Last week Judge Donald Davis really embarrassed the town officials in Hebron and their legal advisor from the western shore by killing the town’s purported rezoning of the “Waller Landing” property on Route 50 and Porter Mill Road. He found numerous errors in the procedures used to change the zoning of the 400 acre tract that could have resulted in over a thousand homes being built there if the town can ever enlarge and upgrade its water and sewer treatment plants. Local residents repeatedly warned the town officials that they were violating the law in their rezoning, and the Judge agreed with them.
This situation is similar, in general to the rezoning of the old Salisbury Mall site that was killed by the Circuit Court several years ago after the City of Salisbury under Barrie Tilghman spent thousands of dollars in fees for the benefit of a developer from Baltimore, but in Hebron the developer from Wilmington has covered some or most of the cost. Elected officials and developers need to learn that zoning is not a game where the persons with the most money always gets what they want.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
12 comments:
Congratulations to the people of Hebron who have common sense.
Nuts to think this monster was a good idea.
At least the Waller developers have more class than the mall developers. Then again, maybe Hebron is just smarter than Salisbury was when it came to the legal fees.
Hebron officials (Commissioners and Planning) were/are clueless. What's the name of the attorney who advised them in this matter????? What's up with him?
The absolute failure to properly handle this matter demands the resignation of Hooper and Holston and a general re-think on how Hebron is being led.
Consultants made lots of money on this ill-conceived plan!
The town's attorney was from Annapolis, someone named Gorski
This is from the case report on the Internet:
Hebron Town Commissioners
100 North Main Street
Hebron MD 21830
Attorney(s)
Gorski, Esq, Anthony G
Rich And Henderson, P.C.
51 Franklin Street #300
PO Box 589
Annapolis MD 21401-0589
The town's planning consultant is named Pete Johnson, I think the County and Salisbury used him at one time but don't anymore.
Thank God. A judge did what the people of Hebron were powerless to do.
Hebron officials have huge egos and it has gotten in the way of logic and common sense. The citizens won big on this one so maybe it's time for a reality check with who's been leading them toward defeat. How could the town attorney have been so wrong on this?
Judge Davis consistently makes good common sense decisions, thanks judge!!!
12:41-
Maybe wanting to keep the town as a client had something to do with it!
Who is this "Gorski" from Annapolis? Isn't the town attorney named Cox?
Why hasn't the Daily Times covered this case?
Dave Hooper and Steve Cox are on major power trips and they act like they own Hebron and people are tired of it. Joe, You need to keep your eye on them.
Prediction:
Foreclosure on the "Waller Landing" site real soon now!
Judge Davis told the town's attorney that "Alice in Wonderland" logic was being applied in how the town is approaching due process. "It is ok because the town says it is ok." During the presentation in court, Judge Davis asked the town's attorney if he subscribed to the Constitution. Ouch!
In reality, it is not a victory for anyone when government acts in the manner that Hebron has. They had the opportunity to change, thee were told time and time again that they were not following due process, but they continued to ignore good advice. So sad that it had to come to this. Leadership and those paid to give advice has to change!
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