One of the more surprising developments over the last six months in Talbot County has been the lengthy and sometimes contentious debate over language in the proposed 2015 Comprehensive Plan. In reviewing the draft, some residents, including members of Talbot County’s own Planning Commission, feared these changes would open the door for major development of the western part of the County.
For several months, the Talbot County Council and the Planning Commission debated for hours on the meaning of certain words or phrases throughout the lengthy document in what appeared to be two totally different visions on the County’s long-term development guidelines. Nonetheless, through several workshops and public hearings, the vast majority of complaints about the draft document have been resolved, and it looks like the 2015 Comp Plan is now finally ready to be approved later this month.
The Spy spent some time with Planning Commission’s Chair Bill Boicourt and Vice Chair Jack Fischer earlier this week to talk about this debate and what was learned as a result of these intense discussions to reaffirm Talbot County’s long-term commitment to keep the rural character of its region.
This video is approximately eighteen minutes in length
Carol Voyles says
Thank you, gentlemen, for all that you do, and for reminding us of the importance of taking voting seriously. We do live with the consequences.
Teresa M. Hopkins says
Dear Sir: I have been out of town for two months and last week finally had time to walk around the block in Easton. I started at Goldsbourgh and Washington Sts. Coffee Shop is still empty. Proceeding up Goldsbourgh the Sports/Trophy shop is empty. Of course, the Irish Shop is empty, the yarn shop is empty, Mimi’s Closet at the Tidewater Inn is empty. Dover seemed more or less in tact. On Washington St next to Scossas was a partially empty store with a huge sign in the window, “Liquidation”. Coming back to the starting point, a store next to Sailors, empty. Walking on down to Talbottown, Chicos is empty.
Drove to the Kolhs shopping center. Store next to “Hair of the Dog, empty. And on the same side of parking lot as Kolhs, 3 more empty stores. From there I drove to Waterside Village. In the older buildings there I saw 3 empty stores. In the new construction area near Harris Teeter there are 5 or 6 uncommitted stores.
Now the question is: should the town of Easton annex the Orion property, change the zoning to commercial and build more stores? Take a good look at Easton, 2016. A sad new pattern is emerging and it is not a pretty picture.
Yours truly,
Teresa Hopkins, Easton, MD