Rutter’s Narrowly Approved by Walkersville Planning Commission
After months of hearings and presentations of site plans, Rutter’s Farm Store gained the Walkersville Planning Commission’s approval of its plans to open a 7,450 square foot convenience store with gas and high speed diesel fuel pumps at the former Exxon station on Woodsboro Pike. The Planning Commission voted in an unusually close vote of 4 – 3.
The Public Hearing held this evening continued last month’s hearing. That hearing heard testimony from Rutter’s representatives and many from the public. All but one resident spoke against the Rutter’s Farm Store. Most concerns raised dealt with traffic in the area.
Rutter’s plans to build a private road connecting Sandstone Drive and Woodsboro Pike. The private road will be in place of the public road that is on the Town of Walkersville’s Comprehensive Plan. On the South side of the road, fuel pumps will serve cars closer to Woodsboro Pike. Near the Sandstone Drive entrance, trucks with 75 gallon or greater fuel tanks will be served by four high-speed diesel pumps; those trucks will be directed to use the signalized intersection of the new road and Woodsboro Pike. North of the private road, Rutter’s will build a convenience store that is nearly 1,000 square feet larger than the new Sheetz convenience store.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Rutter’s representatives responded to various comments, concerns, and denials of waivers from the Planning Commission.
Planning Commission Members spent the majority of their time questioning traffic in and around the property. A new traffic study showed Sandstone Drive functioning at an F Level of Service. The traffic study submitted last month indicated it operated at an A Level of Service. Planning Commission Member Ray Santullo questioned the difference in the methods, and was told that they used two different methods as required by the State and the County.
Planning Commission Member Michael Kuster raised concerns about traffic in and around the store pointing to a request of Maryland Department of Transportation to restrict left turns onto the private road near the traffic signal. He asked twice about making the traffic flow in one-way around the store, but was told traffic would be controlled by signs.
Planning Commission Members David Ennis and Michael Kuster raised concerns that the town’s approval conflicts with Maryland Vehicle Law. Mr. Kuster read the law forbidding drivers from avoiding a traffic control by driving through private property. He noted that directing cars to use the “private road” and avoid the stop sign at Sandstone Drive and Woodsboro Pike invites each driver to violate this law. “Law enforcement could give a citation to each person doing so,” he stated.
After Planning Commission Chair Dick Brady questioned the fencing and landscaping, Planning Commission Member Timothy Pollak moved to approve the site plan.
Planning Commission members Timothy Pollak, John Zimmerman and Town Commissioner Gary Baker voted to approve the site plan. Planning Commission members David Ennis, Michael Kuster, and Ray Santullo opposed the motion to approve. The Chair of the Planning Commission, Dick Brady cast the deciding vote in favor of approving the site plans.
The public attending made their displeasure known despite their not being permitted to comment. Some berated the Planning Commission for failing to protect the community. Others noted the waste of time it had been to come without being allowed to comment.
