Over forty prominent supporters of “Reset Lakeside” filled the Bradley Room at the Council Meeting last night to present a brief, joint statement urging adoption of a particular resolution to accomplish that goal. Below is an open thank you letter to the attendees, which also assesses the Council’s reaction and expresses the path forward advocated by The Talbot Integrity Project.
First, thank you for filling the Bradley Room last night and having the stamina to sit through a typically dull meeting, just to show the Council that a very broad and diverse swath of the Talbot community truly wants the Reset Resolution adopted—no fooling around. Special thanks to Tim Cureton who spoke well for us–a new generation, new energy, not the same ol’ folks. (The thanks is not from me, but on behalf of all those in Talbot opposed to Lakeside, whether or not they even knew about the meeting.)
Cutting to the chase, Council members’ reactions to our request–including newly elected members who voiced support for “Reset Lakeside” during the campaign and who were happy to accept endorsement—was very discouraging. Isn’t that what you thought as well? We have known for some time that “Reset Lakeside” was not a done deal just because of the election results, but really???
In word and body language both, the utter lack of a welcoming response to our message, of any expression of support or embracing of our joint presentation, was shocking. Our statement was serious, reasoned, respectful, and brief. We emphasized that the “reset” effort is NOT about sewerage, but is required to recover a modicum of integrity in the County’s approval processes related to the COUNTY Comp Plan, and restore citizens’ right to be heard on the impacts of Lakeside without the taint of falsehood, which was denied all of us.
The response from the Dias? Though video is not up yet, you recall it was more or less this: “It’s only about sewers…we’ll work something out,” and “we’re committed to doing what the towns want.” In Trappe’s case many believe that means what the Lakeside developer wants. (Even as to sewerage, Lakeside’s plans are flawed and it is operating today contrary to the Planning Commission’s finding of inconsistency.).
So, what are we going to do about these signals from multiple Council members? Put our tails between our legs and slink away? Give up now, because we’re surprised that folks we thought supported us (and whom we supported) appear not to be there for us? Forfeit the game when on the one-yard line? I believe some on the Council are counting on that.
I don’t think so. Citizens’ voices–the Council members’ constituents—must count for something. This is not a direct democracy, where 28,000 voters say aye or nay to “Reset Lakeside”…were it only so. This is a representative democracy, where we try to elect trustworthy individuals to represent us in deciding the County’s business for our collective benefit. And elect members we did. Lakeside of course was not the sole issue in 2022, but who will claim it was not front and center, not a main point of discussion?
The demand to “Reset Lakeside” is not a minority view; a very large proportion of citizens have focused on it in the past 21 months…and will probably speak out in the next two weeks too. Our request that the specific “Reset” resolution be adopted is not a NIMBY phenomenon—from all over Talbot people seek only honest government and a proper review of the biggest, most disruptive project ever to be inflicted on rural community.
Given the reaction by the Council last night, there is but one thing to do: TIP will advocate a renewed effort by every citizen and voter in the County to reach out to all Council members directly, urge the introduction of the “Reset Lakeside” resolution on January 24th and an unequivocable up-or-down vote. We will urge its adoption of course, and clarity in any event on where everyone stands.
Let us not slink away.
Dan Watson
Talbot Integrity Project
Reed Fawell 3 says
Based on most recent council meeting (Jan. 10), this will be a difficult process to manage and control. The town’s administrators individually have an inbuilt and understandable desire to grow, and generate tax revenue. So do County Administrators. So for example, the fellow who runs County “water works” points out that the more homes that are hooked up to the water system, the more he can built his pipes, and the cheaper it’s service is for the customer. Translated, the bigger the scale, the more water service prices come down, and more infrastructure he can be build, and the richer we all get, and bigger and more important, the Talbot County governments get, too.
So when Talbot’s finds itself under pressure to grow by reason of outside forces, there simultaneously occurs ever building pressure within the county by it managers and its private interest groups,to keep growing and opening things up the County for ever more growth, as individual cases arises again and again, often in increasing numbers. This it not always bad. But Talbot has special critically important limitations that, unless respected, will kill our Golden Goose. Like so often has happened elsewhere.
Hence we see this Iron Rule for Ever More Growth at work with Environmental Concern case, as it was being played out by the County Water Works Administrator in Jan. 10 meeting. His rationale in that case made perfect sense to him, but at the same time he was unable to see the big picture, both as to the Law, and as to the hard reality in Talbot that the highly constrained road net in and out of St. Michael cannot be expanded to take more intra-town traffic in that Tilghman peninsula. So the overwhelming threat here is that terrible congestion will arise by reason of a “thousand cuts” of small decisions taken without looking at the big picture that severely constrains further development in Talbot County (and its towns) located on the west side of Route 50, including the Easton By-Pass.
Reed Fawell 3 says
Pete –
Here are two recent comments I posted in the Spy, I thought, might be helpful to you.
Reed
Based on most recent council meeting (Jan. 10), this will be a difficult process to manage and control. The town’s administrators individually have an inbuilt and understandable desire to grow, and generate tax revenue. So do County Administrators. So for example, the fellow who runs County “water works” points out that the more homes that are hooked up to the water system, the more he can built his pipes, and the cheaper it’s service is for the customer. Translated, the bigger the scale, the more water service prices come down, and more infrastructure he can be build, and the richer we all get, and bigger and more important, the Talbot County governments get, too.
So when Talbot’s finds itself under pressure to grow by reason of outside forces, there simultaneously occurs ever building pressure within the county by it managers and its private interest groups,to keep growing and opening things up the County for ever more growth, as individual cases arises again and again, often in increasing numbers. This it not always bad. But Talbot has special critically important limitations that, unless respected, will kill our Golden Goose. Like so often has happened elsewhere.
Hence we see this Iron Rule for Ever More Growth at work with Environmental Concern case, as it was being played out by the County Water Works Administrator in Jan. 10 meeting. His rationale in that case made perfect sense to him, but at the same time he was unable to see the big picture, both as to the Law, and as to the hard reality in Talbot that the highly constrained road net in and out of St. Michael cannot be expanded to take more intra-town traffic in that Tilghman peninsula. So the overwhelming threat here is that terrible congestion will arise by reason of a “thousand cuts” of small decisions taken without looking at the big picture that severely constrains further development in Talbot County (and its towns) located on the west side of Route 50, including the Easton By-Pass.
Bob Wenneson says
In one sense we should be thankful for this Reset issue to be pushed to a head right now at the beginning of the new County Council’s tenure. I say that because this topic presents a real OPPORTUNITY. An opportunity for the new Council to show that land use matters and the Planning Commission’s role in enforcing the Comp Plan is important… An opportunity for the Council to show that they recognize their responsibility to represent the best interests of the majority of the County’s citizens… An opportunity for the new Council members to show that their representations made while campaigning are commitments they intend to honor… An opportunity to demonstrate integrity.
William Keppen says
So, what are their answers to roads/traffic, schools, medical service providers, and a host of environmental concerns?
Joel M Johnson says
I continue to question the entire concept of Lakeside, a cash cow fantasy because of its Talbot County potential real estate sales market prices. The developers should consider locating Lakeside in Caroline County, say at Denton, where its institutional and tax revenues would be more welcome. Such a location would be less distant from the intersection of US50/SR404, making it more convenient for potential buyers from Washington and Baltimore.