Bel Air resident Gary Ambridge prepared the following public comments for the October 17th Development Advisory Committee meeting and provided a copy to The Dagger for publication.
Development Advisory Committee:
I would like to thank the Development Advisory Committee for allowing me to speak and express my opinion unlike the closed session held by the County Executive and the Abingdon Community Council. I feel that the Abingdon Community Council was the wrong group to ask for “community” input as they do not live in Bel Air. The Bel Air South Community Foundation is made up of us who actually live here and have a real interest in the safety and health of our community.
The meeting held on October 8, 2012, was a farce. It did nothing but solidify Wal Mart’s purpose to destroy our neighborhood for more profit and the County just seem to nod its head, shrug its shoulders and smile while saying, “they have the zoning.” It is ludicrous that (county Chief of Staff) Aaron Tomarchio could think that the earlier meeting in July at the Patterson Mill High School with Wal Mart wasn’t “productive” if the purpose of that meeting was to “…meet with community members and hear what they have to say.” Wal Mart did hear what the community had to say, it was unequivocal and crystal clear: WE DO NOT WANT A WAL MART IN BEL AIR.
Nina Albert, director of community affairs for Wal Mart said that she appreciated that County Executive Craig was “…willing to have a forthright and honest discussion about what the community concerns are….” It’s not that the meeting in July was not “forthright and honest,” it was, it’s just that she didn’t hear what she wanted to hear. Allow me to reiterate what the Bel Air concerns are, and they are forthright and honest: WE DO NOT WANT A WAL MART IN BEL AIR.
Ms. Albert need not have concerns that it “…was difficult to have a real conversation ” with us in the July meeting as we heard what she had to say in her slick Power Point presentation. She, however, apparently did not hear what we had to say: WE DO NOT WANT A WAL MART IN BEL AIR.
The Abingdon Community Council provided a number of pre-conditions to Wal Mart. Allow me to simplify them for you: I don’t care if you sell guns and ammunition, have a car repair center, are opened 24 hours, have bright lights, allow overnight parking of any truck or vagabond, or any other thing you want to do – AS LONG AS IT IS NOT IN BEL AIR.
When the County Executive holds a private, closed-door meeting that does not include the very community who will be most affected by this monstrous store he is opening up the concern that this was just a ruse to allow another developer have his way. It reeks of back room politics and secret deals. And likewise, when (county spokesman) Bob Thomas says “to bring Wal Mart to the table we had to commit to a smaller venue…” just reinforces the impression that a deal was being made with Wal Mart. Why does the County Executive, or anyone else, feel that a smaller venue will produce a more accurate expression of the community’s desires? Our desires could not be more evident: WE DO NOT WANT A WAL MART IN BEL AIR.
Now the County is re-arranging the deck chairs on the sinking Titanic of our community and hoping the voters will think that they did what they could to save us from this run away truck’s breakneck careening over our lives. Every communication with the community that is directly involved in this immense store has given “…an open and honest discussion…” of our concerns and for the County Executive and the County Council to disregard them so that Wal Mart can have its way is dishonest. Politicians can make statements supporting us, pass non-binding resolutions to the State Highway Administration, but the proof is in the pudding.
We must hold our elected officials responsible for correcting the mistake THEY made. Council President Boniface admitted that each of the council members thought it would be something more in keeping with the existing character of the street, such as office buildings.”We let you down because we didn’t recognize the fact that you could have a big box come in there,” he said. “The Department of Planning and Zoning didn’t let us know that could happen.” (BTW they are supposed to know this and not blame someone else for this mistake.) Nevertheless, now is the time to correct YOUR mistake before it becomes OUR nightmare.
To force this Wal Mart, to say nothing about the improvements on the other 16 acres there, upon our community is wrong. It will lead to nothing but traffic gridlock that will dump more than 10,000 more cars daily onto out roads, millions in highway improvements which the State Highway Administration tells us will require Emmorton Road to be expanded to 6 lanes at county expense and may take up to 10 years to implement. Wal Mart will create untold dangers for our children and citizens. I will leave you with this last plea: WE DO NOT WANT A WAL MART IN BEL AIR.
