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Post by alan on Jul 5, 2006 15:48:00 GMT -4
Well here we go again! Heard from the developer that everything is on hold again till Jan 07. It really is a shame at all the money that has been spent. Look what the county could have done with all this money on our school system and roads. We all know it will be approved. I would think we need this type of planned community. They should be more worried about the old outlets and the way this looks. Why would anyone rent there is beyond me. I wonder if the county knows they are storring boats inside. I wonder if this is a zoning issue. I would guess no lease= cash under the table? Just my own thoughts..Please flame me if you like.
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Post by Matt on Jul 5, 2006 16:28:43 GMT -4
Alan, don't expect the "old" outlets to remain as they are for long. I'd guess they're within a few years of being razed and replaced.
Four Seasons is an inappropriate development as it is in violation of Zoning and Critical Bay... what else are KHH in violation of?
KH Homes knows this, hence the quiet fight. If they were within their rights, they'd be fighting far louder than they are. Instead, they're quietly trying to make deals that will allow them to foist this onto the citizens of Kent Island.
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Post by alan on Jul 5, 2006 19:59:47 GMT -4
I agree this is how things are done here. Pay a little get a little. They will come. As much as I don't want the traffic I feel we need the growth. With growth will come a cleaner KI. I daid it before I will say it again,we need to get rid of the trash! ie: the used car dealers and trailer parks at least the one right over the bridge on 50. That whole area buy the pizza place is a mess. The old outlets, yes I will bet within 10 years it will be condo's.. It all depend on the growth and property values here. Property sales are dead right no so I would say no growth, even water front is dead
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Post by bchevy on Jul 5, 2006 21:28:02 GMT -4
I daid it before I will say it again,we need to get rid of the trash! ie: the used car dealers and trailer parks at least the one right over the bridge on 50. That whole area buy the pizza place is a mess. It sure would be nice just once for some people to realize some things. "the used car dealers" are someones business, livelyhood, or at least a decent attempt at it (even if not it your eyes). The "trailer parks" are SOMEONES Home, People live there if I'm not mistaken. Maybe it's not up to other's standards, so what? In my view it doesn't have to be. I've said it before, I'll say it again. ALL this stuff was here when you got here, if you don't like it get back on route 50 and go away. No I don't live in a trailer, No I don't sell used cars, and No I won't deny others the ability to do so.
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Post by alan on Jul 5, 2006 21:52:44 GMT -4
The problem is planning, llok around there is nothing wrong with car lots if they look like they are here to stay,no just sell junk out of a trailer. It called zoning. Before you give them a lic. make them clean it up or abide by the new standards. No one used car lot on the island is in compliance to state laws. Example, no Federal warranty sticker on the window, no inspection center window. Hours much be posted and followed on the door to the office. Cars must be inspected before they are offered for sale. Again we need to clean things up. Now for the trailer parks, just because you live in one doesn't mean you can't kept it clean and neat. I have a friend that hardly makes ends meet but his house, and his 15 year old car is spotless. Renters as a rule could car less. He to has a trailer in Westminster and the park is spotless. Not the one around here. So that said time for a BUD! or two. Chers
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Post by Matt on Jul 6, 2006 8:31:00 GMT -4
Alan, it sounds like you're still missing the point... you're trying to impose western shore standards on Kent Island. Do you not see how that isn't what some people want?
It's a slippery slope between imposing stricter zoning and Montgomery County-style fascism.
May I ask a question? You support KHH's Four Seasons development? And you realize they are not developing in conformance with the zoning of that property? And you realize you're now insisting "It['s] called zoning" as a means of justifying tearing down existing homes and businesses...
Do you not see that you are imposing standards to suit your personal goals and vision for Kent Island? Do you not see you are inconsistent? If you want to enforce zoning, then ENFORCE ZONING! You can't say enforce it on the junk used car places that have been here longer than you, but not on the FS development that YOU like? That land was NOT intended for such dense development, by any stretch of any zoning code. That CA was NOT intended to be encroached into.
Kent Island was just fine before folks demanded we throw in the towel and roll over for developers because "they will come."
I also disagree with acceptance that "this is how things are done here." Indeed, that is NOT how things should be done now, and NOT how I expect things to be done as we go along with the "inevitable" development.
