The Baltimore County Council has tabled Monday's scheduled vote on the Towson Gateway gas station.
The plan is to build a 24-hour Royal Farms gas station at the intersection of Bosley Avenue and York Road. A new resolution sponsored by Councilman David Marks would have barred gas pumps from the project.
Those opposed to the gas station believe the intersection is already congested and a Royal Farms would make it worse.
Before the vote, Council Chair Tom Quirk announced that weekend conversations with the developer convinced members that more time was needed for negotiations. After the gas pump plan was tabled, supporters shouted, booed, and started an impromptu rally outside of Council chambers. Many were upset about being left out of the most recent conversations on the project.
"Royal Farms, you do not own this town," said plan opponent Ron Gallop. "I don't care if you have a stadium named after you to try to get the good will of the people. You will not buy out this town. You talk to us and you accept that we don't want a gas station."
Councilman Julian Jones Jr. said that further negotiations between the county and the developer will likely focus on the gas pump issue.
"That seemed to be the biggest concern with the community even though there's a gas station across the street and one up the street," said Jones.
Not all residents are opposing the Royal Farms plan.
"You have a local company willing to invest in an area. We should give them all of the benefit of the doubt doing what they need to do," said Joe Consoli of Towson.
The group, Save Towson's Gateway, says it will continue to pressure officials into cancelling the project. The group is now asking for pledges to fight the development project in court.
County council votes to table plan to keep gas pumps out of the Royal Farms. Dozens of angry residents walk out of meeting. @ABC2NEWS
— Brendan McNamara (@BrendanABC2) August 7, 2017
At BaCo council meeting, where we're expecting vote on Royal Farms development plan for Towson. @ABC2NEWS pic.twitter.com/3MOshm8WQf
— Brendan McNamara (@BrendanABC2) August 7, 2017