Thank you,
Gary Ambridge
Well said – thank you for eloquently stating what many, many residents feel about this project.
BRAC FAMILY…as in DoD’s Base Realignment and Closure program? With all due respect, sorry to say it but a lot of HarCo’s development is because of you and for you. With the increase in population to APG and EPG there are more residential developments going in and with that comes other businesses such as entertainment, and wares/grocery atleast with the new Walmart you get that. And if you protest it now–does that mean when it goes in, because it will, you will not frequent that store no matter how convenient it is?
Will we frequent the store? The intersections will make it far too dangerous to walk across 924, and, to be honest, with the traffic gridlock, not sure we’d even be able to drive there. I don’t think its going to be an issue of not wanting to shop there. the issue will be the ability to get to the store.
If you wait for the walk icon to display, you shouldn’t have any problems.
Those signals are worthless.
Anyone who has stood at the corner of Plumtree/924 or Bel Air South Parkway/924 would know that most of the time there is always traffic in the crosswalks. It’s either backed up trying to get on or off 924 or sitting in the intersections when lights change.
Then send a community request to the Sheriff for a deputy or two at the intersection to enforce the law for a few days until the drivers get the message.
They won’t even come out for an actual accident unless there are injuries. Do you want to pony up for some funds to hire more police?
If they won’t talk to you, talk to your elected officials. A Councilman calling the Sheriff would have more weight than you calling on your own. The State Police also have jurisdiction on 924, and they love to respond to citizen complaints about problem areas.
One former neighbor would have the troopers sitting outside her house regularly when her grandkids were visiting, because she wasn’t happy with how quickly people drove in front of her house. She would sit in a lawn chair watching the troopers give everyone a warning or ticket and explain the speed trap was due to citizen complaints.
I read this 3 times and still can’t figure out what the “Wal-Mart Will Create Untold Dangers for Our Children and Citizens” Gary is talking about.
That aside it is a rather well written rant, I can only imagine a lot of foot stomping and gnashing of teeth while writing it, it’s going to be sad to see Gary leave the county when the construction begins.
I agree, there’s a lot of wants but not a lot of whys.
Walmart has hundreds of stores in the US, surely a few communities would be able to provide proof of these dangers.
We live just behind the new Fallston Walmart and I can tell you..it has created some problems- We no longer have dark nights because our 24hr walmart has those tall parking lot spotlights on all night. We no longer have the trees filtering the noise from Bel Air Rd because now there sits an immense parking lot that seems to echo the huge trucks and motorcycles that travel Rt1. There is a lot more traffic through our previously quiet neighborhood (Woodcrest). And not to be too judgemental but there are some shady characters perusing our neighborhood days and nights. Our community has become the haven that shoplifters and attempted car theives use to evade apprehension. It could be a coincidence but we have had an increase in vandalism and break-ins since Walmart went in. Our community didn’t seem to be on the grid before-but with all the business construction around us (Walmart and now Aumar Village) combined with I95 we have been put in the center of a the mass traffic triangle. We moved from Baltimore County and built our home in a rural environment not too long ago (12yrs ago)…but in came townhomes, and WaWa, Farm Store, Car Wash, Walmart, and now Aumar Village…it now seems as though the city has expanded. Our once serene setting of still, darkness and crickets has been changed to never ending daylight, sirens, construction nuisance, inability to get in and out of our community without it really raising your blood pressure and extending your commute by a half hour to accomodate navigating the new business traffic. So it isnt just Walmart but Harford County no longer being a rural setting…we are beginning to mirror Baltimore County with all of the business development and with that brings residential development. So, Walmart is just the beginning and if it isnt Walmart it will be some other business development. Either way Harford County is developing so if you want to keep the rural setting you value…buy up all the land around you because thats the only way you are going to keep it.
