It was a few years ago, when I was driving East on Route 50, I noticed a sign for the Lakeside development and thought, “I wonder what that’s all about.” I later read that it is a 2,500 home planned development in Trappe. That worried me. That is a big development–a game changer.
Scroll forward to 2022, and Lakeside is emerging as a key issue as Talbot County prepares for the November 8 election. Resetting Lakeside is on the ballot in the form of electing members of the County Council. The Reset Lakeside campaign seeks to elect candidates that will reset the approval process for Lakeside.
Until recently “Resetting Lakeside” seemed like a promising idea to me, but then I pondered, “Do I know what “Resetting Lakeside” means? In short order I realized, it’s complicated. I decided to reach out to Dan Watson, a leader of the Talbot Integrity Project (TIP) to get some answers.
Last week I spent some time with Dan to discuss several questions I had about Lakeside. I wanted to know why it needed to be “reset” and whether a “reset” was even possible. When I met with Dan, I learned that a 16-minute opinion video of Dan would be published last Saturday. (If you have not watched it, I encourage you to do so—you will learn a lot.)
Here are several of my questions—key questions in my view—about the “Reset Lakeside” campaign. After listening to the answers, I agree that Lakeside needs to be reset and that candidates for the Talbot County Council who share that view should be elected.
Here are Dan’s answers to my questions.
I am regularly getting ads from Lakeside at Trappe offering homes for sale or lease. Isn’t the horse already out of the barn?
No, it is NOT too late to “reset” the Lakeside situation. About 25 homes (of 2501!) are indeed under construction, but there is a sound legal basis—and local political will–to reconsider the earlier approval which was based on omissions and misunderstandings. A proper review can affect sewage issues, the pace and scale of development, and matters previously ignored (e.g., schools).
If Talbot County voters elect five members corresponding to your recommendations, when would construction at Lakeside stop?
Once a new Council made up of members committed to “resetting Lakeside,” is installed, one of its first acts can be adoption of a resolution acknowledging primacy of the Planning Commission on “consistency” and bringing us back in conformance with Maryland Law. That should result in a “pause in place” of the development while the County reconsiders Lakeside approvals anew.
Please elaborate on why the Council should recognize that the non-partisan planning commission should have final say on whether sewer permits are consistent with the Talbot County Comprehensive Plan. You also say that Maryland law requires this.
TIP wants to see the Lakeside approvals be in accordance with the law. The history is complicated, but the Planning Commission did initially say Lakeside was consistent with our Comp Plan (whereupon the Council gave it a green light). But when the Planning Commission came to understand new information omitted initially, coupled with misinformation, the Commission reversed its position—as permitted under law when new information arises. The Council refused to recognize the Commission’s action, and improperly let Lakeside chug away.
In addition to concerns about sewage, many of us worry about the impact of a large new development on existing healthcare facilities, schools, roads, and police. Even if the Lakeside developers were to address the sewer issues, should the development still be stopped?
YES. But TIP’s goal is not to “stop” Lakeside per se, but to pause the project (“reset button”) while all those matters are brought back to the Council to be addressed for the very first time. The only thing of substance reviewed up to now was the sewer system…and even that has big problems!
What should future development on the Eastern Shore look like? Should there be a cap on the population of Talbot County?
That is exactly the kind of question the citizens of Talbot County should address when next revising our Comprehensive Plan. The Comp Plan begins with citizen participation, and it will be done in the next few years under direction of this new Council—even more reason to elect TIP’s endorsed candidates who respect the Comprehensive Plan.
Reset Lakeside has endorsed candidates for the Talbot County Council. Who are they?
Pete Lesher, plus four of the following candidates (all of whom have sound views on “land use”). Alphabetically, they are Dappert, Haythe, Jackson, Kane, Mielke, and Montgomery. (These include Ds and Rs, as TIP is a non-partisan organization. NOTE: Lesher is called out above others because he is a proven advocate for the Comp Plan and responsible growth, and an opponent of Lakeside for the past 18 months.)
