Construction Advances on New Royal Farms Store in Montgomery Hills

News Summary

Construction is progressing on the new Royal Farms store at 9475 Georgia Ave. in Montgomery Hills, despite appeals from local residents concerned about its impact. The Montgomery County Board of Appeals approved permits allowing construction to move forward. The site, once home to a gas station, will soon feature a full-service convenience store with prominent signage indicating ongoing hiring efforts. While the new store is poised to provide better food options in the area, community members continue to voice their concerns about development in their neighborhood.

Construction Advances on New Royal Farms Store in Montgomery Hills Amid Resident Appeals

Construction is moving forward on the new Royal Farms store located at 9475 Georgia Ave. in Montgomery Hills. This location was previously occupied by the Beltway Car Care and a Sunoco gas and car service station. Although neighborhood residents had concerns about the project, their appeals were unsuccessful, allowing work to continue on the site.

In March, it was confirmed that construction had started after a public hearing held by the Montgomery County Board of Appeals. These hearings addressed appeals filed by local residents who believed they would be unfairly impacted by the new store. Despite their concerns, the board voted unanimously to support Royal Farms and approved the construction permits.

The Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services issued permits last fall, valued at over $200,000. Eleven local residents classified as “persons aggrieved” under Section 8-23 of the Montgomery County Code appealed the project, claiming they would be adversely affected by its development.

During the public hearing on January 29, the Montgomery County Board of Appeals decided with a 5-0 vote in favor of Royal Farms, allowing construction to proceed without halt. As a result, contractors have made significant progress on the site, which includes establishing the framework and canopy for the main building and installing gas tanks.

Royal Farms has not yet announced an official opening date for the new store, but the company is actively hiring for various positions as evidenced by prominent “Now Hiring” signs displayed at the construction site. The store is currently featured on Royal Farms’ “Coming Soon!” webpage, creating excitement in the community.

This new Royal Farms store marks a significant milestone for Montgomery County as it will be the first of the “big three” convenience stores—Sheetz and Wawa being the others—to open outside of Gaithersburg. Royal Farms is known for its delicious fried chicken and, notably, was recognized by USA Today as the “Best Gas Station for Food” last year, which is likely to attract many customers to the new location.

Despite the progression of construction, neighborhood residents continue to express their concerns. An appeal process was initiated during a public hearing scheduled for early 2024, where a 147-page case file submitted by the appellant group detailed various reasons for disputing the approval of construction permits. The appellants have the option to take their case to the Montgomery County Circuit Court, should they wish to pursue further action against the Board of Appeals’ decision.

The steady advancement of construction at the Royal Farms site reflects a larger trend of development in Montgomery Hills, a community that is experiencing growth as demand for convenience services increases. As the project continues, local residents will be watching closely to see how the new store’s opening will impact their neighborhood and daily lives.

In conclusion, while construction progresses and excitement builds for the new Royal Farms store, the underlying tensions between developers and residents linger on. The coming months will be crucial as the store prepares to open, and its influence on the Montgomery Hills community becomes clearer.

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Additional Resources

• Source of the Spring: Construction Progresses at Royal Farms
• Wikipedia: Royal Farms
• Source of the Spring: Royal Farms Construction Moves Forward
• Google Search: Royal Farms Montgomery Hills
• Community Impact: The Woodlands Hills Community Church Expansion
• Google Scholar: Montgomery County Development Issues
• Vestavia Voice: River Bank Trust Renovations
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Convenience Stores
• Dayton Daily News: City of Centerville Court Fight
• Google News: Royal Farms Community Concerns