7-Eleven Development Moves Forward

Crime and littering were among the top concerns of residents in Laurel who had a chance to weigh in on a looming development as city officials and the developer move forward with plans.

During Monday night's city council meeting, council members approved an amended site plan for the development. The plan would allow for a new 3,000-square-foot store to be built.

The development would sit along Route 198 at the intersection of Gorman Avenue and 7th Street about 20 feet behind the current building. Designers for the building said the project should break ground during the fall with an opening in March 2012.

But residents near the Park Place complex voiced their concerns over the store's relocation, arguing that it could lead to increased crime, loitering and littering near resident homes, and reduce parking spots. 

Linda Brown, a resident of the Park Place condominiums, said residents were promised an upscale development in the neighborhood and implored developers to provide adequate lighting and surveillance for the new store. She also asked that the store change its egress to reduce traffic near residences.

"If this is to happen in the Park Place condominiums, we need the backing from 7-Eleven," she said.

Jeff Bernstein, attorney for the developer, said the store was in favor of providing lighting, cameras and a trash dumpster to address residents' concerns.

"7-Eleven fully supports [residents]," he said. "[The company] is investing a lot of time and money ... [and] is very dedicated to making this store safe," he said.

Bernstein stopped short of realigning right-of-way and egress to the store.

"Moving the store or realigning it is not a realistic possibility," he said.

The current building has been used since at least the 1960s, according to Richard Hurney, the site's architect, who added that the store needed to be upgraded.

A small park land area near the site was at one point the meeting place of the Laurel Negro Baseball League, said Councilman Fred Small (Ward 2). He and the council assured residents that the developer would be working with police to ensure the sorounding community would not be overran with traffic.

"I don't think there will be the kind loitering that is feared," he said.