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League will not give up anti-Four Seasons battle By MARGOT MOHSBERG, Kent Island Staff Writer THE CAPITAL WED. 11/7 The Kent Island Defense League, in its dogged efforts to stop construction of the 1,350-home Four Seasons subdivision, seems to be in it to the death. On Monday, the league asked a Queen Anne's County Circuit Court judge to step into the dispute and clear the way for a referendum on a controversial change in the Critical Area Law needed for the project in Stevensville and Chester. The appeal follows the Oct. 24 decision by the state Board of Elections to toss out a petition signed by 4,409 people. It declared the petition deficient, saying there could be no county referendum on a state law. "The decision to appeal was based largely on the citizens' reaction to the declaration of deficiency," league President Rick Moser said. "The Defense League is committed to continuing its effort to preserve our quality of life and our natural environment." The petition sought a public vote on an amendment to the county Critical Area maps allowing intense development on 293 acres of Resource Conservation Area and about 80 acres of Limited Development Area. The change was approved by the Board of County Commissioners in August. "We do not agree with KIDL's attempts to reverse the laws and regulations that are meant to protect the Chesapeake Bay," said Mark Stemen, area president of developer K.Hovnanian Cos. "It is ironic that a group that claims to be a protector of the environment is actually intent upon dismantling these laws that have been in place for more than 15 years." (see note below) The Defense League also got another setback last week -- the Internal Revenue Service denied its application for non profit status. Residents who make donations to the league to pay for its legal efforts cannot write them off on their taxes. Mr. Moser said the IRS denied nonprofit status because the league is not an educational or charitable organization. "Although we're disappointed, this decision will allow the Defense league to be more politically involved in the November 2002 election if necessary, an opportunity that would have been denied to us under the 501(C)3 status," Mr. Moser said. Defense league leaders are hoping this does not deter residents from making additional donations in the future, as they are much needed. "We urge Queen Anne's County residents to support our actions on behalf of the community," Mr. Moser said. Published October 03,
2001,
The
Capital, Annapolis, Md.
Note:
The postmistress can't help herself! Mr. Stemen accuses KIDL of trying
to dismantle Critical Area laws -- what a stretch! Yes, the
Critical Area laws ARE intended to protect the environment, and Resource
Conservation Areas are the ultimate protection under those laws.
What we seek to do is save 293 acres of RCA from being changed to intense
development by means of "growth allocation" which is a discretionary DEVELOPMENT
tool. That's right, a DEVELOPMENT tool, not something meant to "protect
the Chesapeake Bay". I'll get off my soapbox now.
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