Statement of Richard M. Pollitt, Jr., Wicomico County Executive
May 5, 2009
Today marks the end of a long process in which hundreds of Wicomico County citizens became personally involved in finding the best way to preserve our farmland and keeping Wicomico County as the number one county for Agriculture in the State of Maryland. While sides were taken on how to achieve this, all agreed that agriculture must remain our prime industry and that our environment must be protected.
I salute all those who joined in the vigorous debate leading up to today’s Wicomico County Council vote. While the debate has been emotional and divisive, this has been an outstanding example of democracy in action. I also appreciate the countless hours spent by members of the council as they tried to find common ground while living up to the principles we all share as a community. While today may seem like a defeat to some, I believe great progress has been achieved that will lead to a more satisfactory conclusion that most, if not all, of our citizens will be able to embrace.
Having participated in a number of conversations leading to today’s vote, I am aware that we came very close to reaching a responsible compromise position before the council meeting. I want to build on the progress that has been made, believing as I do, that if we agree on the objectives, a way will appear to achieve our goals.
Accordingly, I shall shortly appoint a commission to pick up where the debate left off today. I shall urge them to build on the elements of the compromise measures that were placed on the table. A key part of this commission’s charge will be to propose the implementation of a valid agricultural land preservation program that will relieve our local farmers from some of the stress caused by rampant development…allowing them to maintain ownership of their property while gaining a fair measure of compensation for not pursuing the development option. I shall ask the commission to report back to me in August of this year in order to coordinate their findings with the adoption of a new county Comprehensive Plan as required by State law by October.
May 5, 2009
Today marks the end of a long process in which hundreds of Wicomico County citizens became personally involved in finding the best way to preserve our farmland and keeping Wicomico County as the number one county for Agriculture in the State of Maryland. While sides were taken on how to achieve this, all agreed that agriculture must remain our prime industry and that our environment must be protected.
I salute all those who joined in the vigorous debate leading up to today’s Wicomico County Council vote. While the debate has been emotional and divisive, this has been an outstanding example of democracy in action. I also appreciate the countless hours spent by members of the council as they tried to find common ground while living up to the principles we all share as a community. While today may seem like a defeat to some, I believe great progress has been achieved that will lead to a more satisfactory conclusion that most, if not all, of our citizens will be able to embrace.
Having participated in a number of conversations leading to today’s vote, I am aware that we came very close to reaching a responsible compromise position before the council meeting. I want to build on the progress that has been made, believing as I do, that if we agree on the objectives, a way will appear to achieve our goals.
Accordingly, I shall shortly appoint a commission to pick up where the debate left off today. I shall urge them to build on the elements of the compromise measures that were placed on the table. A key part of this commission’s charge will be to propose the implementation of a valid agricultural land preservation program that will relieve our local farmers from some of the stress caused by rampant development…allowing them to maintain ownership of their property while gaining a fair measure of compensation for not pursuing the development option. I shall ask the commission to report back to me in August of this year in order to coordinate their findings with the adoption of a new county Comprehensive Plan as required by State law by October.
13 comments:
His basic premise is all wrong; it's not his farmland to preserve. If he wants to preserve it, let him buy it.
Now the real work begins. "Rampant development" has to stop.
Another commission to waste time with. Take the cluster developments and density rules off the books.
"Accordingly, I shall shortly appoint a commission to pick up where the debate left off today."
If I were you fatman I would let this bill die. Who asked you or the 4 cronies whose name is on the bill to "protect" your land. This is not your land and furthermore the county has other pressing issues. I certainly hope you and the rest of the county council are sitting in those seats for the last time.
Pollitt is appointing his buddy, WCDC Warden Doug Devenyns to chair the commission.
So fast Mr. Pollitt? The ink hasn't even dried up yet. It will very revealing as to who is "chosen" to sit on this commission.
"Relieve farmers from some of the stress caused by development??" What kind of double talk is that? Relieve farmers of the right to sell their land at a profit is what he meant.
This is why we are a Republic and not a Democracy because the majority is not always right! Our founding fathers said as much.
Commission to draft the "nuts and bolts" ? Does that mean a bunch of lawyers to look for more loopholes to stick it to the people?
If Pollitt wants to revive a dead piece of legislation, is he as opposed to it as he has led us to believe? Why appoint anyone to do anything? Just do the Comprehensive Plan and leave this out of it!
Agriculture IS Wicomico County-it's the look, it's the economy and its the ideals. Unfortunately developers and realitors have tweeked the thoughts of farmers to make them believe their properties won't be worth a dime. Not the case at all! Look at surrounding Counties with more strick development densities-they aren't hurting at all. In fact their land values are HIGHER than Wicomico County's! People criticize the use of the term "Rampant development"-it might not seem like it now in this economy, but take a stroll down Pemberton Drive or Nanticoke Road 15 or 20 years ago...now take the same route today-you wouldn't even recognize it! Just because development isn't taking place now doesn't mean that it hasn't been a problem.
IMO, I think that if farmers and such land owners what to keep their "developable" land values then perhaps they should pay the taxes on their land as such. Where is it fair that farmers get the tax cuts for ag land and farming all this time, but then can flip it for a monster profit? I bet if the County started taxing the A1 land at the value farmers desire then they would quickly change their tune about this legislation.
The street runs two ways. While I don't think that the legislation proposed yesterday was the best that it could be, I think that people will begin to realize that if written properly with a fair compensation, we will see a better use of the lands in this County. Unfortunately, the compensation will never be fair-too much will drain the County's proposed tranfer tax (or whatever is decided to use to pay out compensation) funds and too little will divide the County. WCCL had some great points for the proposed legislation; however they need to be involved with this committee to reach an agreement as much as possible. It will have to be a joint effort and compromise. There are hundred, if not thousands of farmers in our community that truly enjoy cultivating and working off their land-I would hate to see that go away just because they can make some quick bucks by selling out to a developer. I would hate to see these young farmers that want to buy land miss out on the opertunity that those people "selling out" took for granted.
While I am not a farmer and I do not own more than a 1/2 acre of land myself, I see the value of agriculture in this County. I've already seen how much can be lost. I know it is not my land, it is your's-All I would like to see is cooperation and some sort of compromise as this moves forward. Something is going to happen, but we shouldn't divide this County as a result.
Joe, my suggestion to you, since you are highly influential and have this blog for a great information source, start a thread where folks can voice their opinion as to what an acceptable compromise would be. Moreover, what would be an acceptable compensation measure? I would suggest that this not be a debate, but instead just bounce ideas so that this appointed committee can use them to help come to a reasonable solution. I would like to see it moderated in such a manor that all opinions are respected but criticism would not be allowed. Let's work together for a solution so that we can preserve the rural nature of our County on everybody's terms.
Thank you
Leave well enough alone, Mr. Pollitt. You have bigger issues to resolve right now.
Including defending your job, apparently.
Anon 8:21 AM,
Unfortunately, that is the wrong way of doing this. The Comprehensive Plan could be far worse than this legislation...and guess what, you wouldn't have much of a say in it! If the Comprehensive Plan addresses this issue, then the following legislation is obligated to reflect it...That being the case, you wouldn't have a whole lot of input on the matter. At least with doing it prior to that Comprehensive Plan you will have public forums and a voice in the legislation. Mr. Pollitt knows what he is doing and he is doing it in everybody's best interests despite whether or not you like the legislation-you'll still have a voice...
He just won't give up will he? What's in it for you Pollitt? Get rid of this idiot AND his office. Petition it's removal at the next election.
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