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Four Seasons DRRA Hearing held, remarks and Capital article below. Please see "note" after article: The Commissioners heard comments on the proposed Developers' Rights and Responsibilities Agreement (DRRA) for Four Seasons on August 6th. As usual, the developer made a Power Point presentation, and the "Friends of Four Seasons" were out in force giving their reasons for wanting the development ("I want to live there" was heard most often). Prior to the hearing, the officers of KIDL (Rick Moser, Ben Cassell, Mike Koval & Winn Krozack) met and determined which issues would be presented by Winn Krozack to the Commissioners. Mr. Krozack's testimony will soon follow in a separate webpage. Below are personal remarks made by Rick Moser at the hearing. Please note that the official record will remain open through August 19th. Addresses for the County Commissioners: email - qacc@qac.org; snailmail - 107 No. Liberty St., Centreville, MD 21617. The following comments were made at the DRRA hearing by Richard Moser, speaking as a private citizen: Comments to QAC Commissioners Four Season’s DRRA Public Hearing August 6, 2002 Good morning. I am Richard Moser of Chester Md. This agreement might benefit the County financially, but I would like to remind you of the old adage : “Money isn’t everything”. By approving this agreement, you will be selling the interests of the citizens of Queen Anne’s County to an 800 lb. gorilla (See NOTE below) named “Excessive Development”. When you sign this agreement, the gorilla takes charge. The results of your actions will be the sure and swift degradation of our quality of life and environment. Queen Anne’s County will become indistinguishable from our Western Shore neighbors where this gorilla has already visited. Many of the concerned and civic-minded citizens involved in the Community Planning process have been misled since 1997. They were told of green open spaces, extended waterfront trail systems, golf courses, town center revitalizations, and limited development to match limited infrastructure. The last set of Commissioners approved rezonings in Stevensville and Chester that would supposedly deliver what was promised. Under your watch, and with your approval, the Planning Department and the Planning Commission has delivered this Trojan Horse. This is not, and will never be, the type of growth that many of the citizens of Queen Anne’s County desire. My views are the result of talking to residents of the County, reviewing paperwork, and attending many hearings and meetings. I attended Planning Commission and County Commissioner hearings where the thoughts of many citizens were ignored, and sometimes derided. Their opinions should count. I read the 1993 Comprehensive Plan that was in effect until recently. It called for two-thirds of growth to be off of Kent Island. The stated sewer priority was South Kent Island. Now we have several Large Scale Developments now planned for the north side of Kent Island. I reviewed the Stevensville and Chester Community Plans paperwork from the Planning Office. While citizens were being told of great things to come, there are notations in the paperwork indicating thousands of units of housing and which farms were under contract. This whole process makes the integrity of the County government highly suspect in the minds of many citizens. If you want to restore the trust and confidence of the citizens in their government, you have but one option, and that is to reject this agreement and revise the process. Please mark in the history book that I am 100% opposed to this project and the underlying process. Your vote on this DRRA will be your mark in history. Thank you. NOTE: Mr. Moser's written submission to the Commissioners will include a copy of an article from the Washington Post, May 5, 2001, by D. Deane, titled "Recipe for a Merger", in which Ara Hovnanian was quoted to have said his company's goal is "to be the 800-pound gorilla in a select handful of markets around the country rather than a small player in many markets."
By MARGOT MOHSBERG, Staff Writer An aggressive marketing plan -- and a $20 million deal with Queen Anne's County -- is paying off for the developer of a 1,350-home project on Kent Island, after an unprecedented show of support by residents yesterday. Nearly 30 people at a public hearing in Centreville spoke out in favor of the first-of-its kind agreement between the county and Four Seasons developer K. Hovnanian Cos. "When I heard about Four Seasons coming, I was delighted," said Dolores DiBlasi, of Grasonville. "I would like to live in the area for the rest of my days and with what K. Hovnanian has promised, this will be possible." It was a major victory for the developer, which has promised more than $20 million in improvements to local roads, sewer and water service, and emergency services. Mark D. Stemen, regional president of K. Hovnanian, said the agreement is a first for his company as well. "The agreement really demonstrates what we've said all along, that we would pay our fair share and then some," he said. "It is the most comprehensive agreement in my company's 40-year experience." When news of the Four Seasons project first surfaced three years ago, a group of residents formed the Kent Island Defense League to loudly protest the development, the largest ever proposed in the county. At the same time, K. Hovnanian held meetings with area residents and local contractors as well to spread the news of how the community could benefit residents as well as the economy. While some residents liked what they heard, others remained steadfastly against the project. One public hearing drew more than 600 people to Kent Island High School, most of who were fearful of the effect 1,350 additional homes would have on the island. Yesterday, however, was a different story. Out of 35 people who spoke, more than 26 were in favor of the project, planned for 562 acres in Stevensville and Chester. "We are trying to get the word out about the positive aspects of the project," said Dave Crossan, of Stevensville, wearing a yellow sticker that said, "Friends of Four Seasons." As always, diehard residents opposed to the project warned that Four Seasons would do more harm than good. "This is not and will never be the type of growth many Queen Anne's County residents desire," said Rick Moser, president of the Kent Island Defense League and a candidate for county commissioner. But even some groups who say they are ambivalent about the project concede that K. Hovnanian is working hard to meet the residents' needs. Jody Schulz, of the Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department, said K. Hovnanian has done its part to make sure that firefighters can provide adequate service to Four Seasons. "They have stepped up to the plate," he said. K. Hovnanian has promised to pay the department $438,750 up front and $113,400 a year after that. It has also included a helicopter landing pad in the community for medical emergencies. The commissioners could approve the agreement at their next meeting on Aug. 20. Published August 7, 2002,
The
Capital, Annapolis, Md.
Note: Commissioners email: qacc@qac.org NOTE FROM KIDL: This article does not tell the whole story and the title might be more accurately written: "Twenty residents show up to support Four Seasons during daytime public hearing". Of the 20 or so people who spoke in favor of the community, most of them appeared to be retirees -- their reason for wanting it: "I want to live there". There are some very good reasons for opposing the development and the agreement, and the 9 or so people who spoke against had some very good points. The Commissioners held the hearing during the workday, so most working residents of QAC were unable to attend. If you want to make your opinion known please write letters to the Commissioners (qacc@qac.org or 107 No. Liberty St, Centreville 21617) to go on the record (by 8/19), write Letters to the Editor http://www.savekentisland.org/Letters-to-the-Editor.html, etc. Let the public record reflect YOUR voices.
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