Are you among those excited about the prospect of hundreds of new homes being built in Talbot County and elsewhere on the Eastern Shore? I am not. And you should not be either.
I travel the Oxford corridor on a regular basis. I usually avoid St. Michaels Road because it is dangerous, especially at night and in inclement weather. I do not want to see more traffic. I do not want to wait 10 minutes, through three lights, to turn left onto 322. And I certainly do not want to wait 10 to 15 years until the Talbot County government develops a “solution” to the problem by rebuilding the 322/Oxford Road intersection.
Traffic woes are just part of the problem. I worry about our schools. Do pro-growth champions want to see children taking classes in trailers while already overtaxed schools are expanded? And what about the quality of education? I do not have children in the Talbot County Schools, but people repeatedly tell me that they are dissatisfied with the quality of education. Many people think the current school system is underfunded. Injecting hundreds of new students into the system will not solve that problem. And even if new tax revenues are created, the quality of education will decline.
Can we talk about healthcare? We are grateful for the courage of Eastern Shore health professionals during the pandemic, but everyone I talk to worries about the availability and quality of care. I recently looked for a new primary care physician. I had no luck finding a doctor with the skills and experience I require. I was told that I should look for a doctor in Annapolis or at Hopkins in Baltimore. Do I want to drive an hour or more to see a doctor when I am ill?
Let’s talk about public safety. Any significant increase in population necessitates more police. Will new taxes cover the cost? What if our public-safety issues become more challenging? Let’s say our towns morph into “small cities,” and we see more crime. Will more police be needed? Will we see more substance abuse? Burglary? Domestic abuse? Will we have the social services required to address these increased problems when we need them? Highly doubtful. More likely tax revenues will not grow in proportion to the new costs associated with a larger population. Any promises that developers made are unlikely to solve these problems, especially when we have uber pro-development people negotiating the deals.
And then there is the question of our water quality. Let’s break it into two parts. More development means more wastewater being dumped into the Chesapeake Bay watershed. I don’t want to hear about “temporary waivers” based on future promises. I want to see clean water now. I also worry about more boats on the water, especially loud ones. I moved here to live in “the land of pleasant living.” I don’t want our waters to look like the lake depicted in “Caddyshack.” You know, the film where Rodney Dangerfield runs his oversized yacht into Judge Smells’ sailboat.
These are valid concerns. But to some people I have talked to, and according to some of the 41 responses to the letter to the Spy by Lynn Leonhardt Mielke about Eastern Shore development, they are not showstoppers. Some responses to Mielke’s letter implied that unless we double our population in 10 years, the Eastern Shore will “die.” I suspect that this view reflects the belief that if our population increased dramatically, we would see better restaurants, more culture, more festivals, and more people willing to vote Andy “Handgun” Harris out of office.
In my view, there is one issue, not talked about, that is the proverbial showstopper–climate change. I wonder how our government leaders can permit significant new development when climatologists tell us that water levels are rising, and that the possibility of super storms is increasing. If our infrastructure is already at capacity, are we prepared to rebuild after a massive storm or deal with the repercussions of water levels continuing to rise faster than predicted? The answer is no.
I suspect that government officials comfortable with more growth figure they will be out of office when “the sh*t hits the fan.” The inability of people to evacuate in the face of a massive storm because our roads are overwhelmed is somebody else’s problem. So what if it becomes impossible for people to flee to safety if you are no longer being held accountable.
I suggest that development be prohibited until viable solutions are developed to address the short-term public service capacity issues and the long-term climate change safety issues. Any new development must include the resources necessary to address these concerns. And if those costs are calculated honestly, the concessions required of developers will render many projects not economically viable.
The time to kick the can down the road is over. The assumption that “solutions will be found when we need them” is false. For the Eastern Shore, now is the time to take necessary actions to ensure that the Eastern Shore is livable in 20 or 30 years.
J.E. Dean is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant writing on politics, government, and, when the Constitution is not under attack, other subjects. J.E. will be on summer vacation for the next two weeks and will resume spying August 31.
