Drive-thru plan a disaster for the environment

Recently there was a community meeting with Chick-fil-A about building a driveonly restaurant south of the Arnold Station intersection. The surrounding communities find the proposal a nightmare for anyone who drives through Arnold, for the environment and for our communities.

The heavy traffic on Route 2, between Route 50 and Arnold Road is a constant headache. Those living in Ashcroft, Pines on the Severn, Winchester, Indian Hills, etc., face traffic every time they leave home. It backs up daily in both directions, even with no incidents. Building a Chick-fil-A just south of the Sunoco station will make it worse. We currently have numerous accidents on this stretch of Route 2. How many more will we endure as Bay Bridge traffic zips up to the intersection, does a U-turn to get food, and flies back down to Route 50? No traffic study has yet been done. The attitude seems to be, build now, maybe “fix” later (note the issues in Parole, Edgewater and Severna Park locations).

Building on this lot is environmentally unsound. Woods will be cleared (trees clean the air, moderate temperatures, reduce traffic noise, and provide habitat for abundant wildlife); a ravine filled in and graded (affecting drainage and wind patterns); land paved (pollutant runoff into the Severn River and Chesapeake Bay, 53 parking spaces); and a septic tank installed. In addition, the project will cause air pollution (hundreds of cars spewing exhaust while idling in three drive-thru lanes for eight minutes); noise pollution (cars, horns, radios, people); and light pollution (from the business, car lights) from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., six days a week! We already have issues; climate change is real, our storms are growing more detrimental. Arnold does not need or want this.

Chick-fil-A speaks of family values, stewardship, working together and improvement. It says it wants to “… create a culture of care” and be a “… faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us. To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.” Building in this location contradicts their own statements. This will completely disrupt the surrounding communities. If they really care about community, they will build elsewhere.

Rebecca Edmond, Arnold