if approved by the Hearing Authority." The 2 existing gas stations in the Lisbon B-2 district likely predate the requirement for Conditional Use approval.

The existing business, Myers Mini-Barns/Alex's Ice Cream is a use that is granted as a matter of right and that business has been embraced, promoted, and grown by the community in and around Lisbon.

Although there likely is opposition from Carroll Fuel, the vast majority of the community members voicing opposition at the Pre-submission Meeting were not representatives of Carroll Fuel. Some of those community members "live within walking distance" while others do not, but are just as concerned about environmental impacts (including light pollution from a 24-hour operation with a 18-foot tall lighted canopy), traffic impacts, safety impacts, and conservation issues.

This page is dedicated to Preserving Lisbon and intends to promote the preservation of not only the land uses in Lisbon but also the historic structures in Lisbon in order to maintain the small-town, rural nature that community members love. As you talk to community members, long-time residents say those are the qualities that are important in their hometown and many newer residents often say those are the qualities that drew them to our area.

Your example of a Dunkin' Donuts would be permitted as a matter if right so there would not be as much opportunity for opposition. However, this page and the community members supporting it, would work to encourage any business to embrace some of our small-town values in order to create a harmonious relationship with the community.

12/21/2019

Here is a link to a summary of the Connditional Use Process from Howard County's website.

Shared with Dropbox

12/21/2019

For those of you who did not attend Thursday night's Pre-submission Meeting regarding the proposed 24 hour 7-11/gas station at the corner of Rt 94 and Rt 144, the following is a brief recap of the meeting. When minutes of the meeting are received, they will be posted.

The property in question (Myers' Mini Barns) is zoned B-2. A gas station is permitted on a property with that zoning if they are granted a Conditional Use by the County. Thursday night's meeting was the first step that is required in the process for the petitioner to apply for Conditional Use. The Conditional Use process dictates that after the Pre-submission Meeting, the petitioner has 1 year to submit the Conditional Use Application to the Department of Planning and Zoning. After that, there are several more steps which the petitioner will need to go through in their attempt to gain approval. A summary of these steps will be posted separately.

Proposal-

7-11 convenience store and gas station
2-3 employees on duty at any given time
6 dual-sided fuel pumps = 12 fueling nozzles
Gasoline and Diesel fuel
18-foot high lighted canopy
No high-speed diesel pumps for tractor trailers (at this time)
Plans to use existing entrances and exits (widening will be needed)
1 house to be torn down
No traffic studies done yet (will be required)
No environmental studies done yet (may not be required)
"Estimated" water use based on similar facilities (no monitoring is done to verify use)
No septic use or system size determined yet (will be required by County)

Several community members spoke out against the project. Unfortunately, the community disapproval fell mostly on deaf ears because the corporation requesting the Conditional Use believes they can meet the letter of the law to gain approval.

Community approval is not really part of the process. 7-11 thinks there will be enough demand for their services from outside the community that they will be able to profit from this proposal.

Because there is no legal requirement for community approval, any opposition will have to play out in the quasi-legal approval process within Planning and Zoning and ultimately in the truly legal process at the County Board of Appeals and the Circuit Court.

The opposition fight will take time, lots of money, and support from experts in the legal approval process. If you are an attorney or you have expertise in the areas of Planning and Zoning issues, please send your information to [email protected].

12/20/2019

If you are an attorney or other professional who has expertise that could be helpful in the fight to preserve Lisbon and/or you would like to be involved in the leadership of the opposition of the proposed gas station, please email [email protected] with your contact information and your area of expertise.

12/20/2019

Go to preservelisbon.org to sign the petition to say no to the proposed gas station at Rt 94 and Rt 144