(5/3) As the Emmitsburg Planning and Zoning
Commission works to reach agreement on a
comprehensive plan to recommend to the mayor
and town commissioners, the idea of a southern
parkway won’t happen…at least in its current
form.
During a workshop on April 19, Planning
Consultant Chris Jakubiak presented a number
of changes that he saw needed to be made to
the draft comprehensive plan the commission
has been discussing.
Jakubiak said he had received a number of
comments about the proposed Mountain View
Parkway. He told the commissioners, “There
doesn’t seem to be much support for this.”
Commissioner Catherine Forrence said she
might support a minor arterial road with
restricted access points that was built to
state standards so that the state would
maintain it.
“I don’t think we should expect Andy
Mackintosh to build a bypass for Emmitsburg,”
Forrence said. “I think what we should do is
set aside the land.”
Commissioner Patrick Boyle said, “If we’re
thinking about getting rid of truck traffic,
we need the northern bypass.”
Jakubiak said one of the problems with the
southern route was the intersection with Route
15. “The State Highway Administration will
only allow the town to restrict truck traffic
if there’s an interchange at 15,” Jakubiak
said.
Forrence also said that the State of
Maryland will be closing all at-grade
intersections that weren’t designated for
interchanges. She said she didn’t know when it
would happen but that it was in the state
plans. However, Jakubiak said an argument
could be made to keep the Creamery Road
intersection open because of the presence of
the new ambulance company building on the
road.
Other changes include:
- Removing the idea of a community village
east of Route 15 because deed-restricted land
stops it.
- Differentiating between village zone and
town residential zoning.
- Adding more preserved land.
- Creating a more-detailed designation of the
village core.
- Phasing in of municipal growth.
- Updating the groundwater section.
- Updating the community facilities data and
the estimated level of service.
- Adding a water resource element to the plan.
One recommendation that already appears to
be taking place is the creation of a greenbelt
around the town. Jakubiak said that because of
property owners placing their land in
preservation, “You can see an emerging
greenbelt in the town.”
Jakubiak said that the town should consider
restricting development near sensitive
environmental areas. He said that if this is
done, the owner should be allowed to increase
density elsewhere on the property.
