As part of the Spy’s interest in the Port Street Master Plan proposed by the Easton Economic Development Corporation, we overheard last week’s Talbot County Council public hearing on the proposed annexation and rezoning of approximately 6.5 acres at Easton Point of this important waterfront location.
At issue was for the County’s possible decision to waive an existing five year hold on the use of those properties as well as rezone the parcels as “general commercial” which some believe may open the door for unintended development of retail and residential use.
This video is approximately 38 minutes in length. To watch this entire meeting, please click here to watch on TV-98 at https://streams.tv-98.com/
Jane Hawkey says
Outside the Sept 7 Talbot County Planning Commission meeting where afterwards, the property owners were gathered, Eileen Demeer told us she was in complete agreement with our effort to have the County waive the optional 5-year moratorium on re-zoning. She went on to pledge to us to obtain a Talbot Preservation Alliance (TPA) letter of support that we could use.
However, Eileen, who you see testifying in this video, completely reverses her previously stated support and instead, seeks to instill in the Talbot County Council a specter of self-serving property owners who abandon their Smart Growth vision of Easton Point – a re-vitalization that preserves the unique environment, and reflects the scale and heritage of Easton and Talbot County for all to enjoy.
Instead, she portrays us as greedy individuals just waiting to sell out this vision to mega-rich developers who will put in a chain store like WaWa or some similar inappropriate development. Eileen and the TPA are clearly attempting a campaign of unfounded fear-mongering directed at the County Council. That is not who we are and we have said so on numerous occasions.
Also, in the above video, Talbot County Council member Laura Price told the property owners, Tim Miller and Dan Ruegg, that even with the five-year zoning hold in place, they would still be able to continue the small businesses they are doing now, but with the advantage of sewer and water. This completely ignores the fact that we are seeking a re-zoning because we want to grow our businesses (not stay the same) and create a viable economic area at Easton Point.
Ms. Price went on to say that if we want to change our existing uses, for example, a high quality dining seafood restaurant which is planned for the Point, we will need to come back ‘again’ to the County and apply for another re-zoning change, which they may or may not approve. Why would we invest even more time and money beyond the tens of thousands of dollars we have already spent ON THE CHANCE that the County Council might grant a future zoning change when they won’t agree to the change now? It just makes no sense.
So, there is the conundrum. We all want the same thing – the property owners, the Town of Easton, the many citizens that have spoken out or written letters in support, and, so they say, Talbot County.
It’s long overdue for Talbot County and the Town of Easton to work together to design a re-development framework to ensure an Easton Point we all can enjoy and be proud of. If the County imposes this optional five-year moratorium on re-zoning these few properties, they may just kill this long awaited attempt to jump start the re-vitalization of Easton Point.