I can't understand the mindset so many move over here with. "It's 'God's Country' (tm), so I'm going to turn it into that turd that is Glen Burnie, Crofton, and the rest of the western shore..."
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Post by alan on Jul 6, 2006 9:17:50 GMT -4
Matt, I don't want all of the western shore standards,but face it it's coming. Four Seasons will be here. The tax base is just to big to overlook. Without it and controled growth the businesses that we have here,owned by locals will close. The area is changing and so is the eastern shore. I moved away from the Western shore to get away from the crime and highclass jerks. I love the old ways of the shore but we need to clean things up. There is always give and take in any business deal. Look how the county will benifit from growth. Without out we will all pay more in taxes to keep the roads and schools up to par. Do I think there should be large big box stores here,NO but small business Yes. Look at Small Plates,The Spot, CVS, the new Safeway. These are things to come. Do we want truck stops,No. Even the locals that own the larger buisnesses want growth. They need this to keep the doors open. Look at Love Pointe great local resturant ( For Sale) not enough growth to keep it going and this is a very nice local resturant. Well enough said, I need my coffee. I hope it never turns into Glen Burnie,Crofton or the rest of the wester shore. Oh by the way , do you think the old outlets should continue to fall apart? Yin Yankle was going to open in there but from what I heard gave up dealing with Jamall. This is just a rumor so take it for what it is.
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Post by Matt on Jul 6, 2006 9:48:13 GMT -4
Alan, 1) "Face it it's coming. Four Seasons will be here" is both defeatist and unacceptable. Four Seasons should NOT be here. Kent Island survived and thrived for 400 years without it. Slow growth, and growth according to zoning/master plans is the way "it" will come to the shore, otherwise, it will become the other side of the bridge. 2) If there are not enough residents, then there are too many businesses. That's called capitalism. Just because I want to open another coffee shop (you actually like The Spot?), doesn't mean it makes sense. It doesn't mean I/you/we/they should build irresponsible developments on Kent Island just so I can make a buck where I want to. You can't justify FS by saying some crappy business needs the client base. As a business owner, I accept this. My business plan accounted for it when I started. I had no pie-in-the-sky plans of trashing yet another farm so I'd have an extra 1000 homes to sell to. 3) The Outlets should never have been built. I knew the greedy man who built them, and I disagreed with the plan. They failed, as they deserved to. Some small businesses have found a home there, and some have done well. Country Pedaller is a prime example of smart business. She found a market that was there and could be supported by existing markets, and she does a great job. (even if it costs me more money than I'd like 4) development of the four seasons property in accordance with the original zoning would not cause an eye to blink on Kent Island or anywhere. Development through illegal/unethical/irresponsible practices as Hovnavian does and has and plans to, should be fought hard. otherwise, why create zoning? In otherwords, if you're so quick to accept KHH's flaunting of our county's zoning and other important codified requirements, why bother saying the trailers and car parks should be removed? Why have zoning? Why not just wait until the wealthiest fat cat developer comes to town and tells US what HE wants to build and just be sure we all get a cut of the pie? Why not? Or is it just so long as the failures of compliance suit your tastes? Do you see how your opinion that the trailers (which are legal) and the car parks (legal) are bad, but the KHH four seasons development (illegal) is good... could lead to many people who disagree discounting your opinion? You either get fair, acceptable, and responsible zoning - or you don't.
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Post by alan on Jul 6, 2006 10:45:40 GMT -4
I agree with you on some of the facts, but as long as we have people ( goverment)that can be paid for in the area nothing will change. It's all about money and that I don't like, and yes I do like the spot. Great coffee but them I like Java Joes also..
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Post by Tom on Jul 7, 2006 16:23:59 GMT -4
Does anyone have any contact information for the developer? Email, mailing address? I really need to talk to them instaed of K-hov.
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Post by uvrays on Jul 10, 2006 9:27:29 GMT -4
Fall 2005 --Without an obligation to do so, Smith Cassell and Cupani vote to award sewer and water allocation to 400 units of the Four Seasons project. The developer had only requested allocation 162 units. This allows the project to be considered for final subdivision and site plan approvals.
