Trappe Town Commissioner Brian Schmidt wrote a lengthy Guest Commentary published last Friday in the Star Democrat; purportedly, it was to “clear the air” on Lakeside. It did not. Instead, the same false narrative Talbot citizens have heard for two-and-a-half years is repeated yet again. Repetition of a false story over and over can bear fruit. And maybe we get tired, or worn down. But not yet.
The central point Mr. Schmidt makes—and this part is true—is that in 2003, 70% of those who voted in the Trappe referendum (but not, as he said, 70% of all residents) did approve annexation of 925 acres along Route 50 into the Town of Trappe. (Had 77 votes gone the other way, Lakeside would have been defeated…but substantial inducements offered at the time–e.g., $250,000 to the volunteer firemen, funding a police officer–assured passage.)
Mr. Schmidt went on to say that the Talbot County Planning Commission and County Council “RECOGNIZED THE DEVELOPMENT” (emphasis added) in October of 2002. He was alluding to the County’s adoption of an amendment to the Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan that did flag a wastewater plant on the east side of Rt. 50 for future growth. Note he did not say “approved” the development, just “recognized,” a most ambiguous term.
Here are the facts: in October of 2002 the “Lakeside Subdivision” we have come to know–2501 homes and commercial space a third the size of the Annapolis Mall–was not even proposed, much less was that Project approved or “recognized” by the County. Annexation (which included more land than just Lakeside) did not come up until 2003, and even then, the Star Democrat quoted Town Attorney David R. Thompson as saying “no development proposals have been presented to the Town yet….we are not interested in entertaining development proposals yet.”
Yes, some growth over time was anticipated around Trappe, as it had been for years—but authorization to quintuple the town and to add a huge commercial component in one fell swoop? No.
Mr. Schmidt essentially repeats the same tale told again and again by the developer and his team—Lakeside was APPROVED BY THE COUNTY years ago, it’s old hat. People objecting now are just NIMBY obstructionists (though I for one live 15 miles from Trappe); just “bickering” troublemakers, trying (in Mr. Schmidt’s words) to “manipulate the narrative.”
In 2020, when R281 was approved, the Planning Commission, the County Council, and the public were falsely led to believe Lakeside was “good to go” fifteen years back. What few knew is that Lakeside had come before the Talbot County Council only one time previously—on December 21, 2004. And the Council flat-out REJECTED LAKESIDE by unanimous vote 5-0 against. The Council even prepared an extraordinary 21-page “Findings of Fact” to document the reasons for its adamant opposition.
(Virtually no one knew, either, that in 2010 MDE had initiated—and then conveniently aborted–an internal investigation into how its staff had improperly issued sewerage permits for Lakeside in the face of the County’s rejection, a legal prerequisite.)
Talbot County and its citizens had a role to play in evaluating Lakeside in 2004, and they have a voice today—exercised most directly by our non-political Planning Commission. The Lakeside decision is not, as you might be led to believe, all up to the Town of Trappe.
(And it’s a good thing, too—because the developer is not paying for the schools that will be needed; for the upgrades to County roads to alleviate new congestion; for increases in EMT and public safety, and more. No, the developer of this billion-dollar project will be long gone when those chickens come home to roost. Note that the citizens of the Town of Trappe will not be the ones paying either—it’s everyone in the County. And everyone in the County will suffer also the irrevocable erosion of Talbot’s rural character.)
The Talbot Integrity Project contends, with a boatload of evidence, that the County’s approval of Lakeside in 2020 was based on false pretenses. Applicants succeeded in persuading virtually everyone that the only issue was wastewater—as if all those other issues had been reviewed and approved long ago. Which is why the only issue we all are focused on now, including the Planning Commission and County Council during the 2020 approval process, is Lakeside’s sewerage.
And the reason The Talbot Integrity Project (“TIP”) is suing the Maryland Department of Environment to rescind MDE’s approval of Resolution 281 (the green light Councilmen Callahan, Pack and Divilio gave Lakeside) is that even here, Lakeside fails the test.
