August 2007                                                                                                                        Volume IV, Issue VI

 

Membership Meeting

 

September 6, 2007 at 7:00 PM

St Marks Church

Get the details not covered below.

President’s Message:

Members of the Executive Committee met for about 90 minutes with County Executive Ken Ulman, members of his staff, and representatives of various agencies. The session was very cordial and productive. We were able to cover only 50% of the subjects suggested and approved by the membership at the last meeting. We will follow up with Ian Kennedy, a new Special Assistant assigned to GHCA. Mr. Ulman expanded on his “Green Initiative,“ and he confirmed that Highland is in the area where housing allocations will be taken. Other subjects discussed included the Density Exchange Option (DEO) that allows developers to count land outside the actual parcel to be developed against acreage requirements. The issues previously stressed with Council members Fox and Sigaty were reiterated: the recent spate of DEO applications, preservation of so-called “farmland” at the expense of Highland and other communities in the RR zone; the intensive use of common septic, the danger to the well-water supply; the stress on the limited infrastructure; and the conversion of a rural residential community to an average bedroom suburb; Also discussed was the need for zoning law enforcement – see violation below. Rebecca Kugel of Public Works addressed the issue of joint septic systems and followed up with details in writing. Bert Nixon of the Health Dept. spoke about well water and the aquifer. 

 

Conditional Use Hearing:  August 27, 2007 at 6:00 PM at George Howard Building, 3430 Courthouse Drive, Ellicott City 21043

On July 30th, the landscape contractor who has petitioned to use the remainder of the Allnutt Farm at 13288 Highland Rd for commercial purposes testified and was represented by David Carney.  Forty people signed up to testify in opposition and others were known to have written letters to become parties in opposition. The hearing lasted almost 4 hours, and the petitioner; Jeff Schwartz, was still being cross-examined when the Examiner continued the hearing until August 27 at 6:00. The proposed operation will start with 25 employees with 14 parking spots, twelve trucks, and 5 trailers. Loaders and chippers are now being used on the property. Indeed, the current operation has been in existence without zoning approval since October 2006! GHCA opposes this petition, and the record is still open and you may still sign up to testify. Please make an appearance at the hearing and complete the sign-in sheet in opposition even if you cannot stay or decide you do not wish to speak or ask questions – you may decline. If you don’t, your right to speak that night or at subsequent hearings will be lost. For more info: http://www.co.ho.md.us/CountyCouncil/CC_HearingExaminer.htm

 

Highland Crossing:

Kevin Bell tells us: “The leasing is going very well, and we have a lot of prospects for the final building and completing the leasing in the first two office buildings along with some additional retail.” Construction on the final 4 office townhouses is underway. In the first six office townhouses there will be a builder, a karate studio and an insurance company.  There is still no definite news on the restaurant. Shortly, we will be writing and posting on our website a history of GHCA’s involvement with this project and its developer.

 

Highland Day – October 6th:

Reminder: this year we DO HAVE a rain date: October 7th.  A new feature this year is the first annual Student Arts & Letters Competition sponsored by Sandy Spring Bank.  All students from Kindergarten through 12th grade are invited to express their outlook, opinions and viewpoints through various forms of creativity based on this year’s theme: “What Highland Means to Me.”  Sandy Spring Bank will award a fifty-dollar U.S. Savings Bond to the winning entries. Please visit www.highlandmd.org or contact the competition coordinator at Kelly@eventsorg.com

 

GHCA WEB Site:

Note the link above. Eric Kirksey reports changes in the format and graphics. We like it, do you? It is a work in progress, and Eric and others are adding and updating.

 

Membership:

GHCA continues to be strong! Membership has reached 102. The leadership appreciates and needs your support. We encourage all to join/rejoin for this eventful year!  Dues are only $50 and benefits are priceless!!

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