I am a lifelong resident of Talbot County and greatly concerned with the proposed development of the former waterfowl sanctuary at Poplar Hill. I grew up on Tilghman Island and learned early what it meant to “Treasure the Chesapeake.” I wholeheartedly agree with the Talbot County Comprehensive Plan’s goals to “Conserve and protect Talbot County’s most valuable and attractive assets, its natural resources” and to “Take steps to protect and restore water quality, and to meet water quality requirements in rivers and streams.”
For that reason, I believe that the request for additional growth allocation for development of 66 acres of Critical Area at Poplar Hill must be denied. Easton exhausted its growth allocation long ago, primarily on development close to the upper Tred Avon. Despite approved stormwater management plans to reduce pollution, abundant sampling at Easton Point shows that the upper Tred Avon has among the worst water quality on the Easton Shore.
This proposed development, which sites over 60% of its dwellings in the Critical Area and then gratuitously adds more runoff from a sports complex, would pour even more nutrients and sediment into this same area of the Tred Avon, making water quality even worse. When you find yourself in an unwanted hole, the first rule is “stop digging.” The remaining acres of Poplar Hill outside of the Critical Area can be developed responsibly, but not within the Critical Area. It’s time to give priority to cleaning up the upper Tred Avon and the Chesapeake Bay. Deny the request for even more development of the Critical Area.
Michael Roe
Easton
Dick Deerin says
Good letter. I agree wholeheartedly. Say “NO” to building in the critical areas of the Poplar Hill Farm tract.
Clara Kelly says
I agree with Mr. Roe. And it is not too late to email your concerns to the Talbot County Planning Commission, which will meet on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 to consider the Poplar Hill Farm developer’s request for a growth allocation recommendation. The deadline for public comments is Monday, June 5. Here’s what I emailed to the Commission members earlier this afternoon:
Dear Members of the Talbot County Planning Commission,
Upon reflection, it seems to me there is absolutely no reason to reclassify RCA areas to LDA or IDA. The whole point of the 1984 Maryland legislature’s enactment of the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Protection Program was “to safeguard the Bay from the negative impacts of intense development” and preserve and protect our wetlands and wildlife within the 1,000-foot RCA area. Allowing additional growth allocations/reclassifications defeats the purpose of this legislation.
DNR, Talbot County and the Town of Easton really need to examine their current code allowances and restrictions. RCA reclassifications should be prohibited. Otherwise, there will be significant unintended consequences the locals will have to suffer through beyond threats to our natural resources.
Easton has plenty of infill opportunities and surrounding development areas for housing, office space, retail businesses and athletic fields outside any of the RCA classified properties — for example, abandoned two-and three-story buildings and the silos locations in town and abandoned businesses along Route 50 — that do not pose threats and can satisfy affordable housing and other perceived needs.
The more I learn about the wiggle room our current codes allow, the more distressing it becomes. And for those who like to say I’m resistant to change, I say you’re missing the point. This is about people doing all they can to protect and preserve our Eastern Shore and its natural resources before it’s too late. We don’t need 400+ housing units, 2 office buildings, a firehouse, retail space, a swimming pool, clubhouses and an athletic field at the expense of 65.977 acres of RCA. The only change that’s inevitable is brought about by natural forces, not out-of-town and out-of-state developers who have no regard for our quality of life.
Michael Roe says
What is the e mail address for the Talbot County Planning Commission? Thanks
Margot McConnel says
Frankly I can’t believe that any of our elected officials are even considering transferring these “Critical Area” acres to Easton and therefore the developer. Surely they hear what the citizens of Talbot County are saying. And they must realize that they were elected to represent the citizens of Talbot County; not the developers. Don’t they care?
Jay Corvan says
I do not think that Talbot county commissioners are listening. I think they are running scarred after the public relations train wreck in Trappe ( lakeside) and even with a huge insurgence during one famous council meeting where the attendees almost started to thrown rotten fruit at the commissioners , nothing happened.
Many of the commissioners who ran an anti growth campaign , then rolled on the Trappe lakeside issue. Reason? Cost of fighting a well heeled developer. The council does not have the bank account to fight a developer. Period.
Conclusion ? Better have much stronger language in your ordinances. And.. Comp plans are useless defenders of public interest.
Eva M. Smorzaniuk MD says
Agree. I hope the members of the Talbot County Council are listening to their constituents. There is no positive aspect of this proposed development for our community. Let members of the planning commission and the county council know your opinion!
Anne C Stalfort says
I agree with the points made in Mr. Roe’s letter. Easton and Talbot County have to decide if a critical area designation means anything. Is the County’s Comprehensive Plan a road map for the future of our county or just a bunch of words? Our waterways and open land are valuable resources that need protecting. Let’s follow the Comprehensive Plan and respect Critical Area designations.
William Keppen says
Anyone with walking around sense would understand how detrimental to the environment in general and the bay in particular it would be to allow the development at Poplar Hill to expand into the 66 acre “Critical Area” the developer and some of the involved politicians would like. Which leaves the open question. Do the involved politicians have walking around sense?
Rebecca Gaffney says
I am in complete agreement with the author’s position re the Poplar Hill development and have made my concerns known to both the Talbot Planning Commission and the Talbot County Council. I attended, virtually, the last planning commission meeting that concluded with only one commission member making the motion to deny the request. Sadly, her motion was not even seconded. If enough citizens make known their strong opposition to this project, it can be rejected.
Steve Shimko says
You may be overestimating what the Talbot County Planning Commission can do.