Just my opinion. Good Luck anti-Walmarters.
P.S. The building and development my community would like to see is the Building of a new Youth’s Benefit Elementary School–http://www.facebook.com/builditnowybes?ref=stream&sk=info#!/builditnowybes
A few things I failed to mention in my {very lengthy} post. There are some positives to a Walmart going in that maybe you haven’t thought of.
Atleast in our case in Fallston–
Walmart became the go to emergency center in the event of a disaster…when the tornado hit in June…the parking lot was immense enough to accomodate all the emergency vehicles, utility repair vehicles, and mobile command centers–which was a great sight to see how quickly and efficiently the recovery process was.
Also, what most people don’t know- unless you specifically ask- is that the new Fallston Wal-Mart became the emergency shelter for local daycares. Because they are on the county water system and backup generators..kids would be shuttled to Walmart in the event of a major disaster because of their ready availability of water, septic, medication, and grocery.
Our area (Piedmont region)of Harford County is on wells…the Fallston Wal-mart is on the county water system- which means they have fire hydrants…that is comforting to know in the event of a fire.
I’m sure most people heard about the devastating Joppa fire in December 12, 2011 in which the fire leveled the home and caused millions of dollars in damaged. As much criticism as they took, the fire companies were VERY limited on how they could respond because- as I said -our area is on wells, so the closest water source was the newly built McD’s at the time, so tankers were shuttling water from McD’s to the fire. Can you imagine if that were your home and they had to navigate Mountain Road traffic to get water from the closest business by tanker and back to your home to extinguish the fire.
For these reasons alone Walmart in my back yard is not so bad.
Not to mention the 3am run to my 24hr Walmart to get ibuprofen and popsicles for my 3yr old daughter suffering from a 102 degree fever…
Sure our property value declined because of the VERY close vicinity of Walmart but we like to think of the savings we have from not having to use lights in the evening (think of your house lit up at night by a very bright full moon–yea, its like that)and the safeguard of knowing where the closest fire hydrant is in the event of a fire.
Since Wal-mart WILL be going in…embrace the positives! I’m okay with what I have sacrificed in exchange for the development in my area. Sure I miss those dark and quiet evenings sitting in my back yard…but it has become an excuse to escape to a camp ground somewhere, every one in a while.
Let’s keep Walmart out. Then we can get an Ollie’s or Big Lots in there to really help improve our local image. 🙁
I vote for Kmart, then I can avoid the traffic at the Harford Mall whenever I want something from Sears.
I heard there’s a waste transfer station looking for a home.
Notice how those people jumped on that before the zoning went through?
Walmart is coming. Accept it and move on. All these public opinions are just to let u vent. Govt and big biz will win over the few whiners. I remember when wawa was planing to build at the location on rt22 by the express care ( true value back then). There all this community resistance then. Wawa was built anyway. And know the complainers stop in and shop there. And so will all of you complaining about Walmart.
So why are you opposed to this Wal-Mart in Bel Air? Seems you provided none of that. I suspect you want nothing there to say nothing of the land owner who you want to pay taxes on land he can do nothing with you don’t want. You point out
“We must hold our elected officials responsible for correcting the mistake THEY made. Council President Boniface admitted that each of the council members thought it would be something more in keeping with the existing character of the street, such as office buildings.”We let you down because we didn’t recognize the fact that you could have a big box come in there,” he said. “The Department of Planning and Zoning didn’t let us know that could happen.” (BTW they are supposed to know this and not blame someone else for this mistake.) Nevertheless, now is the time to correct YOUR mistake before it becomes OUR nightmare.”
I turn that back on you…..You moved in to the development envelope. Did you not know this? You saw the rezoning signs. Did you not know this could happen? YOU SHOULD HAVE!!!!!
