AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi
As we approached the turn lane for Arnold Station off the northbound lanes of Ritchie Highway, we were astonished to see a poster bearing the image of a proud rooster urging the community to “Stop Chick fil A”.
We’d first heard about the Arnold community’s efforts to stop a proposed Chick fil A from being built there during an interview with Arnold Preservation Council director Elizabeth Rosborg in May of 2024. As the council is unable to file an appeal because one can only be filed by a property owner directly involved, Rosborg filed as owner of the property at 18 Severn Way LLC (with the support of the council). We were on the way to meet her near that property along the B&A Trail behind Arnold station when we spied a second colorful poster next to a fence.
Photos by Sharon Lee Tegler
A recent article in the Capital Gazette newspaper Business Section by Benjamin Rothstein covered the fourth of six hearings before the Anne Arundel County Board of Appeals. During the first three hearings, Chick fil A outlined their preliminary plan. According to Rothstein, lawyer Dan Fligsten, the attorney representing Rosborg and three witnesses spoke on behalf of the council followed by a brief presentation of Anne Arundel County’s case by assistant county attorney Curran Ritter.
Rosborg noted that the preliminary plan for the Chick fil A has already been approved by the County.
She described the proposed site for the fast-food restaurant, the first Drive-Thru Only Chick fil A in the state of Maryland, as being located off the southbound lanes of Ritchie Highway just past Arnold Road and CVS Pharmacy and between the Sunoco and a private driveway. It is opposite the Arnold Volunteer Fire Department.
“We are not against Chick fil A. In fact, many Arnold residents frequent the Chick fil A just up the highway in Severna Park,” Rosborg said. “Something will be built at the site and we’re not against that. We’re just not for having a Chick fil A at this site from a safety point of view. Traffic is heavy here and, since 2018, there have been three traffic fatalities in proximity to the intersection.”
She further explained that where Rt. 648 merges with Ritchie Highway south, the road expands to three lanes. The far-right lane continues south past Arnold Road until the highway narrows back to two lanes right in front of the proposed Chick fil A.
There is also an issue related specifically to Arnold Road which is illustrated in the map below.
Chick fil A proposes ingress and egress on Ritchie Highway but they also propose to build a road behind the CVS Pharmacy with entrance and exit to/from the site off Arnold Road. Though the Chick fil A would be a Drive-Thru Only property, it would have a window for Door Dash and Grub Hub pick-ups. Thus, it would have a lot with 42 parking spaces – 20 for employees and the remainder for Door Dash and Grub Hub pick-ups or orders from aps.
Drivers leaving Arnold Station shopping center would mix with drivers entering or exiting the road behind the CVS to the Chick fil A site – a possible cause of traffic back-ups.
Anne Arundel County’s largely unchecked development has meant there is bumper-to-bumper traffic on our highways most times of the day, especially on the span of Ritchie Highway (Route 2) running from Route 50 to Route 100.
For Elizabeth Rosborg, the Arnold Preservation Council and the community, the appeal process has been difficult. They are inexperienced in mounting such an effort in opposition to a big corporation and it has also been costly. To go before the Board of Appeals, they’ve had to raise money for three experts – a lawyer, a traffic engineer and a civil engineer who charge expensive by-the-hour fees. There have been other costs for the printing of necessary documents. Sadly, no one from the business community has stepped up to help them so they’ve needed to raise the money via a Go Fund Me page.
Rosberg said the most frustrating thing about the process is that they’ve had no actual communication with Chick fil A and have tried to meet with the County, but that has proved difficult as well.
Two more hearings are scheduled though only one may be needed. The Arnold Preservation Council is hoping to rally enough community members to fill the gallery, which holds 200 people, at the next Board of Appeals hearing which is scheduled for 5 pm October 1st at Arundel Center Council Chambers at44 Calvert Street in Annapolis.
Following public comments at that meeting, the Arnold group will be finished. Anyone is welcome to come to the hearing and speak with two conditions. You must speak on why this development will affect you and you must include what you would like to see built on the site instead. (There have already been three suggestions including one for a public library.)
For more information about the appeal, visit Stop Arnold Chick-Fill A page at Facebook.
