Wegmans Food Markets could build the Shangri-La of grocery stores, but Timonium community groups, Baltimore County officials and local business people remain wary of the supermarket chain's plans to build on a 20-acre plot near Texas Station.
The Rochester, N.Y.-based company -- famous for its mammoth supermarkets complete with patisseries, hundreds of kinds of cheese, gourmet meat and fish, and in-house restaurants -- made its pitch last night to the Greater Timonium Community Council.
A crowd of more than 60 turned out, many concerned about the amount of traffic the store could add to an area that they feel is clogged with cars -- but others enthusiastic about the possibility of a high-end grocery in their community.
Wegmans' supporters, mostly people who have visited its stores in other states, said they can't believe Baltimore County would turn down the opportunity to have a store in Timonium.
William H. Rianhard, a management consultant whose business is based in New York state but who also has an office in Baltimore, said Wegmans stores are like Lexington Market at its best, combined with Fresh Fields, except with better customer service, a huge selection of gourmet prepared foods and a far broader selection.
"You go in and you don't want to leave, and there aren't many stores like that," he said.
But that's not the point, opponents said last night. The land Wegmans wants to build on is zoned for light manufacturing, and county officials and community group members said that kind of land use would have a greater economic impact with less effect on traffic in the area.
In August, before the company made its pitch, the community council voted unanimously to oppose Wegmans' plans. Members emphasized last night that they have no problem with Wegmans, but don't want the store in the proposed location.
Although the proposed site is near a Sam's Club and Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse, it is zoned for light manufacturing, not retail. That's how community council members and county officials want it to stay.
Wegmans promised to make traffic improvements nearby, but many said they didn't believe it would make a difference.
County officials said they are concerned about getting the most economic impact possible from the property.
The site where Wegmans wants to build is one of the few left for light manufacturing in that area.
