Letters to the Editor
May 22, 2023

Editor’s Note: Below is a digest of letters received from local residents opposed to the Parker’s Kitchen 24-hour fuel station-convenience store proposed for the corner of Whiskey Road and Stratford Drive.

From Jean Greenwald:

It’s a shame the residents of Springstone Villas and surrounding neighbors of Stratford Hall and Springstone find ourselves once again at odds with City Officials who have already ignored conditions on Planned Commercial zoning that included no car washes and also saddled us with Lulu’s on a portion of the parcel.

Now, they want to put in a Parker’s Kitchen — a 24 hour fuel sale/ fried chicken fast food franchise — something that violates three more of those conditions, including no fuel sales, no 24-hour businesses of any kind, and no fast food. Officials seemed to have a case of amnesia during the first reading of this Parker’s Concept Plan — with the exception of Councilwoman Lessie Price, who was the only one who seemed to remember and acknowlede the conditions on this parcel, as she seconded that 2003 motion to approve the zoning conditions attached to the Planned Commercial that would protect and buffer our homes. Ms. Price also made the motion to continue this item after listening to the citizen’s concerns. She was one of only two Council members that did not vote to approve Lulu’s in 2020 . Councilwoman Gail Diggs was the other.

The rest of this very same board not only pretended those conditions had magically fallen off the zoning, but 3 of them then had the audacity to scold our citizens while voting to approve the car wash on the parcel that prohibited car washes.   However, the citizens were very well aware of the zoning conditions at that time ; they knew it planned commercial with “zoning conditions,” including no car washes and no fuel sales among others.  

Therefore, an apology from these Council members to our citizens should be forthcoming!   The concerns are many surrounding Parker’s Kitchen, which they are asking to be put on another section of this same parcel, but at the top of the list are public safety concerns. Putting a fuel station at the entrance to a residential street which is the only way in and out for 3 subdivisions is a disaster waiting to happen! You need simply to drive down Whiskey Rd. to assess this, no expensive traffic study or planning degree needed.

Common sense and ethical fortitude on the part of Officials is what residents are looking for.

Our homes are well kept, our neighborhood is mostly retired people who have worked hard for what they have and are trying to enjoy retirement. Instead we find ourselves once again going to battle with officials. The Council used covid as justification to limit the numbers of people in hearings when Lulu’s was approved in 2020, but there was still huge opposition.

The opposition against building a Parker’s Kitchen in this location only continues to grow as the word gets out. We are looking at everything with a fine-tooth comb and getting more organized to protect our neighborhoods. This is the second major battle in 3 years with this Council, which seems to view Whiskey Rd. as a dumping ground for anything a developer asks.  

We are very aware that this same Council is making decisions that threaten to destroy our beautiful historic downtown district as well. These councilmembers have not been good stewards of our beautiful city (see Project Pascalis or Whiskey Road), and now they are coming for our backyard. We won’t stop fighting for what we know is right. Our quality of life and our safety depend on it.  Council should do the right thing and tell Parker’s to find a more suitable location — but instead the resident are being tasked with this responsibility.

Jean Greenwald
Aiken, S.C.

From Mary Camlet-Agresta:

Many of us in Spring Stone are worried about the outcome of having a Parkers Kitchen on Whiskey Rd and Stratford Drive. Not only is it our only way in and out, but with a Parkers, they are expecting over 2100 vehicles in and out every single day. If they are allowed to do a cut through onto Stratford behind their building, what a nightmare that will be. 

Doesn’t sound bad? You have to live here to understand. 

That is not the worst of it by a long shot.

Let’s talk about a fuel delivery every day. What happens when there is an accident? Fuel spill, fire, potential fatalities. There were several tanker accidents lately and the outcome was not good. 

Let’s talk about emissions, pollution and carcinogens that cause many many health issues like cancer. Why, you say? Did you know the one of many components is benzene? If you are not familiar, please look it up.

Let’s talk about the fact of this particular parcel is “planned commercial with conditions.” Meaning, no gas stations, for one. This has never expired, as the council will have you believe. 

Everything I have mentioned and more is accounted for in writing and on video.

If you want to know more concerning issues, if you are concerned for yourself and your children, if you do not want any more congestion on Whiskey Road, please come to the council meeting scheduled for May 22 at 7 pm. [Editor’s note: This item has since been moved to the June 12 meeting]

Hope to see many of you there.

Mary Camlet-Agresta 
Aiken, SC

From Diane Salsitz

Residents of Spring Stone, Stratford Hall and Sprinstone Villa’s voiced their concerns over use  of Stratford Drive for entrance to Parkers and LuLu’s, all of which are valid.

We now have questions which we feel should be answered. The questions are for those on the Planning and Zoning Commission from those of us who will be affected by this decision if Parker’s Kitchen is approved.

1. Has South Carolina DOT approved the increased weight load on Stratford Drive that Parkers will bring?  It’s our understanding a gasoline tanker with 850 gallons of gasoline will be making 2 or 3 stops or more weekly to fill gas tanks at Parkers. 
2. Parkers will be lit from dusk to dawn. No more complete darkness for some who have been accustomed to it being so when they retire for the night.
3. What happens if there is an accident involving a gas tanker delivering 850 gallons of gasoline to Parker’s?  An  explosion? Or a gas leak?  Look what happened at Fredericksburg Maryland. A gasoline tanker overturned killing the driver. Residents in the surrounding area had to leave their homes for clean-up to take place.   
4. Who will be responsible for damages to residents or their property? As noted at the last LuLu’s plan, that’s a question that needs answering! How the heck could one get out should this happen? ONE of many questions that should be answered as lives could  be in danger. The residents in these three sub division have everything thing to lose if that happens. The city loses nothing other than city taxes etc.  So far, it’s very one-sided. Human lives can and will be affected.

Accidents can’t always be avoided. That’s why they are called accidents, One must always allow  for them just the same. Putting things where they can’t hurt others is a way to begin.

Just look what happened in Ohio. The train derailment — an accident that should have never happened. Yet it did! The life of the residents in that town will never be the same. These people will never have peace of mind. Granted they may or will receive compensation for their losses, health etc. But what about long term health issues?

I wouldn’t want to have that worry. What about all of you?

Diane Salsitz
Aiken, SC