I REALLY disagree with you! The county is NOT very open about zoning meetings at all! You really have to look for them, then try to publish them. I wrote to Aegis to ask why these things are not in the paper. Most people will never get word, and don’t understand how the process works. Apparently our reps don’te even understand that B3 means “big box!” What is lacking is detail in the count Master Plan. It calls for development with consideration to bicycle and pedestrian access. Walmart will provide none of that if we don’t hold them to it. This forum is important for the community to have a voice. The press is the “fourth power” of government, and we need it. How much did you know about the zoning process before all of this?
Also, I would NOT be surprised if Walmart was already in the deal with “Evergreen Business Trust” when the rezoning occurred. Wonder if any laws were bent there?
I new alot. I used to live in a different county in Maryland and growing up we where floded with suburban sprawl. It took a concerted effort and 20 years by elected officials to push out low rate appartments and excessively large town house developments, but they did it with zoning and insisted developers pay for there impact. Admitedly Harford County does not do the later. The zoning signs are there and obvious if you look. The problem is people are compalcent and want to complain later. I liken it to the disengagded citizen who doesn’t vote and then complains about the government.
Bravo CDEV! What most of these people complaining about the new Walmart don’t want to admit is THEY are the real problem. They CHOSE to live in Harford Co. Rhwt CHOSE to live in the Bel Air/Abingdon area development envolope. If you had stayed where you were Walmart wouldn’t want to build there because the population wouldn’t fit their criteria. So all of you on here crying about the new Walmart just remember you are the cause of the problem, so stop worring about a solution because there really isn’t one. Unless they are all ready to leave.
Or buy the land and let it sit vacant. Land sale is auction process. Get a group together and out bid Wal-Mart. Than you can decide, within the zoning parameters, what if anything goes there.
Guess what CDEV many of the neighborhoods off of 924 have been there for a very long time – Bright Oaks, Glenwod, West Riding, Colonel Acres, Box Hill North. Not “new building.” Smart growth doesn’t mean gridlock not just for residents in area but for everyone who has to drive there. Hope your aren’t one of the many who is in a car accident around there.
The only reason I drive that stretch of 924 is to go to Patterson Mill which I access from Plum Tree or to give blood which I use Bel Air South Parkway. Otherwise I use 24. I see many people acting like 924 is the major thruway and it is not. Use 24 people. BTW Tollgate with some minor modifications could also be a valid route too!
Tollgate, as a county road, is not going to get any minor or significant changes made to it. Roundabouts wherever there are intersections, which they have basically completed. It is intended to connect at Plumtree and Bel Air South and no matter what this will eventually happen one way or another. Other than that, very little will change about that road for a long time.
924 is a state road and has and will continue to get moderate to major improvements over time– however, it is not a through road, that is what 24 was built for, so CDEV’s primary point is fairly valid.
Most of the time I drive when volume is low for a variety of reasons and 5 or 6 days a week I make one trip a day to/from work and that’s all. But I will admit that I personally prefer smaller roads for travel than larger ones for a variety of reasons, so yes I often take 924 rather than 24 to/from Bel Air. I have also driven from Philadelphia on Route 1 instead of 95. There’s a lot to be said for that kind of travel.
But I also don’t complain about how long it takes or how many lights there are. If I am in a hurry, I take 24. I think it’s okay for people to choose whichever road they want, but it’s not okay to complain about the conditions if there is another way to go or if you are the one contributing to them.
I find myself agreeing with CDEV more than I want to lately.
Here all the concerned citizens for the zoning meeting, now that its to late there out there in full force. Instead of the negative stuff being thrown at Walmart, they should try to get them to do positive things like completing tollgate Rd through to Plumtree to alleviate some traffic on 924. Instead of waiting for some developer to do it?
Nobody wants anything in their backyard. Could be worse it could be a Casino.
Tom
Be careful what you kid about. Thats probably coming.
Tom that is part of another parcel owned by the same owner that is up for appeal on November 7th. If you lived in the area you would have seen the meeting signs posted.
