Royal Farms Vote Gets Pushed Off In Towson

TOWSON, MD - The Baltimore County Council voted to table a resolution Monday night regarding construction of a 24-hour Royal Farms store with gas pumps at the gateway to Towson.

Boos came from the crowd, where some walked out after Councilman Tom Quirk moved to postpone a vote on the issue, according to WBAL.

The proposal for a Royal Farms on Bosley Avenue at York Road has been under consideration since 2013.

It has drawn a vocal opposition from some Towson residents who say that the area is congested. Approval was required for gas pumps to be used on the property, which was zoned for a major business in the town center.

Since 1958, the land had been home to the Towson firehouse.

The fire department moved to Courtland Avenue in late 2015 to a newly constructed building that incorporated current public safety standards such as drive-through bays. The project cost $7.6 million.

When it opened, county officials said the cost for the firehouse to taxpayers was $0 because the sale of the land where the old station used to be would cover it.

Baltimore County estimated the property would be worth $8.5 million.

At Monday's council meeting, Quirk said that more conversations were needed with the developers of the Royal Farms to negotiate the terms, according to ABC 2 News, which reported the announcement prompted residents to rally.

A group called Save Towson's Gateway had turned out in force after encouraging community members to attend the meeting with signs showing their opposition to the development of a 24-hour gas station in their neighborhood. The group held a rally Aug. 1 outside the courthouse and has also created an online petition.

• Councilman Opposes Royal Farms Gas Station Proposal
• Panel Recommends Selling Towson Fire Station Property
• Towson Celebrates New $7.6M Fire Station

Patch file photo of Royal Farms.