Residents fight to keep ‘small town’ feel

(10/19) The Planning Commission review of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan continued last month with a packed audience of residents in the gallery arguing for and against possibly rezoning of the City’s largest agricultural properties.

A majority of the meeting was taken up with discussion over the 115-acre Staley property, which the draft plan lists as the only new opportunity in town for residential development.

Attorney Bruce Dean, representing Mrs. Stone of Square Acres Farm, a 105-acre property west of 194, argued to change the Stone property to medium residential zoning now from its current agricultural zoning, as this would give the Town options in the future. He asked what might happen if Mr. Staley decided not to develop his property. "You would have no opportunity to rezone for at least ten years when the next review of the Comprehensive plan occurs. "

Dean pointed out that although Walkersville wants to have slow residential growth, assigning a residential zoning to only one property would be too limiting. "It is healthy to have options." He explained that when a property is given a zone in the comprehensive plan, it means that the Town may be interested in using that specific parcel for a purpose other than what it is currently zoned for in the future.

Tiffany Staley, granddaughter of the farm’s original owner, argued to keep the Staley property zoned agriculture. She pointed out that when it rains hard, the runoff flows just like a stream. She wondered, "With the blacktop and concrete, where will all of that water runoff go?" The property is also prone to sinkholes due to limestone formations and underground springs, and she is concerned over what blasting during construction may do to the land. "That farmland is some of the best farmland in Frederick County. I'm asking you from my heart, keep this land agricultural," she said.

Neighbor Linda Grossnickle agreed with Staley asking: "Why develop farmland that lies sandwiched between two developments? You are compromising the existing agricultural buffer!" She also commented on her basement flooding every time Glade Creeks runs over its banks.

Town Commissioner Mike McNiesh, who sat in to watch the meeting, eventually chimed in saying, "We are a farming community. This plan proposes 340 additional units, 250 low residential and 90 high by redesignating the Staley farm. That is in direct conflict with the Town’s vision statement to maintain small town character by limiting growth and maintaining the agricultural buffer that separates the town from surrounding communities."

He pointed out that Walkersville is a desirable location for families bringing children to schools that are already overcrowded and in need of renovations that are not currently being planned for. "I counted 48 cars just in driveways and on streets in a 20-unit development at Longley Green one morning," he said. "At two cars per household, a 340-unit development would add a minimum of 680 cars. None of this maintains our small-town character that most of us love."

Town Commissioner Mary Ann Brodie-Ennis, who was also sitting in the gallery, voiced support of the rezoning of the Staley property. "We have to have some development for the town to progress and move forward." She showed how the population is projected to rise from 6,156 to 7,300 people by 2043, which isn’t a lot over a long period of time. "Since many of Walkersville’s older residents are aging in place, that puts limits on housing for new families. " In order to provide the current residents with the amenities they desire, we must provide housing for new people to come in as well," she pointed out.

Comments on the draft will be reviewed by the Planning Commission and then sent on to the Burgess and Commissioners for them to review. A public comment workshop will be held before the Town Council vote on approving the Comprehensive Plan.