Hebron Commissioners have passed the mega-project of Waller Landing. An appeal seems imminent.
Waller has even drawn the attention of Environment Maryland and is cited as an example in its Report. See Press Release below.
At noon on Wednesday, April 1, Environment Maryland has scheduled a press conference on the plaza in front of the County Office Building on Division St in Salisbury.
This statewide organization has researched the issue of compliance of various counties with their own comprehensive plans -- and is issuing a strong report on sprawl in the rural zones, citing several examples where development is proposed, out of synch with the comprehensive plan. Four of the 12 cases they cite are in Wicomico County -- namely Whiton, Waller Landing, Meadows at Barren Creek, and Essex Ridge.
The timing of this report is designed to support the Smart and Sustainable Growth Act of 2009 (SB 280, known otherwise as the Terrapin Run Bill) proposed by Governor O'Malley to strengthen the planning process in the counties, and to counter the recent Court of Appeals decision which weakens the link between zoning and smart planning
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Joe:
ReplyDeleteExcept for Waller Landing site, which was annexed into the Town of Hebron some years ago, those other projects are in the County, and would have over half of the site as preserved open space -- which, of course, is not enough to satisfy the tree-huggers.
So, have you now decided to support the effort of the Wicomico Environment Trust -- whose leaders (Pretl, Groutt, etc.) support Comegys for Mayor -- that wants to take away the right of landowners to develope their land.
That group ("Environment Maryland") is another front for them and has many of the same directors as the Bay Foundation and others who have no regard for property rights.
Suggest that you confer about this post with GA Harrison (or simply delete it ASAP).
I hope they include a school in this proposal because the Westside Schools and Mardela M/HS cannot handle anymore enrollment.
ReplyDeleteWhat will happen if it doesn't?
whoa whoa whoa! Look people, SPRAWL IS BAD! It makes the property owner a bit of money, and the developer a LOT of money.
ReplyDeleteHere is how it works. A developer buys a piece of land, the property owner retires or moves in town and forever regrets selling. The developer makes millions and the taxpayer is left holding the bill for increased cost of services. An example would be how properties on well and septic get annexed and then the taxpayers have to pay the cost to run sewer and water. Or the costs of a bigger school, or more fire equipment, or increased law enforcement officers and equipment. Look at Grasonville and Kent area. Have you driven up to the bridge lately? All you have to do is look at what overpasses, concrete barriers, and mini malls COST the taxpayer and you will SEE the future of Hebron. What has the bypass around Salisbury cost all of us? A heck of a lot, I'd say.
One person might say, well, those people pay taxes, sure they do, but guess what, the numbers don't come close to being equal.
If the PEOPLE don't start coming to County and Hebron meetings and voicing thier complaints. The taxpayers will eventually have to foot the bill to make Wicomico County look like the Grasonville, Stevensville, Kent Island, Queenstown areas of Route 50.
Now how do you balance that with the rights of said good old boy property owner to make a buck when he wants to retire.
Here it is.....
The DEVELOPER has to pay the ENTIRE COST OF DEVELOPING that land OR the land owner has to be COMPENSATED to NOT develop that land.
End of Story.....
Environment Maryland is a disgusting group. They only are interested in open space not Ag land preservation. The farmers need to organize and expose these kinds of groups. They aren't welcome in Wicomico.
ReplyDeleteWicomico County has never been serious about preserving land. If they had they would be putting money in the coffers to pay the landowners but instead, the likes of McCain and Cannon wants to put the entire burden on the backs of the landowners. The only thing the landowners get is lip service and lies from the likes of McCain.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=89612
ReplyDeleteThis link covers it all on this Administration...
Send McCain a message that you won't be using his services again. Call another appraisal firm. The only message for Cannon is that we have him for 2 more years and we will vote him gone.
ReplyDeleteMr./Ms. 1:14
ReplyDeleteIt's absurd to say that the development here has been or will be like that on Kent Island, which is now part of the Baltimore-DC metro area, and a "bedroom community" for those who work in those cities and want to be on or near the water.
In Whiton and the other cluster projects in Wicomico County, 50% or more of the site is preserved as open space. Waller Landing is now in the Town of Hebron so it may not have much open space (I don't know about it). Pretl and Groutt live in the rural areas and don't want to have any neighbors living near them. Their little club -- Wicomico Environmental Trust -- is a bunch of NIMBY's like them.
I'll bet the site of your home was once a farm or forest -- or do you live in a tent or tree-house?
818
ReplyDeleteWhat is absurd is saying that Kent Island development can't happen here.
You have no sense of time or history. Look at Ocean City, and look at the north end of Salisbury. I hunted on what was once an area behind best buy.
The only thing I might agree with Pretl about is that I don't want more come-heres and I don't want higher taxes or more strip malls that are going broke.
You're "50% as open space" sounds like a good argument but the numbers don't make sense. Jethro developer with 2 years of community college buys a piece of land, let's say 100 acres, he splits it up for 20 homes instead of 50 or 80. So what, another farm is gone, and those twenty families STILL don't pay enough taxes to pay for the capital improvements they will require and the traffic they will generate. Not to mention the new "strip mall" that the coming horde of morons fleeing the cesspools of Jersey, Long Island, and Baltimore will want built behind the new Royal Farms. Soon enough, due to fewer and fewer farms every year, Perdue will pick up and move and we will be living in Scenic and friendly New Jersey. All because we have people in the community and government whose vision is shorter than their high school educated Johnson.
One more thing Mr/MS Absurd Open space. How long till the Royal Farms gets a traffic light because of accidents caused by the New Hebron brainiacs pulling out into Ocean City traffic?
Now take your absurd logic and wrap you brain around this one.
How many traffic lights were there on Rt 50 ten years ago and how many now? (If you don't know go back where you came from) Now, what did that bypass cost US to build to get the precious inbred Baltimore/Pennsy-tucky mouth breathers to the beach? Those banjo players use to drive through Salisbury, now they get to whoosh 1/2 way around Chickentown. Now tell me again why we won't eventually look like Kent Island shorty?
And I'll tell you something else, we don't need more come-here people to generate tax revenue.
We don't need more flashing traffic lights along route 50.
We don't need more development along route 50 where land is cheaper for Mr. Community College Developer.
What we do need is our farmers to be FULLY compensated for the developmental potential of their land.
AND..
What we really need and are going to get is a change in our leadership at the county level.
Every farmer I know is outraged about the latest swipe at them and will be voting accordingly.
As far as the Essex Ridge subdivision, E. S. Adkins and Company has held title for over 60 years on the property, its a small part of a 1,800 acre complex of timberland, of which 80% will be preserved. Over 87% of the forest will be preserved and its a relatively small development around an existing neighborhood. Adkins has preserved over 4,000 acres of timberland on the shore and has plans to do more. It has one of the most solid environmental records of any landowner on the shore and most of what is now the Nassawango Creek Preserve was land donated and sold by Adkins to the Nature Conservancy. Its ironic that Evnironment MD, whoever that is, is against this project. It doesn't cost them anything take away peoples rights, but I'll listen when they put their money where their mouths are.
ReplyDelete