(4/22) Walkersville residents showed up in force to state their objections to inclusion of future developments at the draft Comprehensive Plan public workshop review meeting. The center of their ire was the inclusion in the Plan for the eventual development of the 115-acre Staley property.
Many shared stories of flooding basements, sink holes and other natural disasters that already plague them. Resident Linda Grossnickle asked, "What will happen to the existing homes when the land that once soaked up water runoff is covered in asphalt, concrete and houses?"
Commissioner Michael McNiesh pointed out that the projected 400 homes to be built on the Staley property did not match the description of "low growth," which assumes a rate of 200 units over 20 years with a population increase of five percent.
An increase in traffic was also a major concern for residents. They questioned the quantity of vehicles a 400-home development would bring and the impact they would have. "If every home has two cars, that's at least 800 more vehicles on the road," said Grossnickle.
Commissioner Gary Baker argued, "I don’t see this being the magnitude that everyone is projecting," he said. "You are not going to see all of these cars pulling out onto Devilbiss Road all at one time."
"With the farming equipment, construction vehicles, and personal cars, I fear for everyone's safety," said one resident, which was echoed by others.
Concern over the already overcrowded schools was abundant at the meeting. Residents asked what would happen if a 400-home development was built and what it would do to the Town if nothing was done about the schools first.
Carrie Pollock, a lifelong Walkersville resident, spoke of a lack of adequate bathroom resources in schools and poorly maintained conditions, leading to leaking roofs and extreme temperatures in the buildings. "The Town's school facilities are not adequate to meet the needs of its current residents. Please don’t add 400 more. By saying yes to this Staley development, you are essentially saying no to a safe learning environment and the success of our children," she said.
Commissioner Mary Ann Ennis pointed out that the County’s APFO (Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance) would prevent a large development from being built at this time. "This won't destroy the Town," she said, "just because it's in the Plan doesn't mean it will happen anytime soon or at all." Baker agreed with Brodie-Ennis that a development that is 15 to 20 years away would not ruin Walkersville.
Chairman of the Planning Commission David Ennis spoke on behalf of Commission members explaining highlights of their recommendations, a result of a three-year long effort. Ennis asked the Council on behalf of the Commission to request Frederick City to allocate funds from their school mitigation fees to be used to update Walkersville schools. "Since many Frederick City residents attend Walkersville schools, it makes sense that those fees can be used for our schools to be upgraded," he said.
Brodie-Ennis was concerned about a future with no growth at all. "I have concerns about not having homes for our children to move into or businesses not coming to be because this Town isn't growing residentially at all."
Planning Commission member Russell Winch, who was the only Planning Commission member who voted against the draft Comprehensive Plan, pointed out that, "the residents overwhelmingly do not want growth. What problem are we trying to solve by growing? I can’t think of a single problem that we have that requires more development." He asked the Council to send the Plan back to the Planning Commission to adopt a no growth policy.
Despite having 90 days to review the Plan and decide to approve, modify or reject it, the Council voted to send it back to the Planning Commission to modify the Plan to keep the Staley property as it is currently zoned, industrial agriculture, in a vote of 3-2.
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