Lakeside can be brought back for reconsideration. It is NOT too late, folks. Voters can hit Lakeside’s RESET BUTTON on November 8th–and that’s what this 2022 County Council election must be about.
Many will be skeptical, but The Talbot Integrity Project is here to tell you that TALBOT COUNTY VOTERS HOLD THE POWER to require Lakeside to proceed through a new—but this time a proper—evaluation…by the public, by the Public Works Advisory Board (“PWAB”), and most importantly by the Planning Commission, before going through a public hearing and being reconsidered by the new County Council.
A PROPER EVALUATION?
This time, we can talk about schools and who’s paying–because, of course, school capacity is inadequate. We can talk about traffic, and who’s paying for the roadwork triggered by a 2,500-unit subdivision and the scale of this billion-dollar project. This time around, we can discuss the impact on the Sheriff’s office, and EMT services, and the capacity of our hospital. We can discuss what a “regional commercial center” means, and whether Trappe’s one stoplight is the spot for a shopping center 1/3rd the size of the Annapolis Mall. And we can arrange assurances that whatever is finally proposed is what really gets built…and over what time span.
Most importantly, we can talk about Lakeside’s compatibility with the vision in Talbot’s Comprehensive Plan as a rural community with a unique, uncongested quality of life.
That said, no one is going to “stop Lakeside.” Presume those houses are not going to be torn down. Presume those roads are not going to be ripped out and soybeans planted where Rocks laid asphalt. Assume the project will proceed in some manner. But if voters act wisely, we can make sure Lakeside is reevaluated at the County level, in terms of pace, scale, uses, the funding of public facilities, and more.
Unbelievably, those issues were never discussed when the developer Rocks got Lakeside approved. When Councilmen Callahan, Divilio and Pack voted to greenlight Lakeside, few had any recollection that in 2004 the County Council had flat-out rejected Lakeside, 5-0. Memories having dimmed after sixteen years (including as regards improper sewer permits corralled by the developer from MDE back then), Lakeside was presented to the County in 2020 based on fundamental falsehoods. Outrageously, even in March of this year–after the truth had come out and after the Planning Commission had reversed its ok of Lakeside—Mr. Callahan and two others still refused to call Lakeside back for a proper do-over.
THE RESET BUTTON?
“BUT,” you say, “how is it possible to bring Lakeside back now for the evaluation that it dodged in 2020?“
The answer is simple, really: On behalf supporters from every part of Talbot, Rs and Ds alike, TIP is proposing that the newly elected Talbot County Council adopt a Resolution that recognizes the legal impact of the Planning Commission’s decision last November and requires Lakeside to come back for a new and proper County review. Details are here.
TIP, and the numerous attorneys we have consulted, are confident the law underlying this plan is correct and that the adoption of a properly crafted Resolution will be effective. (Expect to hear a litany of reasons TIP is wrong, blasted out by the handful of Lakeside backers—Rocks, his attorney and his engineer, certain Councilmen (Callahan, Pack, Divilio), perhaps the County Attorney, interests in the Town of Trappe, etc. Of course, they want everyone to believe Lakeside approvals are OVER, and will try to persuade you that’s so. And then re-read the plan above. TIP believes it is watertight.)
The consequence of TIP’s plan is that a CWSP amendment to facilitate Lakeside will have to be resubmitted to Talbot County anew. That amendment must be handled in normal fashion, with a review before the PWAB; a public hearing and review before the Planning Commission; and then a public hearing before the new County Council. That review process—a PROPER review process—has always been TIP’s objective, and we believe this plan of action will achieve our goal.
Of course, the ADOPTION of such a Resolution by the County Council depends on electing new Councilmen and Councilwomen who will vote in favor of a new and proper review of Lakeside. Next week TIP will be endorsing candidates who it believes are those most likely to back this strategy and who will be most effective in dealing with the many other development and land use issues facing Talbot County.
STILL TOO LATE?
“BUT,” you say, “you missed the big issue. The project is already built! Surely the developer is vested– TIP’s plan will not work.” (A few will even say it’s just not fair to the developer, look at all the money he’s spent.)
The history of Lakeside is laced with improprieties stretching back two decades. Under Maryland law vesting requires bona fide reliance. But that’s different from calculating (a) the risk of flaunting rules and asking forgiveness, vs. (b) getting proper permission. Vesting also requires “good faith” and “clean hands,” which are questions of fact requiring full disclosure, analysis, and evaluation. Sunshine is a great antiseptic.
Deep investigation over the past eighteen months says “vesting” cannot prevail; while TIP cannot see into the future, we are confident that claim will not keep Lakeside from a proper reexamination.
WHAT MIGHT STOP US FROM “RESETTING LAKESIDE?”