I have been disappointed to talk to some Talbot County neighbors who tell me they do not plan to vote on November 8. Tell me why, if for no other reason, they should vote for the candidates you have endorsed for the Talbot County Council?
Folks who “never vote” should make an exception this time–to protect Talbot County from swiftly degrading into “just another place.” If we wanted to live in a congested suburbia like Howard, or Harford or PG Counties, we could have moved there.
Talbot is unique, and we can preserve it if we act. We have that responsibility.
After talking to Dan Watson, listening to the Spy video, and reading some material regarding the project (some of it critical of TIP and “Reset Lakeside”), I think Lakeside needs to be reset. I hope all of us in Talbot County will review the facts and vote accordingly. I like Talbot County. I want to see growth happen the right way. A “reset” will help make that happen.
J.E. Dean is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant writing on politics, government, and other subjects.
Thomas Malone says
Well put!
John Dean says
Thank you!
Gerard Marconi says
Thanks for this informative and helpful information. Hopefully more Talbot County residents will consider these important issues and vote accordingly in the upcoming election.
John Dean says
I share your hope. The more people know the history of how Lakeside got approved and what is involved, the more concerned I think they will be. From what I am hearing, a lot of people are becoming aware that this is a huge issue for Talbot County.
Wilson Dean says
This is an excellent article that effectively lays out all the reasons to elect a Talbot County Council that will intelligently and comprehensively address all the issues posed (but not resolved) by the Lakeside project. Regardless of political persuasion, we all need to elect a Council that will make this reset happen.
John Dean says
Thank you for reading the article and for your kind words. Much appreciated.
Wilson Wyatt says
This is a balanced, thoughtful article on “Reset”. It explains the issue and refers to the Spy interview video for further information before Election Day. Thank you.
John Dean says
Thank you for your kind words. I agree that the Spy interview video includes valuable information on Lakeside. Everyone interested in Lakeside should watch the video.
Barbara Denton says
TIP was purportedly created to reset Lakeside. It has morphed into a PAC for candidates that these founders deem to be anti-growth. Do not be fooled by these endorsements. There is not a person running for council who is for unbridled growth which is what the lack of endorsement by TIP indicates for the 3 council candidates left out. Those who are left out are Dave Stepp, Wade Strickland and Chuck Callahan. The inference is pointed and wrong. This matter is under litigation and there are many steps to be taken to get this under control. All of these reset Lakeside signs which have papered Talbot County are placed in many locations without the property owners permission or on State or County right of ways. Signs are not to be located in these areas but there they are.
If you have a sign on your property which you did not authorize pull it out. You are within your legal rights to do so. Do not be fooled into voting for Democrats to run out County. The Talbot way of life will be demolished if you do so. What you need to worry about is our local school system, forced vaccinations, feeding your family and paying for your utilities and and gasoline. These are of primary concern. The new Republican Council will take care of Lakeside.
Suzanne Todd says
I agree that the Lakeside Development needs to be “reset”. However, I don’t thinks it’s wise to base a vote on one issue. I ask that you consider other issues such as education before voting for everyone on this list.
John Dean says
Thank you for reading the article and for your comment. I agree that voters should consider a range of issues in deciding for whom to vote for in the County Council election. As I understand the Reset Lakeside campaign, they recommended candidates from both parties in recognition of the fact that those of us that want to reset lakeside have differing views on other issues. That is why they endorsed both Democrats and Republicans.
David Lloyd says
An excellent article by Mr. Dean. As usual. Scary to think that anyone looks at this as a partisan issue. It is far from it — and thinking it is is more than a little scary. Please. Everyone. Get out and vote. EVERY VOTE COUNTS!!
John Dean says
Thank you for your kind words. As you say, EVERY VOTE COUNTS!!
