Full Version: devlopment in washington county
The devoplment called Black Rock Estates has a proposed plan the includes green space. But doesn't some of this green space include the property that belongs to the power company? Also, does this allow enough space for the family of deer to still live there [I know they don't pay taxes, but they usually get hit by cars when they need to go looking for new homes]?
Sad but true: Developers don't give a crap about any wildlife.They only care about the $$$$$$. The deer will either all be run down or they'll move some place a little safer.
It's the same over here. Theres a new develpoement going in right in the area where there are turkeys. Just saw a Tom the other morning running across the road in front of me. The goofballs who move here will probably do something stupid and kill the turkeys. Or their habitat will be gone and so will they. Hopefully they'll come our way. We still have about 27 acres total from all three of us here, still safe for wildlife.
It's the same over here. Theres a new develpoement going in right in the area where there are turkeys. Just saw a Tom the other morning running across the road in front of me. The goofballs who move here will probably do something stupid and kill the turkeys. Or their habitat will be gone and so will they. Hopefully they'll come our way. We still have about 27 acres total from all three of us here, still safe for wildlife.
When the developers start seeing $$$$ you can believe the last thing they are worried about is misplaced wildlife
AH with Black Rock Golf course being near there. The deer have it made.
Haven Rd/Rt. 11/Haven Cemetary area
New Haven development will break ground next year behind Haven Cemetary. It will run up behind the condos that are along the railroad. It will also take the green space along Haven Road by the radio station. It will be a combination of single family detached homes, townhouses, and 2/2 condos. This will impact the Hamilton Park and a nice condo development by the treeline. Hamilton Park is an older neighborhood across from North High. Many of the homes are from the 40s and 50s. It is a very pleasant and safe neighborhood of bungaloos or small split levels. A lot of green space will be lost. The property to be developed is privately owned. Of course, the owner has the right to sell and develop. Just sad for those who actually live in Hagerstown. Specifically, it is sad for Hamilton Park/Carroll Heights homeowners. Many are near the wooden area, or one of the affected streets that may be widened or reworked.
To accommondate traffic from the New Haven development, the new connnector will be approved by the planning commission. It will use Haven Road and possibly the old Boyscout road that runs near the other side of Haven Cemetary. The connector may possibly be the new artery to alleviate traffic that is projected for Rt.11/Haven Road. It may allow for a way to cross back over 81. Not exactly sure. But it is supposed to link Rt.11, near Haven Road, back over the tracks to the west side somewhere. Bottom line: lots more traffic near Haven Cemetary next year.
New Haven development will break ground next year behind Haven Cemetary. It will run up behind the condos that are along the railroad. It will also take the green space along Haven Road by the radio station. It will be a combination of single family detached homes, townhouses, and 2/2 condos. This will impact the Hamilton Park and a nice condo development by the treeline. Hamilton Park is an older neighborhood across from North High. Many of the homes are from the 40s and 50s. It is a very pleasant and safe neighborhood of bungaloos or small split levels. A lot of green space will be lost. The property to be developed is privately owned. Of course, the owner has the right to sell and develop. Just sad for those who actually live in Hagerstown. Specifically, it is sad for Hamilton Park/Carroll Heights homeowners. Many are near the wooden area, or one of the affected streets that may be widened or reworked.
To accommondate traffic from the New Haven development, the new connnector will be approved by the planning commission. It will use Haven Road and possibly the old Boyscout road that runs near the other side of Haven Cemetary. The connector may possibly be the new artery to alleviate traffic that is projected for Rt.11/Haven Road. It may allow for a way to cross back over 81. Not exactly sure. But it is supposed to link Rt.11, near Haven Road, back over the tracks to the west side somewhere. Bottom line: lots more traffic near Haven Cemetary next year.
I think there's still some green space left up around Hancock.
Yeah, I actually went to a rezoning hearing a week or two ago. Doubt my input will have any impact, and in reality, I'm not against the rezoning per se. I'm just more concerned with the development they intend to put in there once the rezoning passes.
