As part of the Talbot County Council’s attempts to help streamline the approval process for site improvements for a Harbourtowne Martingham development project in St. Michaels, a new bill was introduced on June 23rd to create a new planned redevelopment district (PRD). This change would redefine Harbourtowne, and possibly other sites in the county, as a “floating zone,” allowing the Council flexibility to rezone those properties on a case by case basis.
While viewed by many as an effective time saver for developers in seeking project approval, concerns have grown in recent weeks about the wording of Bill 1305 which may unintentionally be in conflict with the County’s comprehensive plan.
In an interview with the Talbot Spy today, Tom Alspach, president of the Talbot Preservation Alliance, highlighted his organization’s concerns and the possible consequences this new law might have on Talbot County’s well-established zoning regulations and guidelines.
We have also included a segment of the Talbot County Council’s meeting on June 23 when the bill was introduced.
There will be a public hearing on Bill 1305 on Tuesday, July 14 at 2PM in the Bradley Meeting Room at 11 North Washington Street, Easton.
Mr. Alspac’s video interview is approximately five minutes in length. The Talbot County Council meeting segment is eight minutes in length.
Helen Giberson says
Gentlemen:
Why change something that works? Talbot County is rural agricultural with sparse population. To make Rte. 33 into a corridor of shopping centers is ridiculous. There is not adequate population to support more Home Depots, Lowes, Marshalls, etc. Yes, per capita, the county enjoys a high level of income and net worth. However, how many more cheap tools made in China, cheap shirts and pants made in the far east, and odds and ends in thrift stores, does any one really want or need? Talbot County enjoys tourism which occurs only in summer. Tourists, enjoying the ambiance of a small, almost New England type of village, are not in
Talbot County to go shopping at Walmart. The shops and commercial establishments in St. Michaels barely make it financially and certainly don’t need or want competition from the major retailers in Easton. I do all my Christmas shopping in St. Michaels to help the proprietors stay alive and open.
I have enjoyed about 45 years in St. Michaels as a weekender, first keeping my sailboat at Higgins Yacht yard which became DuPont and then ashore in Martingham, D-6 in the town houses on Hamilton Cove. I remember St. Michaels when few buildings were painted including the hardware store, and no famly would venture into Carpenter Street Saloon. I watched the “antique stores” and “hippy places” come to town and go. Then, the Washington elite found the quiet town on the Miles River along with Perry Cabin establishment. The yacht club got re-built to the first class club of today. To begin spot zoning based upon political considerations is to make a wrong turn on Rte. 33. No traffic lights or by-passes either. Leave well enough alone.
David Montgomery says
The Republican Council of Talbot County has sent the following letter to the Talbot County Council concerning Bill 1305 which will be taken up at the Council’s July 14 meeting, and we would like to share it with the citizens of Talbot County:
The Republican Council is aware of the desire of the owner of the Harbourtowne Resort to modernize that facility. And we understand that the options to do so are restricted by the fact that the primary building is a “legal non-conforming” structure in the Critical Area. Because we appreciate the benefits that tasteful redevelopment of the property would bring to St. Michaels and to the County, we support finding a way for redevelopment of this type of property to move forward.
With that as background, we regret that we cannot support Bill 1305, the vehicle advanced to accomplish that objective. We find the scope of the Bill, opening any improved property in the county to redevelopment into any use, far too broad and inconsistent with the County Comprehensive Plan. Moreover, we do not believe it is in the best interest of the County to forego all county bulk requirements, that is, setbacks, height, area, etc, in establishing the Planned Redevelopment District proposed by this bill.
We respectfully urge you and your colleagues to amend Bill 1305 to 1) limit its effect to a small number of properties like Harbourtowne, 2) specifically name and clearly map those properties in the county Comprehensive Plan, and 3) maintain a significant measure of control over bulk requirements. In that way, we believe that Talbot County can achieve the worthwhile objective of sensible development like that proposed for Harbourtowne while preserving the rural character of our county.
W.David Montgomery
President