Wellness Business Connections Happy Hour a breath of fresh air
The Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce’s Wellness Business Connections happy hours are always fun and informative. One of the chamber’s networking groups, Wellness Business Connections was formed several years ago by a collaboration of health-related companies. The informal gatherings are held monthly, often at businesses or restaurants like The Social in Severna Park, and range in size from eight to twenty members depending on the season. Those hosted by longtime chamber member Barbara Gill are among the most looked forward to gatherings.
The happy hour hosted by Gill on September 18th began with members meeting one another in the beautiful garden of her Crownsville home. Seated in comfy chairs with a beverage of choice, they introduced themselves, traded business cards, and chatted about recent films, books, a new form of yoga, and meditation aps.
In attendance were holistic life coach Carrie Baquie, realtor and journalist Loren Edelstein, GYMGUYZ co-owner Lauren Brewington, certified Optiva Coach Jennifer Freeland, Center for Transformative Dentistry owner Yasaman Roland, and Fenix Wellness owner Krista Hernandez.
Gill, a distributor for Melaleuca: The Wellness Company and founder of City Coffee Connections is a most gracious hostess and invited everyone inside to her dining room table where she’d set out a buffet of healthy fruits, salads and other taste tempters.
Once seated in an adjoining studio/office area, Gill called the meeting to order and gave each attendee a chance to formally introduce and explain her business, starting with Jennifer Freeland.
Freeland, from Arnold, noted that she and her husband are Optiva Health Coaches.
“The main areas we focus on are weight loss and maintenance and optimization through personal training,” she said.
Next to speak was Lauren Brewington who owns and operates GYMGUYZ Annapolis & Columbia along with husband Alan.
“We bring the workout to you,” Brewington said. “We do not do the training ourselves but hire six certified professional trainers that will go to your home or wherever you are. We can do group sessions, semi-private sessions or private sessions.”
Krista Hernandez is a certified holistic wellness coach. Her business focuses on helping women relieve stress through, among other things, her Rise & Shine Weekly Women’s Circle that meets every Saturday at Fenix Wellness at 2705 Mountain Road in Pasadena. Hernandez also does Wellness Workshops including an upcoming one on October 3 at Element at Mill Creek, 76 Old Mill Bottom Road in Annapolis.
Loren Edelstein, a realtor with Long & Foster’s Eastport office is also a writer specializing in branding and marketing for small businesses. She can create website content, newsletters or white papers for them.
Carrie Baquie is a holistic conscious transformation coach specializing in helping women in mid-life who have retired from business or whose children are grown that would like to move forward. Held back by subconscious doubt, they are unsure how to go about it. Baquie retrains the subconscious.
Center for Transformative Dentistry owner Yasaman Roland came next. In practice for 15 years, Roland practices functional whole body dentistry for adults and children.
“We focus on a healthy approach to dental care,” said Roland. “We’re devoted to using healthy ingredients, reducing inflammation, using oxygenated ozone for cleaning and standard dentistry because it cleanses the area being worked on and do not use toxic materials or metals.”
Barbara Gill came last, describing Melaleuca as a U.S. company that started 40 years ago to sell Tea Tree Oil. The founders created a product line using seven essential oils and natural ingredients and wanted to sell them in stores but processing them to compete with Proctor & Gamble and Johnson & Johnson would be too expensive. Thus, they created a shopping club where people pay a nominal membership fee and their orders for exceptional products at reasonable prices are delivered to them. Gill produced a product list containing hundreds of Melaleuca products and made a game of selecting a winner based on how many products they could find similar to ones they use. Roland won the contest.
Before ending the meeting, Gill pitched her annual Coffee Connections holiday luncheon that will be held December 2nd at Cafe Mezzanotte this year and will feature “lipologist” Ariana who reads lips based on a lipstick imprint on a card.
As a final bit of fun, Gill handed out little gift bags to each Wellness Connections member as they left.
20th Annversary of Higgins and Friends Pet Sitting celebrated on October 2nd
A quick reminder that Jill Weissenbach will be marking the “20 Plus One” Year Anniversary of Higgins and Friends Pet Sitting, LLC on Thursday, October 2nd from 5 to 6 pm at The Social in Severna Park. For information, visit Facebook.
The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility whilereducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center. From health-defense to self-defense, Jing Ying provides fitness with a purpose for the whole family!
and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.
