Last-minute
change postpones annexation vote
By Chris Patterson
Contributing Writer
Thurmont’s
Planning and Zoning Commissioners postponed a decision on the
209.5-acre Myers Farm annexation last week after developer Tom
Hudson changed his original request.
The
new annexation plan, presented at a meeting March 22, proposed
leaving a large area of agricultural zoning but would also
retain approximately 448,000-square feet of retail zoning.
Commissioners
had planned to make a decision that evening on whether or
not to recommend the original plan to the town commissioners.
Though
some planning commissioners were pleased with the proposed
removal of the residential component, others clearly were
disturbed that the changes were made last minute by Hudson.
Commissioners
were also concerned over the lack of written details on the
proposal. Hudson provided only an altered map of the plan
without any written documentation detailing the changes.
After
much discussion, and on the advice of town attorney N. Lynn
Board, the commissioners voted to continue the decision to
a later date, to be determined.
But
during the course of the hearing a number of issues were raised
by residents and county planner Denis Superczynski who argued
against the plan, even with the changes.
One
of those issues, Superczynski said, was the fact that the
proposed area to be annexed is not in the town’s planned
growth area.
This
was also a concern of town residents who testified at the
hearing.
Thomas
Cromwell, of Thurmont, said he supported comments made earlier
in the evening by resident and former commission member John
Ford. The only reason to extend the town would be to gain
something the town “really wants,” Cromwell said,
but he had not heard from anyone “a really good argument
why we should extend the town in that direction.”
Resident
Kurt Smith also opposed the plan based on the possible location
of large stores like Wal-Mart or Home Depot that, he said,
would increase traffic and weaken local small businesses.
“We’ve
got a wonderful town and absolutely wonderful downtown businesses
that are growing and thriving, doing well. It’s a great
place to be and these two box stores coming in here would
suck the life out of the town,” Smith said.
Smith
also expressed concern over the number of automobile trips
the larger stores would generate and the possible installation
of a J-shaped turn as the exit off of Rt. 15 into the proposed
retail area. A couple of residents said the J-turn was not
safe for trucks, as evidenced by the problems at a similar
turn on Hayward Road, in north Frederick.
After
much discussion and testimony, the commissioners voted unanimously
to continue the annexation to allow Hudson to prepare and
submit the written details of the change, and for the commissioners
and town residents to review the changes.
The
next hearing on the annexation will be advertised, commission
chair John Kinnaird said, to allow residents to attend and
testify.