Bob Jones says
J.E. DEan has nailed it in his article, “The Ostrich Approach to Eastern Shore Development” Until we elect solid majorities of government officials who DO NOT personally benefit financially from the proposed development disasters, facts, laws, and common sense will not carry any days here.
In the case of a weather or other disaster, there will be no road off the penninsula that will be passable due to traffic congestion. And I mean even now, let alone later. With ten more years of “pro-growth” and pro-business” attitudes (translation: pro-ME and pro-NOW) our property values, quality of life, and safety will be the good old days…and will be g-o-n-e. But those cute new restaurants and nail salon strip malls will be flourishing. Plenty of school dropouts to staff them, too.
jeff morton says
I agree with everything said in this article. There is one item not mentioned very often. When does the population of Easton grow to the point that a volunteer Fire Department is no longer enough? To switch over to a paid Fire Department, I would imagine would cost millions. And to what do you say to the volunteers that have served for so many years? Thanks…but we don’t need you any more.
Margot Miller says
Thank you so much for this breath of sanity in a conversation obscured in clouds of hot air and ego, greed and the lure of the immediate advantage.
John Dean says
Thank you for your kind words and for reading the article.
I’m glad we are on the same page.
Al DiCenso says
I believe Mr./Ms. Dean makes some very valid points, and I fully agree with their concerns. I live in Easton Club East, and there will be a meeting here tomorrow afternoon regarding the large development planned next to our community. Where will it all stop? There are many large vacant plots of land throughout Talbot County, and several farms which will be passed on to heirs which would rather cash in on the real estate value, than continue the hard, but valuable work, of farming. Must we see a continuation of high density residential development, rather that a few single family homes on one or more acre lots? We are being inundated with greedy developers and landowners, as well as politicians who cannot see beyond the juicy additional tax revenues. If you want to see the result of uncontrolled development ruining what used to be a lovely, peaceful, high quality of life small city, go across the Bay to Annapolis. We lived there for thirty years, and hardly recognize it any more, with overcrowding of stores, restaurants, parking garages, and horrendous traffic conditions. Do we want that here? Think about it!
John Dean says
Thank you for this response. We are on the same page.
Thank you for reading the piece and for your efforts to stop the madness.
Reed Fawell 3 says
We must focus our attention on the one key issue on which all else depends. This is the fulcrum issue on which future of Easton, Oxford, and St. Michaels, and of all of us who use the highly and irrevocably constricted roads that connect these three towns, namely the St. Michael’s and Oxford Roads and the Easton Bypass that links them both to town of Easton and Route 5O to the north and south. Those interconnected, mutually dependent roads are beginning to fail now, and incurably so. There is no healthy new unplanned growth left that will not further insure gridlock on St Michaels Road, Oxford Road, and the Bypass intersections. An independent, honest traffic study will prove this in spades. One needs to be commissioned now to address the details of that central issue, and its impacts on the entire region.
This study needs to focus especially on coming impacts on traffic west of Easton Bypass, especially St Michael’s and Oxford Roads, and on the bypass, by reason of growing impacts on lands and secondary roads feeding those primary roads, as compounded by growing Route 50 traffic north and south. No new development should be considered until this master traffic study is completed, fully considered, understood, and integrated into County and town Master plans. Easton and Talbot County residents deserve this. Their local governments have been flying blind, ad hoc, and/or under the radar for far too long.
John Dean says
Great comment. I fully agree. I have not been on the Eastern Shore for as long as many Spy readers, but I have seen the deterioration of the quality of life as the area gets more crowded. A master traffic study is a must.
Eva M. Smorzaniuk, MD says
Spot on, Mr.Dean! You’ve outlined the major areas of impact both immediate and future. Enveloped in all of these are all the hidden, unforeseen costs that result whenever short term profit is prioritized above all else. The health and safety of our population, and the future health of our county infrastructure are at grave risk. I encourage all Talbot County voters to carefully select leaders who will represent their best interests, rather than those of developers.
