Returning from a May 16-21 trip to New York, I was disheartened to learn the Town of Easton (TOE) ESDR, Historic District Commission (HDC) and Planning Commission had all approved the Miller Corporation’s development plans for 139 N. Washington Street (a/k/a the “abandoned Safeway site”) within a 6-week period.
I resurrected my printed copy of the April 29 Talbot Spy article (where I first became aware of this project) and reread the following statement several times: “The good news is that the Easton Town Council, along with the Planning Commission, have finally addressed and fixed that problem [the Town’s February 2021 enacted code prohibition of restrictive covenants on the “use of a property as a grocery store”].
Whaaa?
So this partially explains the hyperdrive speed at which the developer’s project has traveled, about which one of the May 16 public commenters expressed concern. Consider the chronology:
04/03/24: Developer filed ESDR review and PUD Applications; the PUD application was necessary because the project density is greater than the central business district code permits.
04/08/24: Developer filed an HDC Hearing Application.
04/22/24: HDC conducted its first hearing (139 N. Washington isn’t on its agenda, BUT all of the developer’s documents for their review during the meeting were separately attached in the Agenda Packet). HDC recommended further consideration at its next HDC meeting (05/13/24).
04/24/24: ESDR approved the project and recommended it move to the TOE Planning Commission for its review.
04/29/24: Talbot Spy published an article re the project (again, this is how I found out about it).
05/01/24: Developer posted a public notice (a very small sign on Safeway’s property) re its demolition request before the HDC.
05/01/24: Star Democrat published a notice re the May 16 Planning Commission meeting (no documents attached).
05/08/24: Star Democrat published another notice re the May 16 Planning Commission meeting (no documents attached).
05/13/24: HDC approved the developer’s project and recommended it go before the Planning Commission; Jennifer Dindinger, Planning Commission Chair, in an online Talbot Spy interview, expressed the need for more community engagement.
05/16/24: Planning Commission approved and recommended the developer’s project go to the Town Council but did not specifically recommend a public comment period before then. During his brief project overview, Mr. Showalter, the developer’s legal representative, espoused his opinion that a grocery store is not an option because Safeway/NAI Saturn Eastern, LLC would not sell its property to a grocery competitor. After the developer’s presentations, four public commenters expressed concerns about density, lack of an intown/walkable grocery store, traffic congestion (Goldsborough, Bay, West, and N. Washington Streets), public parking, the speed at which the project was approved, cost of housing and market demand study, the potential for the developer to abandon the property before construction is completed, and public use of private property (the mews). A fifth public commenter suggested the Town “take it” (the property) — to acquire the property through eminent domain –and then resell it.
06/02/24: Star Democrat published a notice of a TOE public hearing to be held by the Town Council on Monday, June 17, 2024. “The purpose of this hearing is to discuss the request of Lane Engineering, LLC (The Applicant) on behalf of NAI Saturn Eastern, LLC (The Owner) and Miller Development Corporation, for a proposed Planned Unit Development (PUD) – Infill.”
Unable to attend the June 17 public hearing, I have the following questions and comments:
Will the Town Council also hold a Town Hall at the Avalon Theater with a moderator — as it has done on past occasions — to provide another opportunity for the public to express its concerns and make recommendations? A project of the magnitude and impact warrants additional public engagement.
The Planning Commission should invite the Attainable Housing Task Force to attend the June 17 Town Council public hearing.
Are the developer’s stormwater management plans coordinated with and/or how might they impact the stormwater management projects the TOE recently voted to fund with some of its $1.6 million in federal grants — ARPA (American Recovery Plan Act) Program dollars?
What signage will the 24 townhouses’ and 9 detached single-family homeowners’ HOA install which indicates the public is allowed to walk through the mews, walk their dogs through the mews or use the mews seating areas? Will the HOA install trash receptacles within the mews? Will there be time-of-day restrictions?
How much will each townhouse and each detached single-family home cost potential buyers?
Why didn’t the Planning Commission recommend the State conduct a separate traffic study, notwithstanding the developer’s traffic study, which relied on old Safeway trip numbers? West and Bay Streets are very busy thoroughfares, and vehicles frequently get backed up behind the stop sign at the intersection of West and Bay. The developer’s PUD sketch shows 3 detached single-family homes on West Street. How might this impact vehicular and pedestrian traffic and the ability of the homeowners to go safely in and out of their garages?
Why didn’t the Planning Commission ask the Town attorney to review Mr. Showalter’s statement regarding the enforceability of restrictions on grocery stores, and that those of us who have an interest in the location of another grocery store at 139 N. Washington should forgettaboutit?
Does the developer have corroborative documentation to support Mr. Showalter’s statement that Safeway/NAI Saturn Eastern, LLC does not want its property to be used for another grocery store or made it a contingency for the sale of its property?
Are the development’s private roads and alley wide enough to accommodate large vehicles, such as fire trucks, trash trucks, school buses, moving vans, snowplows and delivery vehicles?
One Commissioner commented that there are already enough places within walking distance of historic district residents to shop for groceries, citing the Piazza, Amish Market and Captain’s Ketch as examples. These establishments are specialty stores and do not sell cleaning supplies, fresh produce, dry goods, toilet paper, first aid items, a variety of dairy products and other everyday staples. Another Commissioner suggested the project would result in more jobs — what types of permanent jobs? Police, firepersons, teachers, medical professionals, food service people?
How many Easton residents and businesses subscribe to the Star Democrat and/or have online accounts with the TOE?
My hope is that the Town Council will address all of these questions and concerns, allowing plenty of time and opportunities for the public to have its say. And, as Council Member David Montgomery recommended in the April 29 Talbot Spy article, I encourage our citizens to speak out — before it’s too late.\
Clara Kelly
Easton
Jim Bachman says
I don’t understand how building more housing in downtown Easton is going to reverse the flood of abandoned retail space and Pragerization of downtown Easton.