There is at least one good reason why the Chester River community has serious concerns about Queen Anne’s County’s comprehensive land use plan. Every day, Kent County residents see extreme examples of the damage done by poor QAC planning and design as they drive from Kent Island, through Queenstown, and move north of Centreville on Route 213 heading home. It is a guided tour of poor choices made over many years. In almost every case, the immediate demand for a high return on investment pushed aside equally important concerns about community values and sustainability.
Kent County, on the other hand, was making some very good choices during the same period of time. Through foresight, stubbornness, timing, and some luck, Kent was able to hold off major land development while the county (under the inspired leadership of some unique people) thoughtfully prepared for future growth. Developers and land speculators, who had benefited from the open door, “let’s make a deal” world of QAC, found out that Kent County’s historic reputation of being difficult was well deserved.
Given this background, the news that there is now significant opposition to the current working draft of Queen Anne’s comprehensive plan update isn’t surprising. Nor is it shocking that there have been misunderstandings, confusion, and a general call to arms by all interested parties. We’re not sure that’s a bad thing to have happened since it has brought significant new awareness to a critical issue.
Notwithstanding the current climate, there remains a clear and honest opportunity for real consensus on growth for the Chester River area. While Queen Anne’s history is tragic, a new generation of leaders and stakeholders are now involved in the process. In some cases, they have won elections on the promise to control growth and land conservation. If they maintain these commitments, particularly in the face of some significant pro-growth pressures, we believe a creative road map for development is possible.
The first step in this process in strong regional planning. As a departure from Queen Anne’s past, county staff and officials will need to fully embrace this tool as it moves forward in defining its growth plan. It will also need to actively listen to stakeholders and be as transparent as humanly possible. Those steps will go a long way to create (or rebuild) trust.
Equally important is for the Chester River residents to be fully engaged in the debate. Rather than allow special interests (good or bad) to lead, individual citizens must be pro-active in being heard and also be knowledgeable about the process. They must also maintain the standards they expect from QAC, which includes transparency, active listening, and the withholding of judgement, to truly make this a conversation about the future, not the past.
Kent and Anne, two siblings who had shared the same landscape, people, and culture for centuries, are now sadly quite dissimilar. The creation of a Bay Bridge holds some responsibility for this, but in the end, these counties began to see different futures for themselves over the last fifty years. While that might have been tolerable when the effected areas were many miles apart, it is not realistic when discussing the future of Chester River communities. We hope that both Kent and Anne can use this opportunity for a truly joint vision of the future more like close siblings again.
DW
Peter Newlin says
As a case in point, Queen Anne’s County’s current “Draft Land Use Map” proposes a new “Industrial/Business Park” as large in area as Centreville, but located at some distance from Millington. At that site and size it is destined to:
1) attract only heavy trucking-related business via its acess to the 301 corridor, and
2) to draw offices away from our historic downtowns (Millington, Sudlersville, Chestertown & Centreville), bleeding them of local revenue.
This is the opposite of smart growth (new construction connected to existing infrastructure and in support of existing town economies), and the opposite of sustainable development (lower energy consumption & carbon footprints), not to mention building an industrial park in an area of prim farmleand is antagonistic to agriculture.
In short, “Draft Land Use Map” proposes exactly the sort of development we see in Middletown, Delaware.
Nick says
As a new-ish resident of the Eastern Shore, I’m surely missing out on some of the nuances and history of this argument. But, being as I have a fresh set of eyes to turn on the idea of development – and I do live here, too – I feel like perhaps a comment couldn’t hurt. And here it is:
I don’t think that all development is bad development. And I think that the idea of preserving “rural integrity” is often confused with fighting every single change that presents itself to an area. I grew up in a very rural part of PA and its integrity went more or less unspoiled for years. Consequently many people were unemployed, underemployed or unable to change careers without having to either move or commit to woefully long commutes. Which is not entirely unlike here – if I don’t work for the college, where else am I going to apply skills like mine? Should I move to the Western Shore or drive 1000 miles a week to get there and back?
The other problem with unspoiled rural integrity was that when we weren’t driving miles and miles to work, we were driving miles and miles to find things to do – something I find to be the same here. It’s fine to say that by not allowing development, we are protecting what’s here. But I don’t see how it’s necessarily better to have to drive 50 miles each way to Annapolis to go shopping so you can preserve rural integrity in Kent County. Does that traffic benefit anyone? The pollution from so many drivers and commuters?
The example of Middletown is certainly disheartening and clearly an example of the way the Eastern Shore doesn’t want to go. My home”town” wound up with a Walmart in 1997 and a lot of older businesses did in fact die off following its arrival – not Middletown levels of bad, but still a lesson in the power of one bad choice.