The Talbot County Planning Commission is (I think) limited to 1) deciding if a project is compatible with the County’s Comprehensive Plan and 2) deciding if a project is compatible with the Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan.
Since Poplar Hill is within the Town of Easton, with Easton being one of the places growth is to be concentrated (which satisfies the first criteria), and with public water and sewer capacity being available (which satisfies the second criteria), the Planning Commission really has little leeway here.
Rev Julia Hart says
Thank you citizens! Great comments and letters. I totally agree, and I just bet the majority of Talbot Co residents have great concerns about all these developments and expansion.
I call Kent Island, “Annapolis East.” It’s hard to believe the expansion, building, and growth there. No wonder they have grave concerns over the 3rd-or new Bridge.
For decades I’ve watched farms around the Easton area disappear. There was no By-Pass when I was growing up. You had to travel through Easton to go to St Michaels(where my husband and I live). There is now a good size tract of farm land for sale just to the North of Thanksgiving Farm (which used to be owned by my Uncle Ken Bridges.) Every time I drive by that For Sale sign I pray: Please Lord, don’t let a developer buy this property.
We in St Michaels have ongoing concerns with growth and development being proposed, by developers. Thank the Lord, the proposed Hotel as you enter town has been tabled. (This we learned on WBOC news last night!) It was not needed in the first place!
Yes, we do need affordable and low income housing. We can use more Senior Citizen housing. Not all of us are in the 6 figure or higher bracket. These concerns are worthy of pursuit. There should be studies to see how and where these needs can be addressed.
Peace
Steve Shimko says
Playing a bit of “what if” here…
This parcel of land, just like Easton Club (West) and Cook’s Hope, was annexed into Easton, which has since used up it’s Critical Area development allocation.
What if Talbot County were to annex (un-annex?) that parcel back into the County? Since the County still has unused Critical Area grown allocation, it could then allow the development to proceed as planned, but under County control.
Is this possible?
Eva M. Smorzaniuk MD says
Don’t think so. Different density rules. They need to be part of the town to have that number of units.
Steve Shimko says
The Poplar Hill property is currently zoned (I believe, without the PUD) R-10A, which is 10,000 sq ft (minimum) lot sizes or approximately 3.5 homes per acre. Note that this is the same zoning classification that applies to the Aspire property off Mathewstown Rd.
Talbot County has an almost identical zoning classification. The Town Residential (TR) district allows up to 4 houses (dwelling units) per acre, and the same 10,000 sq ft minimum lot size as Easton’s R-10A district.
John Fairhall says
Mr. Roe makes a great environmental case against Poplar Hill going forward as now proposed. I might add that the planning commission and the town council should raise and answer this question: Does the community need this development? So far, I have not heard that case made by a developer or governmental official.
Jan Bohn says
If this passes, the council members of Easton and Talbot County should be impeached for dereliction of duty. How could moving a land segment designated Critical Area suddenly be Immediately Developement? My letter to the Planning and Zoning Dept of Easton says- I’d like to add my PLEASE DO NOT GRANT THE POPLAR HILL proposal vote to the Planning Commission. There is a reason that land is zoned RCA and it should not be changed. Those of us who live on the water (the Tred Avon in my case) can never get a variance or permit to do anything in the critical area. We have to jump through hoops just to take down a dead tree and then have to plant two or more to make up for the dead one. I can’t even get permission to cut the foliage for a two foot path down our considerable slope so we can easily get to the very small beach at the bottom. But a developer can ask for and receive permission to take RCA land and turn it into IDA land? How ridiculous and short sighted is that? Please use common sense and reject this proposal.
Jay Corvan says
Amen. Great letter.
At some point in time people are going realize that the water they care for so much and that is the major attraction here on the eastern shore is no longer a draw , but it should rather be posted as an environmental hazard, which it is.
Currently, purchase agreements for waterfront properties do not post these dangers but realtors sell property to people who don’t know the water quality is dangerous , actually life threatening. People loose arms and legs when bruises and cuts get infected from Talbot black water.
These sources of danger should be part of a legal affa Davit that owners agree that their waterfront property is hazardous to health. Maybe then the appetite for waterfront property will fall back into perspective. Why purchase a known hazard.
At any rate growth has almost destroyed the bay and we have learned nothing from the western shore experience , money always trumps nature.
This also begs the question why no Town or city in Takbot county actually has a master plan ( comp plans are not master plans). Developers propose and people react , so it’s obvious people are at a distinct disadvantage. We need better planning , no actually we need long range planning not a series of impulsive developments for quick cash. Aren’t people tired of playing catch up. Isn’t it time to be proactive instead of being reactive ? I’d say it’s long past.
Talbot Abd Eadton have to start working together and start using their combined legal leverage during transfer of land in annexations ( Like poplar hill) as a way to mitigate the growth consequences of unlimited growth and to make sure developers are legally bound to create additions to our community that are a reflection of our history not of sprawl from other already destroyed municipalities. They need better visual guidelines not just votes from planning officials with no formal planning background.
Clara Kelly says
The link to the Talbot County Planning Commission Agendas and Videos:
https://talbot-md.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=4&event_id=876
Phone numbers: 410-770-8001; 410-770-8033
Reminder, Monday, June 5, is the deadline for submitting comments.
Kim Blake says
I agree! Keep our Waterfowl sanctuary safe and intact!
Make sure any joining property that is developed should not have a negative impact on the wildlife there. Treasure the Chesapeake!