Hello Neighbors,

Starbucks has plans and county approval to build a store with a drive-thru at the northwest corner or York RD and Regester Avenue.  As you may be aware, the developer has begun demolition of the old bank building, and the Starbucks with drive-thru is scheduled to open in late spring of this year.

Imagine every day between 7am and 9am, about 100 vehicles leaving Starbucks' drive-thru and exiting onto Regester Ave. Around the corner, another 100 vehicles are trying to enter Starbucks from York RD.  Add to this, cars from the residential neighborhoods of Rodgers Forge, Anneslie, and Stoneleigh attempting to enter York RD to go either north or south.  This poses a potential traffic nightmare, especially because there are no plans to change York RD signage to reflect the need to direct such high traffic volume.

Most importantly:  There will be 200 of our children walking to and from school in the SAME area and crossing at the York and Regester intersection.

 A similar situation will be quite possible between 3pm and 4pm.

We think the plans are ill-considered, and could be a recipe for disaster. It seems that Starbucks, our local government, and the developer looked at this corner and saw only the potential profit of a drive-thru.  They quickly and quietly approved a plan that's incompatible with our communities, and didn't allow any input from its residents.

Starbucks also claims that they “engage with customers and communities to do business responsibly” –We have not seen this!

We are asking for a chance to meet with the county, the developer, and Starbucks to raise our questions and concerns about the safety and compatibility of this drive-thru BEFORE construction starts.

Please sign our petition if you agree:

1. The developer should halt construction on the Starbucks drive-thru immediately

2. David Marks and Kevin Kamenetz need to meet directly with the communities to listen to ALL of our concerns

3. Communities should be able to voice their concerns BEFORE businesses are able to start development in an area that is adjacent to residential property

4. If the drive-thru is built, changes need to be put in place that will make pedestrian safety a priority and also ease traffic congestion.

Thank you for your support!