County's reception of FASTC has far-reaching implications 

Throwing down the gauntlet

Four Seasons revisited – with a vengeance! 

Process of elimination

Did I miss something?

Things are getting crazy again

more Bill Evans

State Department nixes foreign affairs facility on Eastern Shore
The State Department has abandoned plans for a Foreign Affairs Security Training Center at the Hunt Ray/Crismer Farm site on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, reopening its site selection process in the wake of fierce opposition from nearby residents.  read more

FASTC PROJECT ANNOUNCEMENT read official announcement 

Proposed State Dept. training center 

MAP SOURCE: | The Washington Post - February 23, 2010

FASTC News
Click Here For the FASTC News Section

FASTC Letters
Click Here for the FASTC Letters Section

If this happens, we would lose a valuable Kent Island representative in the very midst of the comprehensive plan process.  The Citizens Advisory Committee and the various Topic Committees brought forward some very good recommendations.  Now it is in front of the Planning Commission to hopefully implement these recommendations.  Steve urges below that it is important for Kent Islanders to contact Commissioners Wargotz and Billups (ewargotz@qac.org; cbillups@qac.org) and tell them your views on why they should not appoint a professional developer or anyone with extensive real-estate holdings in QA County to the Planning & Zoning Commission.

I continue to be concerned that the local Land Development Cartel is flexing their muscle to apply undue influence on the QAC Government, especially the Planning & Zoning Commission. It appears they've convinced or pressured a few of the QA County Commissioners to see things their way. This should be very concerning for ALL of the citizens of QA County, especially those who enjoy the remaining natural resources. I'd appreciate if you would send the following commentary to the KIDL e-mail recipients.
 Many Thanks,  Steve Kougoures

Our neighbors from Business Queen Anne's (BQA) have been developing some imaginative newspaper ads and attending County Commissioner's meetings with rhetoric designed to get us all to think that the current global economic downturn is being worsened by the Commissioners and Planning Commissioners of Queen Anne's County. We all know that business is bad and workers, especially tradesmen, are suffering everywhere. Business in Maryland is bad, some businesses are closing, many commercial properties are empty and conditions in states like Florida are horrible! Homes are not selling in QA County, or anywhere else, and yet BQA is advertising that all would be better if the County would just let them increase development.  That's what they're really saying and it's absurd! Otherwise, why would they target the Planning Commissioners? One of their recent fairy-tales includes a drawing of a charming castle that could be QA County. If they were honest, the picture of what they want for QAC would include row after row of condos and enough fast food restaurants lining Rt. 50 to make it look like Glen Burnie. Times are tough and that's no reason to panic or abandon the excellent balance that the current Commissioners and their Planning Commissioners have crafted to preserve this beautiful County that many of us love. Don't be fooled, stay the course and help one another, because if our County is ever overbuilt, the legendary QA quality of life will be simply a memory. I strongly urge all of you to contact Commissioner Wargotz and Commissioner Billups and tell them your views on why they should not appoint a professional developer or anyone with extensive real-estate holdings in QA County to the Planning & Zoning Commission. Best regards for a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah and a wonderful holiday season!
Steve Kougoures
Chester

Of course many of you are wondering - what the heck is going on?  So far there is still no news.  The original Queen Anne’s Conservation Association “maps case” is pending a court decision.  The Hovnanian appeal of the State’s Board of Public Works denial of state license is pending.  Wonder how this might play out with election next year if O’Malley/Franchot are not re-elected – whether a new board could go ahead and grant the license and/or decide not to defend decision?    read more

Chester Haven Beach Property – approximately 175+ residential units

This property is located off Piney Creek Road, next to Gibsons Grant – on the Chester River just past the entrance into the ExtraMart.  It is on the County Commissioners agenda for meeting this Tuesday (8/25) for amendment into the master sewer and water plan.  Lots of history and issues on this.  Will put out something more complete.  This property is referred to as the Brown Property or Chester Haven Beach.

QAC Comprehensive Plan

At this point, the recommendations are “no more major subdivision development on Kent Island” (hmmm, where have we heard this before?), no more IDA (intense development) zoning in critical areas, no more major subdivision development on agriculture zoned land and ag zoning of 1 in 25 (similar to some neighboring counties).  These recommendations seem to represent the majority citizen input from all the visioning workshops as compiled into a Vision Report.

However the final meeting of the Citizen Advisory Committee for the County’s Comprehensive Plan is this Monday, 8/24 – in the Planning and Zoning meeting room at 160 Courseval Drive, Centreville.  Starting at 3:00 the CAC will review maps and Topic Committee recommendations.  At 6:30, the CAC and all the Topic Committee members will meet.  There will undoubtedly be lots of push-back and all this could be lost.  Your attendance and support is especially important this time – because QAC commissioners adopted a provision that strengthens our Comprehensive Plans.  Whatever the CAC recommends will go to the Planning Commissioners in September.
Vineyards of Queen Anne’s (old Walmart Property Pier One Road)

The owner of the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club plans to expand his weddings-and-special events empire on Kent  Island to include a hotel, restaurants, a spa, an event center, shops and even a working vineyard. Thanks to the Capital and Pamela Wood for a very complete article.  Read the aticle. 

If you have not written to thank the Governor and Comptroller – please do it now. 

• Coordinating with other community organizations on Kent Island and in Queen Anne's County. 
• Networked with anti Wal-Mart and Site 104 groups, and anti-sprawl groups in Queen Anne's and adjoining counties as well as the western shore.
• Pursued appeals of the MDE permit to increase sewage effluent discharge into the Bay.
• Investigating the actual current sewage discharge of the KNSG Treatment plant.
• Pursued legal actions appealing the State Critical Area Commission's approval of the Four Seasons' growth allocation; and seeking judicial review on the determination of "deficiency" of the Citizens' Petition for Referendum of the County's Ordinance granting growth allocation to Four Seasons.
• Examining other large development plans that have been submitted to the county.