(11/30) At multiple town planning meetings, Commissioners discussed plans for a new Dunkin Donuts, potential new strip mall and a hotel being constructed within town limits.

The new Dunkin Donuts, to be located on Silo Hill Parkway, where the Silo Hill Carwash currently stands was approved by the Commission with two modifications. A thirteen-foot bypass will be included to the left of the building, instead of the required fifteen-foot bypass, and the property owner will have fifteen parking spaces, instead of sixteen.

The site plan also includes the planting of grass, flowers and trees, as well as mulching; over 2,000 square feet of asphalt will be removed, allowing for more greenery and landscaping. According to the town code, a six-foot solid fence needs to be installed at the rear of the lot, and must be maintained by the property owner.

Demolition of part of the carwash is slated to occur within the next month, with hopes of opening the new business in summer 2020.

Another business may be making its way to Emmitsburg, after several discussions took place centered around the potential construction of a 90-room Comfort Inn hotel as well as a seven-store strip mall south of the Sleep Inn on Silo Hill Parkway next to U.S. 15. But the proposal was conditional upon the town brining the water and sewer fees in line with fees associated with surrounding towns and municipalities. Town staff said the proposal would cost $377,000 in water fees and $368,000 in sewer fees.

According to town staff, as it currently stands, Emmitsburg lies within the middle range when compared to surrounding towns, charging $17,400 for total hookup fees per equivalent dwelling unit. The town cannot charge a hotel occupancy tax because the county charges the tax and gives more than 50% of the tax to the Tourism Council.

Commissioner Cliff Sweeney asking why the franchise couldn’t take care of these fees? "The tap fees help pay for the rehabilitation of the Waste Water Treatment Plant. The water and tap fees are the only thing that we as the town have to sell," remarked Sweeney. Other commissioners were also concerned about providing too large a reduction in water and sewer hookup fees to help build the project. In regards to the strip mall, there is some business interest, including a 7/11, but nothing set in stone yet.

At a special workshop meeting held later on November 18, town staff and Commissioners discussed economic growth in town, specifically in relation to the hotel proposal. The major hurdle, right now, is the number of water and sewer connections in town and the town’s ability to provide enough water for future growth in town. "Competition breeds a lot of pressure on tap fees," stated Mayor Don Briggs during the meeting. "We need to look at a program, like Main Street, that we can grow into… [and we] need to increase our [water] supply." Town Manager Cathy Willets continued by stating that "Emmitsburg is bigger than just a proposed hotel…what can we do to encourage more businesses to come to town?"

The viability of the proposed hotel was brought into question when it was revealed that the Sleep Inn's occupancy rate was at most, on good years, only 42% per year, and some days it had only 8 or fewer guests, raising the question if a new hotel will only end up 'robbing Peter to pay Paul', leaving Emmitsburg to deal with two unprofitable 'White Elephants.'

The construction of a proposed additional water treatment plant, at Emmit Gardens, would cost approximately $2,180,000 and could create 476 new taps, according to town staff. Another option would be to purchase a clarifier, which would help remove dirt from the raw water coming from Rainbow Lake or from the well water prior to being treated. This would help alleviate some of the work being done by the filters at the treatment plant, and in turn, would provide more taps.

In other Planning related issues, Rutters asked to be let out of its obligation to build sidewalks along a lane bordering SHA's park & ride because the Park and Ride is not in the state's plans for the foreseeable future. Town staff recommended the commission table the request until the town staff consults with the town's lawyer.

A new 500 new homes development is also being preliminarily proposed on the north side of 140. Water to the homes will be supplied by a new water pumping station included in the Rutters development that can handle the 500 proposed new homes.

Town staff also discussed the possibility of looking into becoming a Main Street Program town, which would allow them to become eligible for more grants that they are not currently eligible for. This, however, would mean hiring additional staff to run the Main Street Program.

A second workshop meeting will be held on December 16 to discuss further the economic growth in town.