Letter to the Editor: Additional Housing in Royal Oak Will Lead to Overwhelmed Wastewater System

Everybody who votes for additional housing in Royal Oak should know that their vote stands for supporting a very costly stormwater-management and waste-water-treatment plant for this low sea level area under tidal influence.

Currently, when flash floods occur, the St. Michaels Wastewater Treatment Plant overflows releasing effluent into the waters. As much water as we have around us, most of it flows very slowly. If this water is contaminated with bacteria and unknown substances, such as chemicals from a sewage treatment plant. We cannot expect that water be carried away by high stream velocities. Instead, the affected creeks will reek for months until the bacteria and chemicals from the sewage treatment plant have decomposed, or until a new flash flood has polluted the water again.

Higher density housing will simply add to an overwhelmed wastewater system and its operation..

The consequence for everybody will be skyrocketing costs . This vote will lead to unavoidable long term consequences making for growing tax burdens to cover costs for schools, streets, services – all of which will directly link to a increased local bureaucracy.

Whoever can afford to live here now, should know their vote for higher density housing could well force them to move. Increased property taxes will raise to a level that makes it impossible for lower and middle income homeowners . To make matters worse, a vote for higher density housing will lead to reduced property values, poorer quality of life and degradation of the environment.

Professor H. Lehman, Ph.D
Royal Oak