(2/3) Discussion amongst Planning and Zoning Commission members concerning their initial reactions to conceptual development plans submitted by the Sewell Farm developer prompted a discussion on the future plans for creating a beltway, or at least a bypass, around the City to relieve traffic congestion in the downtown area.
The discussion detour was a result of the development plan showing homes on most of the property, including the southern side of the farm, leaving a short segment of the planned street towards the southern property boundary. "Placement of homes on the southern end", said Chairman James Parker, "was not consistent with the path proposed for ‘Worthington Boulevard’ in the City’s 10 year Comprehensive Growth Plan."
The proposed Worthington Boulevard was intended to make up approximately 20 percent of a beltway around the City, including almost 70 percent of the northwest portion of the beltway between Route 140 and Rt. 194.
Parker, one of the longest serving members of the Board, recounted to newer members of the board, who listened intently, the history behind the beltway/bypass talk, which began in the 1990s he stated.
Parker nodded to Town Manager Jim Wieprecht, who laid out the intended path of the beltway. According to Wieprecht, the beltway would begin at the circle intersection of Rt. 140 and Antrim Boulevard. Traffic would be routed down Antrim, [the only actual portion of the bypass built] cross Trevanion Road, swing around the south side of the city and intersect Rt. 194 near the Evapco plant.
From Rt. 194, the beltway would loop northwest to intersect Rt. 140 near the old Havalah Inn, west of the Flowserve plant. Form there, it would loop northeast, through the southern end of the Sewell Farm, across Harney road, and eventually connect with RT 194 via Frringer Rd.
"The goal of these roads or beltway," Wieprecht said, "is to get truck traffic off Baltimore & York Streets and reduce congestion."
The beltway, which historically has gone by various names, including the Taneytown Greenway, was to be 160 feet wide, and in addition to the heavily landscaped roadway, the greenway would include a multipurpose trail to carrying bicycles and walkers around the city.
Three other properties through which the beltway is to run, are also in the development phase. Wieprecht noted that developers, as part of their development plan, are required to fund and build the portion of beltway on their land, the option to keep a beltway, or at least a bypass, in the city’s future is very much a doable goal.
However, Wieprecht cautioned the Board that, for at least Worthington Boulevard, completion of its connection from Harney Rd. to Rt. 194 was problematic as the path cut through a floodplain, unsuitable for a road. ‘The only way I can see that section completed," he said, "would be if a bridge was built." He added that he could not foresee a developer being able to cover the cost, and that the only way it would be completed will be with State funding, and that would require the project be placed on the State’s long term priority infrastructure list. Leaving the completion of the southern portion of the beltway the most realistic option.
[The high cost of funding a southwest bypass around Emmitsburg, while constrained by the number of houses allowed to be built, was cited as one of the reasons the developer pulled out of the town’s proposed Farley Farm development in January of this year.]
Chris Tillman, owner of George’s on York Street, said that while "a southern bypass will clear Baltimore street, it will do nothing for York street. Truck traffic," he said, vibrates light bulbs out of their sockets, and urged the Board not to abandon the northern portion of the beltway. "If we don’t do anything, we will get nothing," Tillman said.
Wieprecht commented that if the City wanted Worthington Boulevard to function as part of the bypass, then what has been submitted for the Sewell Farm concept plan will not work as it would not contribute toward routing heavy trucks away from the downtown. He suggested the City commission a study on the ultimate path of Worthington Boulevard, and the overall beltway itself, and suggested the Board recommend to the City Council that funding for the study be included in the City’s FY24 capital improvement budget.
Chairman Parker recommended that the Board not proceed with any decision on Sewell Farm’s development plans until the decision on the path of the Worthington Boulevard portion of the beltway was settled.
