Kent Island could be a magnet for second homeowners and retirees, according to a vision of future growth being developed by a panel of Queen Anne's County planners and volunteers. 

After two years of study, the group said targeting a specific kind of development is the best way to allow for growth without creating more costs in areas such as schools and road improvements. 

"Retirees don't have children in schools and they don't get into traffic during the peak times," county Planner Radhihika Sakhamuri said. 

The notion that the county would market Kent Island as a place for development is angering some residents, who fear unwanted, rampant growth. 

In a trio of public hearings last week, county planners pitched the proposed update of the 1993 Comprehensive Plan as a way to "direct development into growth areas and protect farmland," Ms. Sakhamuri said. 

The county Department of Planning and Zoning and the 21-member Citizens Advisory Council spent nearly two years coming up with its recommendations for managing growth over the next 20 years. 

Like the 1993 plan, it targets development in "designated growth areas" of Stevensville, Chester, Kent Narrows, Grasonville, Queenstown and Centreville. 

The update aims at directing development in these communities without burdening public facilities. 

The plan would: 

Require all development within growth areas to be on public water and sewer. If services are not available, the developer must pay to extend them. 

Upgrade the Kent Narrows-Stevensville-Grasonville Wasterwater Treatment plant to a capacity of 5 million gallons a day to meet the expected demand of future development. 

Tie subdivision and site plan approval to the standards of the adequate public facilities ordinance. 

Update the impact fee rate to make sure developers are paying their fair share for improvements needed to accommodate the new growth. 
 

Some residents are criticizing the proposed plan -- which is not legally binding -- for promoting development on Kent Island instead of just directing it. 

"We don't think that's the county's duty -- to promote development," said Ben Cassell, a member of the Kent Island Defense League. 

"The only good thing about the new plan is that it recommends finding a better definition for open space," said Mike Koval, KI Defense League vice president. "The 1993 plan says that active recreation, such as a building with people exercising in it, is considered open space. But that's not what I would consider open space." 

They also fear the amount of growth allowed by the plan will overwhelm roads, emergency services and schools. The plan calls for seven new schools countywide in the next 20 years. 

League members said they would be happy if the county kept the amount of growth to 400 homes a year, which has been the annual average over the past 10 years. 

"That would do it," Mr. Cassell said. "But the (residential development planned for Kent Island) is already over their projections in the plan." 

Ms. Sakhamuri said county planners would take the criticism into consideration as the finalize the plan. 

Faith Rossing, who is heading the Department of Planning and Zoning's updating effort, said the 2000 plan is calling for between 400 and 600 homes a year. 

The league believes there are at least 3,832 homes already in the works for Kent Island in the next 10 years. Among them are 171-home Ellendale on Route 8, 1,500-home Four Seasons along Castle Marina Road and 750-home Gibson's Grant along Route 50 across from Safeway. 

Ms. Rossing said the plan will go through many changes before being approved at the end of the year. 

"Now we are looking at how we can make some of the adjustments suggested by the citizens," she said. 

Once the plan is revised, the county will hold another series of hearings by late summer. 

The public is also invited to attend a Citizens Advisory Committee meeting on June 19 at 6 p.m. in the Chesapeake Exploration Center in the Kent Narrows. 

Copies of the 2000 Comprehensive Plan are at county public libraries and at the Liberty Building in Centreville. 
 
 

Published June 6, 2001, The Capital, Annapolis, Md.
Copyright © 2001 The Capital, Annapolis, Md.
 

TO FIND OUT THE REAL SCOOP ON THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PLEASE ATTEND THE NEXT MEETING OF THE CAC ON THE 19TH. THE MEETING LAST NIGHT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE.  ONE FOOTNOTE, THE ABOVE STORY SAYS:  "the 21-member Citizens Advisory Council spent nearly two years coming up with its recommendations " . . . WE UNDERSTAND THERE WERE NO CAC MEETINGS FOR APPROXIMATELY 18 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE PLAN DRAFT'S RELEASE, AND THAT MANY MEMBERS EXPRESSED DISSATISFACTION WITH THE PROCESS.  THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO GET INVOLVED AND BE HEARD, DO IT!  BE THERE ON THE 19TH IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. 
 

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