John Dean says
Dr. Smorzaniuk, thank you for your kind words and for reading the piece.
Matt LaMotte says
After returning to the Mid-Shore after an almost 20 year hiatus, I was amazed at both how much change there’d been (some good, some not so much) and yet how much had stayed the same. I’m likewise stupefied at the seeming lack of common sense, long range plans.
Traffic congestion, shortcomings in educational services, a shortage of affordable housing, and seeming unchecked growth are not new to this area. Our most precious asset, the natural beauty of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, is at risk; more so now than before.
And, “fixing blame doesn’t fix the problem.” It’s time our area corporate and civic leaders sit down together and do something permanent and far-reaching. Everyone will benefit!
James Fitzgerald says
Spot on! Insightful and bold.. quality of life is key, not growth for growth’s sake.. Talbot County is special, we cannot allow it to morph into a sprawling mess, like so much of America!!
Wilson Dean says
This is an excellent article supplemented by so many insightful remarks by those who have commented on this piece. I can only add my support for those who have stressed the need for an objective and comprehensive analysis of the traffic, education, public safety, and quality of life concerns — before any building occurs.
John Dean says
Thank you for your kind words. I have been very pleased at the response to this article. It is clear that many of us are deeply troubled by reckless development on the Eastern Shore.
And thank you for reading the piece.
William Keppen says
We moved here, Easton, two and one half years ago. It took us two years to find a local PCP, there were no local doctors available. Although we are in our seventies, we worry about schools and education for our community’s children, something we should all be concerned about. Those who are in positions of authority over such matters, community development planning, do not deserve to be in those positions, if they do not take all of the things mentioned in your article into consideration, before approving anything.
Willard T Engelskirchen says
If I had wanted to live in Montgomery County I would have moved there.
I spent most of my life in the Chicago area and was a witness to what has to be described as cancerous sprawl. We do not want that. There is no need to consider a doubling of our population to enrich developers.
By the way, if your doctor retires in this area, good luck finding a new one. None of the existing doctors are taking new patients/
Alan Boisvert says
This article is filled with unsubstantiated hyperbole. I see nothing backed by proven facts or sourced research. However, I do agree that prior to development, developers should bear all cost associated with their impact and not pass them onto taxpayers.
Marge Terry says
All I can say is KUDOS! We do not live there but do love it. LIVED on Hatteras Island and saw the writing on the wall as you are talking about, and got off. You see what is happening there and THE GREED still continues.
We now live in Mathews Co on a cove off the Bay..and as other newbies come in the wants are growing. The infrastructure is not here and hope it doesn’t happen..Move here because of the ambience and then want to change it for CONVIENIANCE. Doesn’t make any sense…
GOOD LUCK…
John Dean says
Thank you for your comment and for reading the article. Much appreciated.
Dale Wallop says
We need more businesses on the shore, we are behind the rest of Virginia
Jerry McConnell says
Huh?
A. we don’t need more businesses ( or people) here
B. we’re obviously not in Virginia
If you prefer living in a metropolis, feel free to move to one.
Lynn Mielke, Republican candidate for Talbot County Council says
What a healthy dialog about the ramifications of the Poplar Hill development and over development in general! All good issues raised.
The Easton Staff Development Review (ESDR) of the Poplar Hill application, and its request for an award of growth allocation to reclassify 65.977 acres +/- from RCA (Resource Conservation Area) to IDA (Intensely Developed Area) is scheduled for August 24 at 11 a.m. at the Easton Town Office, Council Chambers. If approved by ESDR the application will move on to the Town of Easton Planning Commission for a public hearing, perhaps as early as September 15, 2022.
The ESDR meeting is an open meeting but not open for public comment. All those who care about these issues and the demise of the desirable Oxford Corridor and our rural way of life need to be there! Also, the Town of Easton is updating it’s Comprehensive Plan. Now is the time to raise all these issues with the Town and to complete the surveys, particularly the one on transportation. Go to https://www.eastonmd.gov/564/2023-Comprehensive-Plan-Update. Make your voice be heard!