Reed Fawell 3 says
I suspect that many Republican operatives in Talbot County have painted themselves into a box of their own making on this Lakeside issue. Specially, now these Republicans’ refusal to endorse the Reset of Lakeside strongly suggest their agenda is to pave over the remainder of Talbot County. This suspicion that these particular Republican operatives cannot be trusted in based on the miserable performance on their cohorts on the last Talbot County Council. And who can blame the doubters, Democrats and Republics alike. That is how and why Lakeside is the towering issue of this election. If the recent past in Talbot County predicts the future, the outcome of this election on the Lakeside Reset issue will dictate the future of Talbot County, whether or not we become just other suburban nowhere place, of traffic, gridlock and parking lots like Annapolis Md and so many other waterfront towns up and the America’s eastern seaboard.
John Dean says
Well said.
Reed Fawell 3 says
For proof of the my above assertions lodged against recalcitrant Republicans refusing to endorse the reset of Lakeside, see comments of former board chairman Thomas Hughes found below, namely that:
“Mr. Kennedy’s observation is spot on. The 2015 county council consisting of Ms. Williams, Mr. Pack, and Mr. Callahan did “gut” the comprehensive plan draft that was unanimously recommended to them by the planning commission. That draft was a continuation of the policies expressed in the 2005 plan, which was a true representation of the wishes of the majority of the people of Talbot county. That council ignored the attempted protestations of the PC’s chairman, who was not even allowed to speak during most of the so called workshops with staff. Under Maryland law, and Talbot’s charter, only two government entities are allowed to make comprehensive plan and land use recommendations-the PC and the planning officer. That council recklessly deleted and or materially changed portions of the PC’s draft, while preventing the PC’s chairman from even attempting to explain why what they were doing was counter to the public’s long held wishes and sometimes even counter to Maryland law. Those material errors remain in the 2015 plan, which are sitting there like little land mines waiting to go off if stepped on. I know all this because in 2015 I was the chairman of the planning commission, and I fervently hope that at least three council persons are elected who will preserve what’s left of the rural character of this beautiful place that I have known since the 1950’s.”
See: https://talbotspy.org/letter-to-editor-wake-up-talbot/#comments
Eva M. Smorzaniuk, MD says
A very balanced and understandable summary of a critical issue for Talbot County. Over twenty years there has been lack of compliance and oversight by our Talbot County Council and the MDE. To the people who criticize this effort has being “single issue” I can counter that it is anything but that! The addition of 2,500 homes and, potentially 7,500-10,000 people to our county affects our schools, our roads, our health care, our rural character, and presents huge threats to waste management, river and bay pollution, and storm water management. More scrutiny is needed for a development of this massive scale.
Ralph Walker says
Great reading. Let’s not forget also the
Popular Hill development, the MHC project in the Easton Club
currently in the works. Look at Papermill pond now which is a mess.
Been here since 1962 and could look down almost six feet and see crabs
running.
Hang on Trappe Creek!
Darlene Handley says
Lakeside will turn the area of Rt.50 into another Glen Burnie. In order to get onto Rt.50 there will have to be another light. If you want to live in a congested over populated area move to one. People move to the Eastern Shore for the slower pace of life, then want to change it to what they just left.
Richard Morris says
We live in a Constitutional democratic republic in which the people elect the government officials, in this case the County Council, to make certain decisions, not an unelected advisory panel such as the Planning Commission. If, in your opinion, elected officials make a bad, but legal decision (and I am not saying approval of Lakeside was either a bad or good decision), then the people have the power, at the next election, to change our government officials. When a group of business people make a major commitment to proceed with a project, relying on a legally granted approval by the County Council, then they should not be subjected to having their approvals reversed and possible bankruptcy. No business can operate in that environment, and we will have chaos as well as an economy that is destroyed and jobless. The “cure” would be worse than the “problem”.
If you feel that the approvals were illegally or fraudulently given, you should file suit or contact the proper authorities, with any information you may have, for investigation and/or prosecution. If you do not, you should accept that your position was not the same as the decision of the majority of our elected officials. You then have the right to support candidates that you feel would do a better job in the future. That is the way the system is supposed to work. This “reset” is just plain unfair!