Thank you for a positive editorial review of the recent gas station task force report. The report and your comments takes the conversation away from the price of gas and personal experiences related to buying gas. Everyone knows that inexpensive gas is available through partnerships with our village grocery stores or just a short distance away.
The task force spent over six months looking at all aspects of the gasoline industry relevant to the location of gas stations and has crafted recommendations that provide the county a modernized planning framework for new station development that will serve and protect communities throughout the county, now and looking into the future.
Over the past few years the Columbia Association has been working with the villages to develop "village plans" with the goal of preserving the village centers. This was made possible by the council passing Council Bill 29 with leadership from Mary Kay Sigaty. The positive results can be seen by visiting Wilde Lake Village Center.
The gas station task force report has recommendations that will protect the integrity of our village centers. This is especially important for Long Reach as they develop their plan. I request that the council passes a bill that implements the task forces recommendations.
Brian England
Columbia