Apperantly not since all those people missed them last time!
The only untold danger was the time I wasted reading this pile of non sense. I am not in favor of a Wal Mart being built at that location, but I am more against people rambling non sense. Maybe try again and convince us why Wal Mart should not be built at that location.
Amen. The editors need to be more selective with the articles they publish.
“It’s for the children” has to be the most coined and played out phrase ever. LOL
These people are so blind by their self righteous ignorance that they don’t even realize there is a gun shop in bel air already, its called Mayland Quartermaster.
I’m sure the owner of the local gun shop (and the one in Hickory) has a little more interest in who he sells a gun to in his community than the former paint department/former garden department/former automotive department minimum hourly wage slave that will now sell someone a gun from Walmart.
The federal and state laws are still the same, regardless of which store sells the firearm. Walmart uses the computerized Form 4473 system and requries a manager review the entire purchase and documentation, while a local gun store may use the paper 4473 (a frequent source of errors, such as forgetting to list the buyer’s county of residence which results in calling the buyer back to the store to correct the form). Walmart also does not sell handguns or “regulated firearms” as they require additional steps (extra paperwork, waiting period, etc) to comply with Maryland law.
I’d suggest you try to buy a firearm before commenting on the process.
“requries a manager review the entire purchase and documentation”
That’s reassuring – a low paid manager making decisions who gets to buy a firearm. No wonder there is so much gun violence in this country.
You really don’t understand many things, including the process of buying a firearm.
I’m pretty confident that a manager at a Walmart Supercenter makes more than I do in what is considered by most to be a professional career position.
In fact, why don’t we check on it?
“According to glassdoor.com, the average wage for a store manager at Wal-Mart is $85,000 to $115,000. The exact wage within these two figures would be based on relevant experience and time spent with the company in a similar role, assistant store manager, for example. These figures are only the basic wage, not including bonuses and benefits.”
So, yeah, you’re beginning to sound elitist, even to me.
So it’s okay to pay a teacher $50k a year to care for and educate your child, but it’s not okay to only pay a retail manager $75k a year to approve gun purchase paperwork? Low wage? Really?
You must have it pretty good down at the base.
Look, we agree on the store, but try another argument my friend.
Why would someone’s pay rate matter? Besides, no employees at wal mart can ever determine, or approve someone buying a firearm.
“but it’s not okay to only pay a retail manager $75k a year to approve gun purchase paperwork?”
Easy solution. Don’t sell guns in Wal-Mart. As someone already posted, there’s already a gun shop in Bel-Air. How many more do you need? As crazy as NJ is, at least the police there have to approve the gun license, not the Wal-Mart manager. Sheesh.
Managers DO NOT approve gun sales.
Federal and/or state background checks approve gun sales.
get it right or shut up
state police that is, just like NJ
feel better now?
You are an arrogant, condescending elitist. Go back to New Jersey, where that attitude seems to be a way of life.
I am a longtime Box Hill resident and was initially very much against the new Wal-Mart going in on Rt. 924. Then I heard all of the self-righteous, sanctimonious, anti-Second Amendment clowns in the anti-Wal Mart groups start in trying to demand Wal Mart agree to not carry firearms or ammunition in the new store. My position has now changed. For all I care they can build a Wal Mart there and put in a mall too for that matter, I fully support it. I’ve already written my county council person and expressed this. You groups opposing Wal Mart lost a lot of support when you let the gun control nuts get in on the platform.
Lots of corporate Wal-Mart employees posting out here I see.
just calling it like I see it. These people want to argue safety about guns and ammo being sold make no sense. Lots of “children” walk past Maryland quartermaster daily , followed by all the drunks leaving the bar at night.
