I strongly urge the Talbot County Council to pass Amendment #4 to Bill 1401.
I attended both the July 31st and the August 14th Talbot County Council Meetings, and it is obvious that the Council is divided three members (Williams, Pack, Callahan) in favor of increased development and density in the villages and two members (Bartlett and Price) in favor of land preservation.
The natural ecosystems on the peninsulas are too fragile to survive more development and the infrastructure will not accommodate a significantly larger population.
In 2015, when we inquired at the Department of Public Works about hooking up to the public sewer line that was run down Thorneton Road and learned that doing so would be environmentally responsible. In addition, our neighbors told us that the public sewer line was run down Thorneton Road in part because the property they own (which is directly across from us) would no longer “perk” and their septic was inadequate and failing, so they pushed the county to have public sewer.
For these reasons as well as others, it does not seem reasonable to presume that, because public sewer is made available, a neighborhood or village can now support a significant increase in density. I believe strongly that this fact needs to be clearly stated in in Bill 1401 with the passage of Amendment #4.
It is my hope that at least one of the three pro-development council members will respond to the will of the people they serve and protect our environment by casting a vote in favor of Amendment #4 to Bill 1401.
Anne MacLure
Royal Oak
Carol Voyles says
Thank you for getting to the heart of this matter, Anne. On a peninsula dominated by critical area, it is hard to imagine accommodating additional traffic. Jennifer Williams’ suggestion during the 2016 revision of our Comprehensive Plan that our traffic concerns could be addressed by either timing or eliminating travel were not well-received then.
James P. and Carol Ann Meholic says
Would The Talbot Spy please publish the letter below that was submitted to the Talbot County Commissions on August 8, 2018 for their consideration for limiting the Darby Farm Development in Royal Oak.
August 5, 2018
Dear Talbot County Council Members,
We write to you as concerned citizens of Royal Oak, MD addressing the Village Density issues, in particular the Darby Farm expansion, and changes to the Talbot County Comprehensive Plan. We are against the suggestion of changing the current TALBOT COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN or ZONING AND PLANNING DENSITY to allow development of Darby Farm in a village setting such as Royal Oak.
HAVE ANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS DRIEN ON RT. 319 LATELY? This is the road leading to Bellevue Road, that would be the entrance to the Darby Farm development. Rt. 329 is a PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD currently. This road barely permits two (2) cars passing in opposite directions. There are DEEP drainage ditches on both sides of Rt. 329. In the event that the density is approved with four (4) dwellings per acre over the 100 acre area, and assuming each dwelling has 2-l/2 cars per dwelling, this would result in an additional traffic load of 1000 cars per day. Assuming that the farm was restricted to 35 acres of development, 350 additional vehicles could be anticipated per day. These additional vehicles do NOT even address the increase of school buses and service vehicles coming into the area. The road infrastructure cannot support this increase of vehicle load. To approve and allow additional vehicles on these roads will definitely be a grave and DEADLY mistake!
To allow the development of Darby Farm and call it Affordable Workforce Housing is a stretch. Affordable Workforce Housing requires affordable shopping, restaurants, schools, churches, public transportation, and public water. Royal Oak does NOT have these infra structures in place. This would leave the tax payers of Talbot County responsible for any of these additions, NOT the current land owner or new resident.
At the last Council Meeting on Monday, July 30, 2018, the Council requested a tax increase based on County need of more funds to support its residents for services. What is the sense in creating more homes, with inadequate supports requiring more funds and higher taxes for Talbot County residents?
At our property on West Ferry Neck Road, we DO NOT currently have adequate internet, copper telephone or cell communication. Internet and TV services are provided by satellite only, which does NOT afford current streaming and other up to date services. The copper (wire) telephone lines are not being upgraded by Verizon and therefore, service is spotty and often OUT OF SERVICE for days. Cell phone service is weak. In an emergency, due to inadequate current communication services, we could be at jeopardy from obtaining HELP. Let’s address these PUBLIC SAFETY issues for current citizens before inviting more residents into the Royal Oak area.
WE urge ALL Council members to listen to US, your constituents, and NOT allow urban development changes in Royal Oak, i.e., Darby Farm. Intelligent and informed decisions are critical to create vibrate and active communities. Please use common sense in making sensible changes to our County, not solely based on economic income from new residents.
James P. and Carol Ann Meholic
West Ferry Neck Road
Royal Oak, MD 21662
Alan Boisvert says
Build…build…build….