(9/15) Emmitsburg is planning on annexing more than 85 acres of land east of Route 15. The proposed annexation will be the subject of an public hearing scheduled for November 2

According to Town Planner Zach Gulden, the property proposed to be annexed will consist of two parcels of land totaling approximately 85 acres “contiguous and adjoining to the existing southern and eastern corporate boundaries of the town.” The land is actually owned and maintained by Emmitsburg but has never officially been made a part of the municipality.

Gulden informed that the properties are predominantly open space and contain no residential units or commercial operations. One parcel served as the former site of the old municipal wastewater treatment plant, while the second parcel is the site of the current wastewater treatment facility and solar panels.

The properties are presently zoned for agricultural use, as per the county Zoning Ordinance, but town staff will be seeking to re-zone the land as institutional zoning. If the reclassification of the use of the property as institutional is found to be in conflict with the county's agricultural zoning classification … Emmitsburg will then seek a waiver from the country to allow for the proposed re-zoning.

The town planner said the annexation was initially proposed in the 2009 Comprehensive, and again in the 2015 plan, but was never followed-up on. Additionally, town staff would like to plant trees on approximately 11-acres of the site to help achieve compliance with federal MS4 mandates regarding the control of the amount of storm-water runoff within a municipality, as well as taking steps to prevent storm-water contamination.

The trees would specifically be planted on a portion of the parcel upon which the current wastewater treatment plant is located. The area is presently being used by a farmer to harvest hay, and when that is not taking place, the area must be mowed and maintained by town employees. The town planner said planting the trees there would also reduce the use of town labor in maintaining that portion of the land.

Beyond that, nothing on the two parcels will be altered. Services to the parcels will remain the same, except for the area subject to the tree planting, and there will be no new infrastructure added, and no new roads will be constructed. “Nothing is going to be changed,” Gulden stated.

Upon the town planner's request, the commissioners approved accepting the annexation plan and scheduling the public hearing. The approvals initiated a process that will include submitting the annexation plans for review by applicable county, state and regional agencies.