We read today Sunday June 21, 2009, in the Baltimore Sun page 2, an article by Larry Carlson stating that the county hearing examiner approved the plan for road development for a Walgreens pharmacy at 175 and Thunderhill Road. We are opposed to commercial development at that site unless it serves a purpose NOT currently provided nearby, a pharmacy would NOT meet that criteria—residents can drive to Owen Brown and other local commercial centers.

How does this proposal for road changes mesh with the road changes needed for development of the Blandair Park access? How will the development of the Blandair Park impact the needs of the roads and residents near the intersection of 175 and Thunderhill Road?

We do not want to be confronted with commercial development as we enter our neighborhood, unless it is something that better serves the community, such as a small breakfast/lunch/dinner diner that brings residents together, or senior citizen housing. Also, perhaps the county may need to temporarily use the site as a site headquarters during the development of Blandair Park?

PS, Also, how does the proposal for 175 & Thunderhill development fit in with the cloverleaf planned for 175 and rte 29, and how can we make sure it will afford future plans for WALKING access to downtown Columbia Town Center from the north 175 route in addition to the pedestrian bridge on the south side of OM to provide the joggers/bikers/dog walkers of Columbia a circular route from Town Center through Oakland Mills and back to Town Center?