It is interesting that Walmart’s corporate guy was quoted that we would be hearing from the pro-Walmart folks very soon. I wondered why crystal ball he had to make that assertion. Get real. This is a public forum where people can post anonymously and you can bet Walmart has people posting in these forums in support of the store. They told people at Constant Friendship they needed to sign a petition in support of the new store because that store was closing. They made it sound like the store was closing regardless of the outcome of the 924 store. Walmart has a history of shady dealings, broken promises along with a long list of what happens to neighborhoods, surrounding business and the overall economy. So I say “Hello” to all the Walmart employees that think it’s great to have lighting in your home without turning on a light and who don’t care the property values declined.
I am not a Wal-mart employee..I am a Gulf War disabled veteran, Fallston home-owner, mom of three (one of which is currently serving) so that we all can be on here exercising our freedom of speech!!! And I have the balls to post my real name.
I posted ‘my opinion’ from experience–I didn’t bash anyone or say that anyone else was wrong for their opinion if it differed from mine-I believe I even stated “MY OPINION” in my post.
I was only voicing an unbiased opinion from experience, and I feel I’ve earned that right! Logically if one is adamant about being all negative, or all positive about the situation you are forming a clearly biased opinion and don’t even bother to look into anything to the contrary.
IN MY OPINION!!!
Many of the people with a similar opinion to myself have been longtime posters on the dagger. We are not Wal-mart employees. This is what you tell yourself to make it seem in your own world that no one in Harford COunty wants this. That is far from the truth.
While that may be true in some cases (almost all of us have carefully crafted our own little news bubbles in the world to preserve our fragile world views), there still is not a strong current of support demonstrated by the community.
In the last 3 months Walmart, with its own vast resources has reached out to the community through a petition, several mass mailings throughout the area, and has asked those who support the new store to conduct a similar campaign. That has resulted is hardly moving the needle for elected officials because they haven’t heard from those people. We know this because they are posturing against it, not for it. And the Aegis printed last week that they had received only SIX emails from the public supporting the location and only ONE of them was even signed.
So yes, of course there are people who support the new store, but if they exist in the numbers of those opposed, nobody has heard from them. Just saying they are out there doesn’t accomplish anything.
I said long ago that I thought the breakdown was something like 20% opposed 5% support, and 75% tuned out or don’t care, and I haven’t seen much that makes me think otherwise yet. We all yabber back and forth like it matters, but most of our neighbors in the wider community really don’t care.
It’s not helpful for anyone to belittle the opinion of anyone else, but as I have said before, none of our “opinions” matter any more. It’s now down to the technicalities.
I am not belittling the person. This person believes all those for the walmart must be employees and not count. I am simply letting them know they are wrong!
I was actually referencing my own comments, which refer to our opinions as no longer important compared to the technical details of the project, from a regulatory perspective. Sorry for the confusion.
My comment is for BRAC FAMILY.
I noticed you are delivering a lot of bad information that seems rather made up.
I can understand you extreme ignorance on this issue if you are from New Jersey. They won’t even let you pump your own gas in that state, you have to let a Fuel Nozzle Technician handle that extremely dangerous liquid for you.
Now that I’ve gone off topic, so let me go over a “laymans” scenario of how it really goes down.
After someone fills out the ATF Form 4473 either by pen and paper, or computer as that what Wal Mart uses (as mentioned in an earlier reply), the sporting goods employee will have the manager come over and check for compliance making sure the form was filled out correctly. An employee will also have to fill out some info on the form, this I am not to clear about what they fill outwith exact certainty.
After the manager confirms the paperwork is correct on the customers side, they will phone your information into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System to confirm you are not a criminal, you know.. someone prohibited from firearm possession.
After the NICS check comes back clear, you are good to go.
Reading your comments, it would appear you are even ignorant to your former state’s gun laws. It is my understanding, which may be incorrect to some degree, that most rifles and shotguns in NJ (albeit a little more restrictive than MD) can be purchased the same way, Federal 4473. Permit to buy a Handgun would go through the state police that takes time (as you kind of pieced together). You mentioned license.
