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Post by Scott on Mar 17, 2006 12:21:06 GMT -4
Can someone tell me what the latest info is on the K-Hov development? Last I heard they stopped on a Court injunction or something?
Can someone explain what the latest news is?
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Post by uvrays on Apr 3, 2006 9:39:36 GMT -4
April 2, 2006 CENTREVILLE — The Queen Anne’s County Commissioners need outside counsel to represent them in the Four Seasons critical area mapping case, said Commissioner Gene Ransom. Three of the five commissioners disagree, saying the board should continue to be represented in the case by Chris Drummond, counsel for the Queen Anne’s County Planning Commission, and County Attorney Patrick Thompson. Ransom is a strong opponent of the Four Seasons project, but he said whether you’re in favor of the project or against it, the county commissioners should get advice from an attorney not connected with county government. "I don’t mean any disrespect to Mr. Thompson or Mr. Drummond," said Ransom. Commission President Joe Cupani said Drummond and Thompson "have a successful record. They’re doing well for the county." Cupani said the commissioners were unsuccessful when they were represented by independent counsel on a previous Four Seasons court case that challenged the developer’s rights and responsibilities agreement (DRRA) for the project. Commissioners Richard Smith and Ben Cassell said the commissioners should stick with Drummond and Thompson. It would take time for a new lawyer to get up to speed on the Four Seasons mapping case, said Cassell. Commissioner Mike Koval said the commissioners might need outside counsel, but another option is to tell K. Hovnanian Companies to file a new plan and a new growth allocation request for Four Seasons. Ransom’s initial attempt to hire outside counsel failed at the Feb. 21 commissioners’ meeting when no one seconded his motion. The same day the commissioners voted 3-1 to have county staff recommend to the commissioners a technical expert for reviewing the critical area maps for Four Seasons. Commission President Joe Cupani said the county was considering either the URS engineering firm, or a geographic information systems specialist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. County Administrator Paul Comfort said county staff would meet with a URS representative to review the work involved in the mapping project. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons at Kent Island development would include an age restricted community of 1,350 homes in the Chester and Stevensville areas, north of U.S Route 50, near Castle Marina Road. Several county residents and the Queen Anne’s Conservation have filled lawsuits to try to stop the project. A suit filed in circuit court in April 2005 challenged the validity of the critical area maps for the Four Seasons property. Hovnanian and the county acknowledged the maps were inaccurate. Judge John W. Sause Jr. issued a Feb. 9 judgment which orders the county commissioners to sign correct maps in a public session, then submit the maps to the court for approval by June 1. Until the court approves the maps, an injunction on any activity connected to the Four Seasons project remains in place. But there’s some debate among the commissioners on whether the commissioners are required to correct the maps, or whether they also have an option of taking no action and letting the injunction on Four Seasons remain in place. Smith said the order is clear, and the judge wants the county commissioners to submit correct maps. But Koval said the commissioners "don’t have to do anything." He said the commissioners need legal advice on what the court order says. Jim Campbell, a retired attorney and a member of the board of Queen Anne’s Conservation Association, wrote a March 12 letter to Ransom endorsing his proposal to have the county hire outside counsel. "The judge’s Feb. 9 judgment issuing the injunction imposed no obligation on the current commissioners to try to correct the maps (as independent counsel would surely advise)," wrote Campbell. "Obviously Hovnanian’s lawyers understood the judgment this way, because they quickly asked the judge to amend the judgment to enable Hovnanian to proceed against the county in the event of ‘inaction or deliberately insufficient action’ on the maps. In his March 6 order, Judge Sause has now firmly rejected that request, making it absolutely clear that he has imposed no obligation on the county to try to fix the maps."
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Post by Joe on Apr 30, 2006 14:29:36 GMT -4
Hey K-Hov!
You know how it works! The powers that be in Kent Island are probably looking for some payola under the table to give permission for the project. Thats the way it works down south. This thing will go on forever until you make it attractive to them.
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Post by bchevy on May 1, 2006 21:48:21 GMT -4
Hey K-Hov! You know how it works! The powers that be in Kent Island are probably looking for some payola under the table to give permission for the project. Thats the way it works down south. This thing will go on forever until you make it attractive to them. A little further down south,,,,, please!
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Post by native on May 3, 2006 19:35:26 GMT -4
I'll second that!!!!!!!!
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Post by bchevy on May 4, 2006 6:15:35 GMT -4
Hey Native! See if you can find me at Western Auto this Saturday at the show!
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