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Our Mission. To protect the precious environment and heritage of Talbot County, including its waterways, farmland and historic small towns. Regional Cooperation. Comprehensive Plans. Hospital Relocation. Annexation. Putting the Pieces Together.
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Our Mission To protect the precious environment and heritage of Talbot County, including its waterways, farmland and historic small towns
Regional Cooperation Comprehensive Plans Hospital Relocation Annexation Putting the Pieces Together WelcomeTalbot Preservation AllianceAnnual MeetingApril 2008
COMP PLAN 101 Maryland Law: • All municipalities and counties must have a Comprehensive Plan • The plans must be updated every 6 years • There are 3 new elements • Water resources • Priority preservation areas (county only) • Municipal growth element (towns only)
COMP PLAN 202 • Step 1: Pass Comprehensive Plans to create a vision for the community • Step 2: Enact Zoning Ordinances must be updated and enforced
Comprehensive PlanExample: EASTON • The Town of Easton is currently updating its Comprehensive Plan • Last plan completed in 2004 • 3 public meetings to date
Comprehensive PlanExample: EASTON • 2004 Comprehensive Plan Statements: • “overwhelming sentiment that we take steps to slow the rate of growth in our town” (page 2) • “Many clearly feel that the rate is at best too fast and at worst out of control” (page 25) At that time Easton’s growth rate was 3%
Land must be added to Easton’s growth areas Comprehensive Plan update: Town will add 1,900 new dwelling units through 2015 -Star Democrat Headline 3/21/08
Easton’s Future? • Based on a 3% growth rate • Using Smart Growth density of 3.5 units/acre • Easton will have 31,000 residents in 2040 • There are 15,000 today
Comp Plan Math • Question: Must additional land be annexed during the next Comprehensive Plan period to accommodate reasonable growth?
Easton Growth: 2002-2007 1,356 New Housing Permints1 x 2.2 Persons Per House2 2,983 New Easton Residents 1: Easton Planning Office 2: MD Dept of Planning (MDP)
Easton Growth: 2009-2015 1,000 New Houses Approved (Not Occupied)1 x 2.2 Persons Per House2 2,200 New Easton Residents 1: Easton Planning Office 2: MD Dept of Planning (MDP)
Easton Growth: 2009-2015 156 Residentially Zoned Acres1 x 3.5 Houses per Acre2 x 2.2 Persons per House3 1,201 New Easton Residents 1: Easton Planning Office 2: MD Smart Growth Law 3: MD Dept of Planning (MDP)
Easton Growth: 2009-2015 2,200 New Residents from Approved Projects + 1,201 New Residents from Land in Easton Today 3,400 Potential New Residents 2,983 New Easton Residents Added from 2002-2007
Lowe’s 168,000ft2 Ashby Commons 89 du Target/Retail Space 150,000ft2 Easton Village 250 du Douglass Landing 155 du Londonerry Annexation ?? Lakelands 145 du Cooke’s Hope 100 du
What Can You Do? • Get Involved • Engage in the Comp Plan public hearings • Let the town know a 3% growth rate is not “an acceptable level” • Demand the Plan • No new residential annexations for the next plan period (2009-2015)
Denton Current Town Planned Annexation
Ridgely Planned Annexation Current Town
Hebron Planned Annexation Current Town
Trappe Rt 50 Annexed Land Current Town Rt 50
FACT: Residential development costs more in tax dollars than it generates 23
24 FACT: Each home generates 10 vehicle trips/day
Filtering Capacity Open Land: Excellent - Good Development: Fair - Poor 25 FACT: Water quality degrades quickly as impervious surfaces increase
Ask These Questions Actual dollars to the town? Actual costs to the town? Traffic/road improvements? Schools? Impervious surface areas? Storm water management?
Annexations to Alliances • Blackwater • Annexations: Trappe, Denton • QA Proposed Business Development • Land Conservation
QUEEN ANNE’S CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION QACA Dorchester Citizens for Planned Growth
Collaborative Advocacy Talbot Preservation Alliance Queen Anne’s Conservation Association Eastern Shore Land Conservancy State Leaders and Agencies WYE MILLS PLAN
WYEMILLS’ FUTURE? • Previous (UMBI) Plan is off the table • Rural Village / College Town? • Major Employment / Commercial Growth Node? • Regional Medical Center?
QAC Proposed Planning Area Major Employment Center CAC is considering development plans Kipp 2 was not in the original plan Talbot County not Included
Fundamental Flaws • Improvements to Route 50 and 213 or 404 interchanges are not funded. • The College has modest sewer capacity available. • The Wye East River watershed is considered “impaired.” • Other locations are available in County growth areas that could accommodate employment growth. • The original plan market study indicates only modest demand for business (as opposed to warehousing and distribution). • There is no proven synergy between a community college and employment spin-off businesses.
Who Benefits~ Who Supports? • Dr. Stuart Bounds, Former President Chesapeake College. • The benefiting landowners: • Mr. Kimo Kipp, Mr. Michael Foster. • QAC Commissioners: • Dr. Eric Wargotz, Paul Gunther, Courtney Billups. • QAC Department of Economic Development and Agriculture. • Business Queen Anne’s. • QAC Economic Development Commission. • QAC Chamber of Commerce. • University of Maryland Health System?
A Better Plan: Rural Village / College Town • A Planning Area not split by the freeway. • Route 50 and 404 frontage remains rural. • Limited expansion for the College, schools and research employment on the Foster property. • Infill development and historic restoration in the Village of Wye Mills. • Buffer on both sides of the Mill Pond.
What can you do to help? • Support the Talbot Council that has opposed this proposal – saying not consistent with TC Comprehensive Plan. • Attend CAC meetings and public hearings and speak against commercial sprawl. • Write letters to the editor. • Lobby the MD Department of Planning, MD Department of the Environment and MD Department of Natural Resources to withhold enabeling approvals. • Support the advocacy organizations – TPA, QACA, ESLC. • Write the new President of the College, Dr. Barbara Viniar.
Community Center Proposed Hospital Site Airport Easton Geography: County’s Offered Hospital Site
Community Action • TPA Actions • Full House Avalon Forum and Commissioned Hospital Film • >10,000 Signatures Petition • Communication with SHS and UMMS boards • Hospital Citizens Committee • Broad based community leadership • Public advocacy – newspaper and letters • Local Government • County Site and Town Services offer • County Economic Impact Report • Meetings with Gov and Sec planning
Regional Cooperation Comprehensive Plans Hospital Relocation Annexation THANK YOU