(10/5) Following the Thurmont Town Council’s September vote to annex 16.7 acres of farmland into town limits and rezone it high-density residential development, some residents are pushing for the decision to be put to a referendum.
Led by the Evasion Thurmont group, residents against the annexation have hit the streets to collect signatures from likeminded residents. As of the town's latest Oct. 26, 2021 election, Thurmont had almost 4,500 registered voters, meaning the group will need about 900 signatures.
Per the town charter, Thurmont must put to vote any decision by the Town Council when a petition against the council decision receives signatures of at least 20 percent of registered voters. The council gave Evasion Thurmont until November 4 to submit the petition.
The farmland property owned by Patricia Simmers is located southeast of Apples Church Road, Roddy Road, and Elyer Road intersection. It borders Graceham Road and consists of approximately 24.5 acres. Seven acres are located in town and currently zoned R-5, while the other 17 acres lie in the county and are agriculturally zoned. Thurmont’s 2022 Master Plan has the property identified in its future growth area as high density residential.
Thurmont’s Town Council narrowly voted in favor of the annexation and zoning change. Commissioners Bill Blakeslee and Wes Hamrick opposed the resolution, with Commissioners Bill Buehrer and Wayne Hooper in support with Mayor John Kinnaird breaking the tie in favor.
Previously, resident Louise Schafer had presented a petition to the council with allegedly over 300 signatures in opposition of the development. "I want to make it clear we are not opposed to the annexation, but we are opposed to the R-5 high density residential," she said.
Developer Daniel Cross worked with the town for years to finalize the annexation agreement. Cross looks to build a residential community on the Simmers property with at least 172 residential units, as well as an assisted-living facility and a day care center.
If the petition drive falls short, the development now requires authorization from the county for the necessary zoning change and only then will the Thurmont Planning and Zoning Commission finalize development plans.
With a long road ahead before the development, Kinnard has urged public participation and community input involvement at all town meetings. "There will be plenty of meetings for you to come out and craft this project the way you think it should be crafted," he said.
Similarly, in response to the Taneytown City Council’s vote on July 11 in support of the Sewell Farm annexation, a petition drive was started to subject that annexation to a public referendum vote. However even though the petition gathered over 1,000 signatures, it fell short of the mandatory 20%.
