Take the Aberdeen Annexation Survey and let them know what concerns you the most!
The Aberdeen Planning Commission will entertain a request next week for the city to annex the nearly-500-acre Glengarry Community, which is basically a rebranding of the already-once-defeated Wetlands Golf Course property annexation attempt – minus a key group of Locksley Manor residents.
Before addressing the planning commission next week, the development team, led by engineering firm KCI Technologies, will present their annexation proposal in Aberdeen City Hall on Wednesday, April 2 during a 6:30 p.m. community input meeting.
It remains to be seen how the new look city hall, helmed by Mayor Mike Bennett and his chief booster Art Helton, will deal with the return of the annexation request, which was largely responsible for booting former mayor S. Fred Simmons from office and ushering Bennett into his seat.
In anticipation of the community meeting, Wetlands/Glengarry development partner Chris Michel issued a letter through KCI to select property owners, apprising them of the situation, informing them of Wednesday’s meeting and also presenting a questionnaire regarding citizen opinions in specific areas:
Subject: Proposed Annexation of Glengarry
Dear Property Owner:
This is to notify you that a Petition for Annexation has been submitted to the City of Aberdeen including some 496.5 acres along Gilbert Road, surrounding and including the Wetlands Golf Course. The Petition seeks to extend Aberdeen’s corporate boundaries to border your property and the City has requested that we contact you now, early in the process, and invite you to an information meeting concerning this annexation If you wish to review the Petition for Annexation for this project, you may do so at the Aberdeen City Hall during normal business hours.
There is a Community Input Meeting on April 2. 2008 at 6:30 p.m. in the Aberdeen City Council Chambers, 60 N. Parke Street, Aberdeen. Maryland 21001. In advance of the meeting we are distributing a brief survey to solicit any concerns you may have related to the proposed annexation. You may return the survey by mail to KCI Technologies or you may return it at the community meeting on April 2. We plan to present a summary of the community meeting at the Planning Commission Meeting on April 9, 2008 at 7:00 p.m., also in the Aberdeen City Council Chambers.
The City is responsible for overseeing annexations ensuring that it expands the boundaries in a logical and well-planned manner and that it can adequately provide municipal services. The City does not normally seek to annex unincorporated lands, and relies on petitions from property owners for proposed annexations.
We are currently working with the City staff to provide the information needed to consider our request for the annexation of this property. The City has recommended that we voluntarily comply with the proposed Annexation Policy and Procedure introduced by the City Council on January 14. 2008.
The City has requested that we notify you that we have filed an annexation petition. Additional information regarding this annexation proposal and the annexation review process may be obtained by contacting the Department of Planning and Community Development at the City of Aberdeen at (410) 272-1600 ext. 216.
Thank you for your time and we look forward to meeting with you on April 2 at 6:30 p.m.
Yours truly.
Christopher P. Michel
Here is the Glengarry Community Survey, which accompanied Michel’s letter. It was ostensibly only for those whose properties bordered the proposed annexation area, but we thought it would be beneficial for all Dagger readers to weigh in on the questions:
Glengarry Community Survey
Property owners in the vicinity of the Wetlands Golf Course have petitioned the City of Aberdeen for annexation of 496.6 acres of land. The property is now zoned AC (agricultural) by Harford County and the petition requests an R2 zone in the City of Aberdeen.
During previous discussions about annexing this property and nearby sites, residents of the neighborhood and of the City of Aberdeen have raised a variety of concerns. The Petitioners are interested in addressing significant concerns early on to the extent possible. To that end, please participate in this survey to help the planning team collect information about any questions you may have or issues that might concern you.
1. What is the most important characteristic you want to preserve for Aberdeen’s future?
a. Small town character
b. Low tax rate
c. Stable water and sewer rates
d. Open spaces surrounding the City
e. Other
2. What two features of the City of Aberdeen would you most like to see improved in future years?
a. More sidewalks and pedestrian activities
b. More public open space
c. Greater variety of shops
d. More jobs and office buildings
e. Better architectural design
f. More Expensive Homes
g. More Restaurants, entertainment
h. Other
3. What services now available to City residents and businesses need to be improved even if it means increased fees or taxes?
a. Water service
b. Sewer service
c. Trash Collection
d. Parks and recreation
e. Police and public safety
f. Fire and emergency medical service
g. Street maintenance
h. Traffic management
i. Other
4. Which issue associated with the proposed annexation concerns you the most?
a. Environmental Protection
b. Schools
c. Smart Growth Design Principles
d Water and Sewer Service
e. Traffic
f. Recreation and Open Space
g. Other (use the back or add more sheets, if necessary):
Optional
Name:
Address:
Email:
While we can not expect everyone will be able to agree on all issues throughout consideration of the annexation, we are striving to provide responses to as many concerns as possible. Thank you for your time and interest.
Please return the survey to: KCI Technologies, Inc, 10 North Park Drive, Hunt Valley, MD 21030 Attn: Jackie Seneschal
We created a online version of the online Wetlands survey, which you can take below:
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