“The test” is whether or not adding waste from Lakeside into the Trappe sewerage plant for discharge into the highly impaired La Trappe Creek is consistent with the Talbot County Comprehensive Plan. TIP is not using “lazy language” claiming Trappe is operating a “failing system.” MDE’s permit is so lax—it places no limitation on total nitrogen whatever—that it’s hard for Trappe’s plant to be in violation.
Sadly, Mr. Schmidt was correct again when he wrote with evident pride that Trappe’s sewerage plant “has been operating at the peak of its ability” for years (occasional violations notwithstanding). Even when the plant is not in violation, it discharges nitrogen at 38 milligrams per liter of effluent (per independent lab reports) into a small, ill-flushing, impaired tributary—THIRTEEN TIMES CURRENT STANDARDS. Maybe you’ve seen the photos.
Learning in 2021 the “true facts” not known earlier, the Planning Commission rightly determined that putting Lakeside sewage into that plant and its effluent into La Trappe Creek is simply NOT consistent with our Comp Plan. And under Maryland law, our Planning Commission makes that call—NOT the County Council and not MDE, both of whom have chosen to pretend the Planning Commission did not speak.
Incidentally, responding to Mr. Schmidt reflects no personal quarrel with him at all. But in recent months, for some reason, he seems to have taken on the role of spokesman for the Lakeside Project. We never hear from the developer, Rocks Engineering, nor recently from other surrogates who for years advocated for this mother-of-all-subdivisions on Rocks’ behalf.
My take: new writer, same old story.
Dan Watson
Talbot Integrity Project
Douglas Firth says
Well stated Dan!
Hugh (Jock) Beebe says
Illegitimi non carborundum
Those of us who continue struggling to maintain focus on the Lakeside controversy must be grateful for Dan Watson’s consistent effort to clearly keep before us the facts and the law that apply. Eventually that will be the source of achieving resolution through a process that could be both problem solving and healing of divisiveness.
Nit picking over water quality and repeating misinformation, and worse, must not be allowed to distract aroused citizens from keeping their eye on the ball. We’re approaching election time. Let’s put votes to use in providing the Talbot County Commission with members who understand the facts and respect the law.
Robert Flower says
Amen
Kent Robertson says
Dear Mr Watson,
To make Lakeside more palatable, let’s advocate for improving the elimination of Nitrogen from wastewater FIRST. And do the same in Tilghman while we’re at it.
Let’s get the developer to help with the lack of affordable housing for the transient workers who make our Tourism industry thrive.
Let’s ask for an honest and straightforward appraisal of the cost to the County for all the public utilities and services associated with the project. How much of that cost comes from the new property taxes and local sales taxes, and how much would come from the other citizens of the county?
Let’s ask for a thorough evaluation of additional stress on roads and traffic.
If we want a different long term plan, we must elect Council(wo)men who make our rural way of life a priority.
While I agree that electing the right people to the Talbot Council is the most important way we can prevent further incursion into our Eastern Shore way of life, Lakeside is not the only issue. My highest local priority is our SCHOOLS. Teaching the basics needed to lead a healthy, productive life is what the schools should be doing. Critical Race Theory (by what ever name you give to it) and “gender fluidity” have no place in the public school curriculum. Teach the facts and leave social engineering to the parents. There are other candidates who are much better suited for this than those you have recommended.
Sincerely,
Kent Robertson
Royal Oak
Michael Pullen says
The County Council has neither control or influence over the curriculum taught in schools.
By contrast, the Council is required by law to follow the Comprehensive Plan. School curriculum is not a valid consideration for casting a vote for the Council because it’s simply not on the ballot. It’ll be a wasted vote if you expect it to have any effect on what’s taught in schools.
It will be an effective vote if cast for candidates who’ll honor the Council’s legal obligation to follow the County’s Comprehensive Plan.
Eva M. Smorzaniuk, MD says
Thank you for this fact based rebuttal, and for your continuing commitment to illuminating the truth!