Maryland regulates all Handguns to extra paperwork, 7 day wait along with certain rifles that was drafted up in legislation back in the 1990’s. Wal Mart in Maryland does not sell any handguns, or any regulated long arms, so every firearm is cash/carry after a form 4473.
In summary, I would advise you to gain a little more knowledge on the subjects you plan to debate.
Oh, I forgot to mention that down talking people’s wages and employment really shows who you are.
I am not affiliated with Wal-Mart.
“They won’t even let you pump your own gas in that state, you have to let a Fuel Nozzle Technician handle that extremely dangerous liquid for you.”
One of my favorite bumper stickers is on the autos of a number of my female co-workers:
“Jersey Girls Don’t Pump Their Own Gas.”
I prefer the other version: “Jersey girls aren’t trash. Trash gets picked up.”
I laugh at the gas stations signs in Jersey saying their technician is highly trained to pump your gas for your safety. The sign directly beneath it says their technician is not trained to check or refill any other fluid in your vehicle. How hard up are gas stations for employees if the ones they find are capable of swiping a card and pumping gas, but not understanding an oil dipstick or refilling the wiper fluid?
Brac Family, you need to go back to NJ. People like you are the ones who have ruined this county. You all come in here and want to change everything the way you’rs used to, instead of adapting.
Doesn’t the political process afford me the right to try and change things? The Maryland sate/federal politicians lobbied hard over many years to get BRAC to send lots of new employees and mission here to MD. So now many people have moved as a result but it would appear that you don’t want me to exercise my right to free speech on this subject. Either the politicians want us here or they don’t.
The politicians wanted your money, we want you to assimilate or go home.
I was BRAC’ed from Philly to Southern MD in ’96 and now I’m laughing at all the NJ BRAC personnel that are going through the same emotions I did. Life is much easier when you stop complaining its not like your old home, because it will never be the same. Suck it up and learn to enjoy Harford County for what it is, or quit your job and go back to Jersey.
Yes, embrace the Hive Mind. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.
It will eventually be like our old home, because we will make it that way. Let’s start with this one. What’s the deal with septic systems and well water? The county needs to get to work with a master plan to improve the basic infrastructure with expanded utility water service and sanitary sewer system; both for homes, and storm water runoff. I read that the builder of those homes on the corner of Ring Factory and Tollgate modified their plans to accomodate the wants of the NJ folks who did not want septic and well utilities. So the change has already started. Get ready for us . . . here we come! (Now if I could only get a decent pork roll, egg and cheese on a hard roll, the transformation will be complete!!)
; )
Or because our Governor has been going after septic systems his entire time in office and wells in Fallston have been found to be contaminated with heavy metals. It is hard to design an ideal drain field on a 1/3 acre plot, even assuming the ground percs within acceptable limits. Most people today, not just NJ buyers, do not want a well or septic unless there are no other options, plus the builder takes the risk of finding both a suitable well and getting the ground to perc for each plot, vs just engineering the sewer and water which is a known quantity and easily done.
If a builder is going to supply natural gas to the properties, he might as well bring in water and sewer at the same time.
There was no decision made on public water & sewer for the new homes at Tolntlgate and Ring Factory “because of the desires of NJ transplants”. No new developments along the Route 24 corridor are being put on well / septic, and they haven’t been for quite some time now. Well before the last round of BRAC posturing was a thought in anybody’s mind. Though I realize it’s difficult for those from the NY / NJ metro area to imagine that anything doesn’t revolve around them. 🙂
Really, just enjoy your new home and keep complaining about pizza like the rest of the transplants. Or do what a bunch of others did… move to Cecil County to be “closer to home”… then whine endlessly about the lack of nightlife and entertainment. 🙂
I know a few BRAC’ed 20-somethings that live in Ceciltucky.
Their experiences are hilarious, I guess the BRAC briefings never told them about how Cecil isn’t just yuppies looking to raise kids on a half acre with a white picket fence.
“Really, just enjoy your new home and keep complaining about pizza like the rest of the transplants.”