I’m not a land developer or a town planner but I do have a true desire to be enthused about the place where I live and engaged in its environment. With all honesty, I can say that there is not a lot for me to do here in Kent County right now (being young, college-educated and interested in arts and culture.) If some development that’s done right could make the region more interesting for residents like me, wouldn’t that be a plus?
Kate says
Nick,
Your two points regarding the ‘problems with rural integrity’ seem to be thus: rural communities have few (or fewer jobs), and that one must drive “miles and miles to find things to do.” I would argue that both statements are not as black and white as you pose them.
For many longtime residents of Kent County (I’m also a young professional, like yourself), I would argue that the rewards inherent in living in such a beautiful, peaceful, and yes, remote, location are completely different than those found in urban or suburban areas, but not lesser. I personally don’t mind ordering things online or driving to Annapolis to go to Whole Foods if it means I get to live somewhere as lovely and meaningful as Chestertown is.
And it stinks that there aren’t more jobs, but isn’t that a problem the whole country is facing right now? Certainly adding a sprawling subdevelopment with ticky tack houses isn’t going to address that issue.
Frankly, I question your decision to move here for a job if the atmosphere of a small town is obviously so far from what you seek for yourself. The concept that, as a college employee who likes arts and culture, you can’t find anything to “do” is absurd. Lectures, workshops, classes, plays, concerts are all available for free- just through your employer alone!
It just doesn’t seem like you “get” what Chestertown, and indeed Kent County, is all about. We’re here because we don’t mind sacrificing small conveniences (like enormous movie theaters or Japanese food) for the bigger picture- gorgeous sunsets, geese flying overhead, wide fields, brackish water, and a close-knit, supportive community.
There’s no way that development is going to make the “region more interesting for residents like you.” That may be the most naive statement I’ve heard lately. No, unfortunately, rural development seems to make places LESS interesting, across the board. Are you imagining the intellectually stimulating social environment of a Chili’s or perhaps a Pizzeria Uno? Because that’s the kind of development (not to mention housing developments) that would like to come here.
And as for your dearth of entertainment options, I suggest you check the Washington College website to see what they’ve got going on, read a book, or consider moving somewhere else. There are plenty of places that would suit you- but this place is perfect just the way it is.
Sincerely,
Kate
Keith says
Nick,
Welcome to Chestertown, first of all. As a life long resident I do understand where you are coming from and sympathize with your feelings on the matter of preserving “rural integrity” and the myriad of consequences that follow, both good and bad.
While Kate makes a great point about whether your decision to move here was an educated one considering your tastes, it does not demean what you were getting at. Especially for someone who has spent his whole life here. While Kate may find refuse in Kent County; and the activities, atmosphere, and way of life may be in accordance with her sensibilities, there are others in the “community” whose idea of a “way of life” are in direct opposition. Does that mean the area should become the complete opposite of Kate’s perception of Kent County? Absolutely not. I doubt many residents want to see Chestertown become Annapolis, or even Salisbury in some respects. But too many times in my short life I have seen things be shut out and Kent County cordoned off to new things that didnt fit the aesthetic of a historic landmark, that in several hundred years will be but trivial fodder.
Also many people have had many a great memory in an Uno’s or Chili’s. While the atmosphere may not appeal to you, others feel differently, all according to one’s sensibilities. I couldnt help but notice the elitist and pretentious connotations spewing from that.
Keith
Russell says
As a long time resident, born at Kent and Queens Annes Hospital and raised in Chestertown, I agree with what Nick says about development in this area and I think that both Kate and Keith missed Nick’s point. To say that Chestertown is perfect and should stay the way it is, is not being realistic and forgetting what Chestertown has been in the past and how it has benefited from change in the last 15 years. You should remember that this town had no public library until the seventies; that the town council then told the Friends of the Library group that the town will have a library over their dead body. I use to spend my time after school at the library while my parents worked and I cannot imagine anyone saying that the town should get rid of the library. Do you forget that Kent County was the last county in the entire USA to desegregate in 1967? Do yo remember what it was like before we had a Washington Square and we had no movie theaters (I do not count the old Prince Theater with the one movie that would play for 2 weeks and you had to watch it while making sure you were not attacked by rats and bats), no Sears, JBK, Super Fresh (the only alternative to ACME).
