Town Planning Process

There is still a lot of misinformation out there about a recent Planning Commission vote. Let me use the example of the largest proposed development project in Ridgely history, Ridgely Park, to clear up some misunderstandings about why we do what we do.

Ridgely Park is a traditional neighborhood development proposal which extends the well planned old town into adjacent farmland. It maintains our grid and alley street system and will be just as walkable as the rest of town. Its houses will be built on traditional size lots and the design of the homes is to reflect the style of our community. There are multiple entrances to the neighborhood which will disperse traffic away from any one street. It is not cut off from the rest of town. Simply put, it is a continuation of all that is good in our town plan.

We have been working on this project for two years and have approved much of it. The actual construction of streets and water sewer infrastructure is set to begin as soon as the Maryland Department of the Environment approves plans for the waste water treatment plant that the developer is building for the town. We have specific commitments about the design of the homes to be built which are written into the Developers Rights and Responsibilities agreement. However, as of yet we don't have the "official" architect's renderings of the individual house plans. What would happen if the developer reneges on the home design standards which have been proposed since day one? This is unlikely since we are dealing with a very honorable developer. However, for the sake of argument, what if? Much would depend on the town government approaching the problem united and insisting that proposals made in good faith must be honored. Unfortunately, there is a lot of money at stake here and a lot of time has been put into this project. The possibility exists that the town Planning Commission could again find itself under pressure to cave in and take what it can get because Ridgely is thought to be over a barrel. However, if we stick to our guns we would get the proposal that we were originally shown. Only if another arm of town government were to take the side of the developer, would the Developers Rights and Responsibilities Agreement (contract) be undermined.

Why have requirements if two years or two weeks down the line we don't expect them to be honored? If we aren't taken seriously to follow through, anyone can take our town for whatever they can. New London is getting closer all the time.

For it to succeed, the Planning Commission must take the long view. What is proposed and built upon in the planning process sets precedents. We have to be consistent. I wish I were an artist and able to illustrate what I mean. (One picture would certainly do better than all the words I've spent on this issue.) I would show what this town would look like, if over the last 10 years, the Planning Commission had been inconsistent, weak, and wishy-washy. The picture would be bleak with fine old homes torn down and anything goes commercial development. It would be an ugly "nowhere" that sadly can be found almost everywhere in today's America. It certainly wouldn't be the Ridgely we love!