TIP has a robust campaign plan, we’ve got the funds, and we’re underway. But TIP needs VOLUNTEERS right now who will step up and devote a few hours to help reframe this election. Many tasks, large and small. If you want to be part of this effort, send an email today to reset_lakeside@icloud.com. Forty-two days till election, twenty-nine till early voting starts!
(If you want to help but have no time, money is always useful. Send a check to “TIP” at 8404 Aveley Manor Lane, Easton, MD 21601.)
The Talbot Integrity Project
Easton
The Talbot Integrity Project
Easton
Patrick Firth of Trappe says
The Talbot Integrity Project has once again done a great job bringing attention to this. As a 27 year old native of Trappe, the long-term implications of reckless development projects in Talbot has a direct impact on me. On a wide variety of issues, the current County Council has done nothing but furthered division in our county. From protecting the 600+ miles of shoreline in our county (most in the nation!) to improving governmental services and transparency with citizens, this council has failed. We’re a ship without a captain.
Pete Lesher reminds me of the ‘Little Hero of Holland,’ a fictional story my mom used to read to me before bed about a boy who had to plug a leaking dike with his finger throughout a cold night to protect the countryside from flooding until villagers found him and repaired the leak. It is time we send Pete reinforcements to help lead Talbot County in a responsible, forward-thinking manner.
As this post highlights, this is an incredibly important election for Talbot County. The next Council will develop our next ten-year comprehensive plan, for example; on that important duty, on Lakeside, and on nearly every issue of importance to our county, I put my trust in Pete Lesher, Keasha Haythe, Michele Dappert, Scott Kane, and Phil Jackson. Feel free to check out http://www.TalbotCountyCouncil.com to learn more about each of them.
Wilson Dean says
This letter from the TIP more than adequately makes an overwhelming case for electing County Council members who will support a full reassessment of the Lakeside project. Moreover, the traffic, educational,law enforcement, and medical burdens that today are unresolved with respect to Lakeside are issues that must be addressed as projects other than this inevitably are proposed. We can still have growth in this county, but our commitment to preserving its rural character requires careful evaluation and implementation of plans consistent with that commitment. Let’s put Council members in place who are willing to do that.
Jim Smullen says
Theses issues of stress on services warrants careful consideration. The true population increase in the County that will result directly from occupancy of Lakeside housing units (not the grossly understated numbers we get from the Rocks developer) will just about “use up” all of the remaining growth proposed in the current County Comprehensive Plan. That is why these three pro-runaway-growth County Councilmen are trying to push through and revise the Plan, employing Rocks’ own local engineering firm to cook the books in a new plan.
But all of the ancillary services mentioned in this article will need to be expanded to support the 6,000 to 8,000 new residents of Lakeside. That will require new staff for these services that will have to move here from outside of the County. None of that growth is included in the current considerations of the impact of Lakeside on County population growth or in considerations of conformance with the Comprehensive Plan.
Just one glaring example is the issue of stress on the health care system. The problem goes well beyond the capacities of our hospitals. We already are in a state of crisis in the provision of primary health care in Talbot County. We already are experiencing a serious capacity issue in family practice services. I recently called my Blue Cross – Blue Shield insurance provider and asked for a list of “in-plan” primary care providers in Talbot County. I was supplied with a list of nineteen (19) Primary Care Service Providers in the BC/BS plan. I called all 19 of those providers on the list, and ONLY ONE (1) was accepting new patients, and that one had just hired two new Nurse-Practitioners who could see new patients. I met with that provider and learned that both of those two new NPs had recently moved with their families to the County to assume those positions. Note that there was not a single primary/family care medical doctor on that list who was accepting new patients.
At present there is a 10-week wait at the University of Maryland hospital in Easton for a surgery as simple as a hernia repair.
Perhaps someone else could comment on the school system and the need for new school staff, and staff for the other services, that will have to move into the County to serve the Lakeside population “landslide”.
This pro-runaway-growth majority on the Talbot County Council has been attacking and rolling over the stated objective of the County Comprehensive Plan, that was supposed to protect and preserve the rural nature of our County. They want the Northern Virginia developer Rocks to turn Talbot County into the next Northern Virginia-like megaplex.
Vote for County Council candidates who will preserve and protect the rural character of our Talbot County. The Talbot Integrity Project has identified the best candidates that deserve our votes.
W.L.Enloe says
I had the exact same experience when trying to find a primary care doctor after the last two I had left their practices. None in Talbot or Dorchester County are accepting new patients. The health care system here seems to be overloaded.
K Boyer says
Can someone explain to me who is going to buy all of these newly constructed $400,000 homes in Talbot County?
Bob Wenneson says
If there was a God. the answer would be ‘No one’.