The pizza is pretty bad.
Between Kharn and the Brac Family person not sure who is more rude. When you’re new to a neighborhood do you normally introduce yourself to the new neighbors by calling them names. I’ve lived in San Francisco honey(s) with better food, richer people and snootier attitudes than either of you could ever conjure, but I’ve also met some hillbillies from WV that are better people than 99% of the residents of NJ – you see being a good and decent person doesn’t come from argula salad or a guchi bag. Go home..we don’t need you here.
And for Kharn – you state that it’s hard to find a suitable drain field in a 1/3 acre plot and that in reference to Fallston. Perhaps you might do minimal research before you spout crap you apparently know zero about. First, there are minimum lot sizes allowing for a septic and it doesn’t include any lot as small as 1/3 an acre. Second, perhaps the folks in Fallston don’t want to be hooked up to sewer and water systems – unless you’re a complete moron (which is still open for argument), you understand that one of the techniques for limiting developement is to prescribe minimum lot sizes, perk standards and/or deliberately not running these services to areas not deemed within the developement envelope. Sheesh…it’s not all about you. You NJ residents pretty much ruined your own state – overpriced, high taxes, sprawl and you want to lecture us about what people want; maybe we don’t want “NJ” here.
“maybe we don’t want “NJ” here”
Too late. That cat is already out of the bag. Thanks to your MD politicians, you are stuck with us.
BRAC Family, before you get too sore patting yourself on the back for being “lobbied” here you might want to look at the situation from the Government’s viewpoint. The Aberdeen and Edgewood sites are here to stay… basically forever. Any attempt to remediate the sites for general use would probably incur costs along the lines of another Moon shot. The dizzying array of nasties in the ground from unexploded ordinance to toxins, heavy metals and who knows what else that has been dumped, lost or buried over the past nearly 100 years would all have to be cleaned up. Contrast the remediation cost vs. the property value and I’m thinking that’s not going to happen. Therefore, close other bases- move people… They probably enjoyed watching the politicians grovel while they knew the answer all along…
The Money Tree:
The new development at Tollgate and Ring Factory that BRAC Family mentioned as a success of Jersey lobbying is composed of 1/3 acre lots, thus why I used that number.
I’m not from Jersey, I’ve lived in Maryland since 1996.
Yes, you have to understand that Harford County is a little bit of Mississippi in Maryland.
Have no fear BRAC family. Not everyone in Harford County is this closed minded and myopic. You’re just on here corresponding with a lot of people that have learned how to game the Dagger Forum to make your views seem like they are in the fringe minority. They need a little influx into the local gene pool every now and then, otherwise they start to get webbed fingers and toes and their skin starts to turn blue.
I have noticed that BRAC FAMILY frequently posts comments during what would be considered normal business hours. Are you a non working family member of a BRAC employee or are we not getting our monies worth from the time you should be working?
They could be an independent contractor!
Then their employer may want to ask if they are their monies worth. And if BRAC FAMILY is a government subcontractor employee the taxpayers are still footing the bill.
That is between their boss and them. The taxpayer pays for a service and if the contractor delivers the service that is up to the contractor to do so efficiently. That is how the private sector works. You do not get to dictate anything about the employees compensation as a taxpayer since it is not your dime.
Or he could be on his smartphone in the parking lot on a smoke break.
There is an excellent article published in the Aegis by Allan Vought (Commentary: Speaking with forked tongues on Walmart) which gives a very clear history of the questioned property and the actions taken by county government and the county council regarding the change in zoning classification. Some of our elected officials will feel rather exposed by the details revealed by the article. Political posturing indeed!
Fascinating article, thanks – I didn’t know how much history this one parcel held. Any idea what the opposition’s case was at the time? What made the judge overturn the council’s aye vote?
I think brac people should also be required to go through Maryland MBA driver training, like kids do. I have yet to see a new jersey plated car that doesn’t ride on your ads, and not know the definition of yield.