--Smith Cassell and Cupani remove Commissioner Ransom from the Planning Commission just before Four Seasons comes before the Commission for a final vote. Commissioner Richard Smith breaks the long-standing practice of not voting on items that comes before the Board and votes for the project Feb 2006 --Judge Sause issues an injunction against Four Seasons stopping all work. Shortly after the injunction is issued Commissioner Ransom turns in several County employees who violate the injunction. Judge Sause sends the County Sheriff to the Planning department to serve his injunction to department personnel.
--The Judge’s Order clearly outlines major flaws with the Four Seasons portion of the County’s Official Critical Area Maps, but clearly does not require the County to take any action. March 2006 --Commissioner Ransom repetitively requests appointment of independent outside counsel who could advise Commissioners correctly that they have no legal obligation to push forward with Four Seasons project. His requests fall on deaf ears. The Majority of the Commissioners do hire a special planning consultant to help review the maps. URS is hired. Commissioners Koval and Ransom vote against the URS hiring.
April 2006 -- It is discovered that URS has done work for Venable (law firm representing Four Seasons) on the Four Seasons project. That’s right, Cassell, Smith and Cupani hired a Four Seasons expert to fix the maps. May 2006 -- Over the strong objection of Commissioners Ransom and Koval the Smith-Cassell-Cupani cabal signed the maps, helping move the project forward. However, Commissioner Cupani ordered the camera turned off during the session. Ransom objected to the signing saying it was not required, he also said we should wait for the lawyers to attend. None of the County lawyers were present during the signing. Koval & Ransom objected to the signing pointing out obvious flaws with the maps. June 2006 -- Judge Sause questions if the County complied with the Open Meetings Act when signing the maps. The County is unable to provide a transcript or tape (Cupani had ordered the cameras off). Cupani, without telling any of the other Commissioners, hires an expert from Milwaukee to fix the tapes. --When the source of funds to hire the expert is discussed Smith and Cassell vote to pay the bill. Cuapni votes no and says he wants to display leadership on the Four Seasons matter by paying the bill personally out of his own pocket. July 2006 -- We wait for a ruling on the matter. In the mean time the injunction stands, and the citizens must continue to fight the system.
Commissioner Koval and Ransom have voted NO at every opportunity to stop the project; the other three have done everything possible to speed the matter along, all the while trying to avoid and conceal the truth that the County has no legal obligation to try to get Judge Sause’s injunction lifted.
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Post by Jay on Jul 10, 2006 9:59:48 GMT -4
If you are just going to blatantly plagiarize another website with your post, you should at least give them credit.
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Post by Thomas on Jul 10, 2006 11:04:32 GMT -4
So obviously we have some crooked commissioners trying to illegally push this through. So what can we do about it? How do we get rid of Smith, Cassell, and Cupani? And why isn't this being reported in the local newspapers? Why aren't more people up in arms about this?
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Post by Alex L on Jul 10, 2006 11:12:54 GMT -4
Basically, all sides involved are coming off like a bunch of backwater kooks. The local 'media' (The Capital and Star-Dem) aren't giving much time to this because they likely see it as a 'not in my backyard' issue, and there isn't any actual local media to Kent Island unless you include the Update, which is nothing but a bunch of ads, and a few websites that seem to be run by special interest groups (not including this one from what I can tell). I don't know if anyone actually listens to AM radio anymore, but WNAV is the only thing on the dial that has any news on this. I'm not sure why they don't get more into it here though.
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Post by uvrays on Jul 10, 2006 15:32:33 GMT -4
O.k. Jay, this was an e-mail sent DIRECTLY TO ME from Commissioner Ransom after I questioned him about 4 Seasons when I saw him at one of the 4th of July parades. This was a response to an inquiry from one of his many constituents, me. It's quite possible that the same e-mail was sent else where and posted as well. It WAS NOT plagiarized from another site. Perhaps I was in error by not stating that the information was provided by Commissioner Ransom. My bad. Anyway, it is an excellent informational timeline.
On another note, the residents of our county have a right to know what's going on with 4 Seasons.
Thomas: Want to change the way the Island is heading? Register to vote and then "just do it" (Nike). Happy Jay?
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Post by Jay on Jul 10, 2006 16:20:34 GMT -4
uvrays,
It's just that I read your post verbatim on a website a day or so before your post. It appears that either Mr. Ransom sent you an email that contained information he obtained from that website or he is the author of the information that appears on the website. The website gives no indication as to who is the author which lead me to believe it was compiled by the website owners.
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