I love this town, which is partly why I still live here. But, this town is far from perfect and it seems this area is feeling the need to expand. This town has prospered in the last 10 years because of smart growth, which seems to me to be the point Nick was making. This town is lucky to have a smart planning commission. Thanks to them and the mayor, this area has fought Wal-Mart and other developers to keep its small town charm. I do agree that we need to be careful with what Queen Annes County does in Kingstown. They do not have very strong county commissioners. The current commissioners have not even been there for more than a term or two and I have heard that none of them are planning to run for a second or third term. Seeing what has happened with development in Queen Annes the last 10 years, I personally do not trust them. I have a friend who lives in North Brook just outside of Centreville. He has lived there since they had the water contamination in 2004 or so due to too much development, which their sewer and water systems could not handle. With all the pollution and over development problems we have had on the Eastern Shore, Chesapeake Bay, and Chester River, it is our duty to focus on what really matters. Making sure that if there is a new development it is done right and done well. It should add to this areas already existing beauty.
Nick says
Thank you, Keith for realizing I’m not just writing in to whine here. And thank you, Kate, for offering the counterpoint to my argument. I certainly do realize that I need to be in a city at some point soon in my life. However, I think that finding a desire to see my own needs come to fruition in Chestertown as a grounds for moving away immediately just a bit unfair. Isn’t that akin to the faux-patriotic sentiment of “America – love it or leave it?” My main motivation for writing in at all was my concern that only arguments that sound like Kate’s are being represented on The Chestertown Spy and in Chestertown in general. Residents like me (and residents resoundingly different from me) are being left out of the discussion of the way Chestertown develops.
As an aside (and my only barb:) after spending 25 years living only in rural places, I do think that I can understand the value of geese flying overhead just fine, thank you.
Joel Brandes says
People in Kent County should be watching what growth occurs in Queen Anne’s County. We, on the south side of the river should likewise be concerned with the Town of Chestertown and Kents growth plans. The problem, as I see it, is Mr. Wheelan is deligently watching QAC and ignoring those plans in Kent. While growth in Kent is applauded and the by-pass proposal is put forth to encourage more growth in Kent, the impact it would have on northern QAC is ignored. Mr. Wheelan, have you never heard of “Smart Growth.? How do you feel about a northern bay bridge crossing from Essex to Tolchester? Can you see the by-pass a a link taking traffic to the shore? Do you think SHA’s pushing the N 1 B proposal could have an ulterior motive?
Try looking at a map of MD-702 and the interchange with I-695 running to the bay. Then tell the folks what that is all about. It might be inevitable that a new Kent Island problem is coming to Kent county, but perhaps that’s what you want. Be careful what you wish for, you might just get your wish.
Peter Newlin says
I’m sorry, Joel, but you have the Spy’s editor, David Wheelan, all wrong. He writes to raise the issues of how we might best manage growth, and to create an on-line venue for all of us to weigh in, as you have done. He’s on your side.
And on mine. Because we are all in agreement growth is very dangerous to our community. Please don’t hear that as me saying I’m against growth. As a local architect, my business and livlihood demand on our community growing. Just not cancerously.
Even in Chestertown, and even in this recession, our little business still manages to furnish four local families with a living. If you count the spouses, five out of eight of us grew up here. Counting children, four have gone to Washington College. We all give and take from the local economy (restaurants, hardware store, farmers market, landscape nursery, etc.). Our teammates are local builders, craftsmen, lumber yards, etc. My point: we are all interconnected.
Out of control growth can be the unduing of the economy that nourishes our small scale businesses and community life. What we have for assets to trade upon in our competition with other locales is a very high quality environment – downtown Chestertown, rural countryside, Still Pond and others villages like it, the Prince Theater, The Chester River, the marshlands, the fishing heritage of Rock Hall, etc.
I love Indian Food myself . But I’d rather have to go to West Street to get it, than I would have the commercial crush of Parole land in Chestertown just to shorten my trip. And as a consequence, I have to choose low growth and less affluence over greater profitability.
If we choose growth based on our personal financial benefit, or based on our own likes and dislikes we can easily ruin the whole pie for everyone else by making it only appeal to people like ourselves. “Wheels”, as his friends call him, wants us to think deeply, what are the attributes that make this area special for us, in the pluralism sense of “us”. For us all?
The more we can discourse about the big picture – what we value about where we live – the more likely we are to be able to recognise and protect the truely valuable from being sold out from under us by narrow interests.
Richer? Happier? Richer? Happier? Let’s choose happier, even though to get that for our families we will have to become involved citizens, willing to cooperate with our neighbors, to mind how our community grows.
Joel Brandes says
Peter, I certainly hope you are right. This area has been in dire need of a way to tell the truth. The rag published as the Kent County News, in my opinion, has failed its readers as a source for objective reporting. I don’t ask Mr. Wheelan or Mr. Lang to publish anything but documented facts. When presented with facts, I believe the public can then form their own opinions.
Bill says
Just one question for all who would downzone ag land. How many of you actually own farms?