Raymond Buchheister
Editor & Publisher

At their July 19 meeting, Thurmont Commissioners unanimously agreed to deny a second request for the annexation of 11.6 acres into the town for a 31-house development, this time based on the town’s sewer problems.

The property, owned by William Free, lies with the municipal growth boundary and is located east of Thurmont, adjacent to Rt. 77. It is bounded on the west by the Thurmont East development and by Structural Systems to the north.

Commissioners had denied Free’s previous request for annexation in Jan 2001 because the town had a backlog of 231 houses already approved to be built.

Thurmont Commissioners seemed to struggle denying Free a second time. They commented that the proposed development by Harris, Smariga & Associates, Inc. was a good thing for the town. Commissioner Ronald Terpko said 30 houses is a perfect development size.

Mayor Martin Burns agreed that the development size was what they like to see for slow growth but commented, “Timing is everything.”

Burns said, “We like the project and we like the size. The only thing is the sewer system.”

In an interview Burns said he thinks no board member would approve any annexation at this time because of the state of the town’s sewer. He said they realized about two years ago that the town had significant capacity problems with the system during unusually heavy rains, which he called “acts of God.”

The sewer system can’t handle the I and I, the combined inflow of rainwater and infiltration of groundwater). A $40,000 study determined that the system needs $1.1 million in repairs.

The town has only received one repair bid, estimated at $1.9 million, from W.L Delauter & Sons. Burns attributed the high estimate to details in the scope of the contract which the commissioners are currently working to revise.

Planning and Zoning conditions

On Feb. 24 the Thurmont Planning & Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the development to the board of commissioners with certain conditions.

Proposed access to the development requires connecting to the street Sunny Close in the adjacent Thurmont East development. Free needs a 35 ft. right of way across property he doesn’t own to connect to the street.

This issue aside, the planning commission also requested an emergency access road from Rt. 77. Free’s property doesn’t bound Rt. 77, but he said he could obtain access through adjacent land owned by a relative.

In addition, the planning commission requested that there be no more than 31 houses and that land be set aside for a park. Free agreed.

Speaking as a resident and not as Thurmont Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman, John Ford said at the July 19 meeting that he had opposed the development when it first came before the board. He thinks his concerns have now been addressed by the conditions placed on the development, and because there is only about a 50 house backlog on the books.

In a phone interview Ford said that the planning commission’s charter is to review proposed developments for compliance with the town’s codes. He said the commission recommended approval based on those criteria. He said, “It’s not our job to decide if property should be annexed.”

Free, disappointed and annoyed with the board of commissioner’s decision, said in an interview after the meeting, “I was denied last time and I really thought I was going to get it this time.” “I’ve done everything I’m supposed to do,” he said.

He commented that he’s been a Thurmont resident most of his 61 years. He graduated from Thurmont High School in 1961. “I’m a resident … why can’t it be approved with the contingency of the sewer being fixed?”