I'm somewhat familiar with the Haven area. We originally lived in Northgate. In the eight years I've lived here, I always found the inability to reach 81 conveniently from that are frustrating. I assumed that betwen the railroads and the factory-type properties in the area, there was no way to access it. Perhaps this upcoming sprawl will alleviate some of the forced congestion on PA Ave, while hopefully not becoming a common thorofare for those who don't live within the community causing a loss of peacefulness. It is a very pretty area. I thought Northgate (the original sections) were tastefully done, maintaining many original trees and the walking paths and all. Don't even talk to me about the newer sections that were built in the late 90's....totally out of character from the existing courts. I think that preservation of the natural woods is what is most lacking in developments today. They just clear cut everything and give you a spindly little maple tree for your yard. Like that's gonna replace a bunch of 100 yr old oaks, maples, poplars, ash, and locust? Pa-leese!
Ok, I;ll stop ranting now.
I'm somewhat familiar with the Haven area. We originally lived in Northgate. In the eight years I've lived here, I always found the inability to reach 81 conveniently from that are frustrating. I assumed that betwen the railroads and the factory-type properties in the area, there was no way to access it. Perhaps this upcoming sprawl will alleviate some of the forced congestion on PA Ave, while hopefully not becoming a common thorofare for those who don't live within the community causing a loss of peacefulness. It is a very pretty area. I thought Northgate (the original sections) were tastefully done, maintaining many original trees and the walking paths and all. Don't even talk to me about the newer sections that were built in the late 90's....totally out of character from the existing courts. I think that preservation of the natural woods is what is most lacking in developments today. They just clear cut everything and give you a spindly little maple tree for your yard. Like that's gonna replace a bunch of 100 yr old oaks, maples, poplars, ash, and locust? Pa-leese!
Ok, I;ll stop ranting now.
I know this has been said before, but I'll say it again...
Why can't Washington County learn from the mistakes of it's neighbors when it comes to over-development? Look at Frederick County!!!
Why can't Washington County learn from the mistakes of it's neighbors when it comes to over-development? Look at Frederick County!!!
QUOTE (communityhagerstown @ Jun 22 2006, 02:12 PM) 
Of course, the owner has the right to sell and develop.
WRONG! They have the right to sell, but subdivision and development are subject to the approval of the local government and ultimately, the community whose interests the government is supposed to be representing. If we don't want the property to be cut up, the landscape denuded and overcrowded housing built, we do NOT have to allow it. Nobody has any "right" to do that to our community without our permission. That's why zoning hearings are held and required.
What's unfortunate is when the wishes of the community at large are ignored in favor of rich developers.
Hate to tell y'all this, but my experiences in the City of Fairfax is that they (the City Council) agree with whomever can bring them the most tax dollars.
I used to live on a street that was 1 block off of Main street (Route 236), and was a major shortcut. It was always busy, but then a developer got hold of a piece of ground and decided to put up garden condos - several hundred units.
We were close enough to the elementary school that the kids had to walk, and those who lived on my side of the street were already having a tough time getting across the street, but if they added these condos, it would have increased the traffic flow significantly.
The community went to all of the city council meetings to express how building the condos would negatively affect them; whether it was becuase the kids couldn't get across the street, or that the condos were within 20 feet of some townhouses adjacent to them. This went on for several meetings, and the community did have a good case. In the end, the condos went up.
I went thru my old neighborhood a few months ago; it's nothing like the neighborhood I lived in anymore. I don't know the streets of Hagerstown very well, so I can't compare it to a street to tell you what it was like when I moved onto the street in 1986, but after the condos went up (and they added a few other condo units while they were at it), it is now like Wesel Boulevard, and the elementary kids are still walking to school.
NEVER trust your City Council - all they care about is increasing the Tax Base!
I used to live on a street that was 1 block off of Main street (Route 236), and was a major shortcut. It was always busy, but then a developer got hold of a piece of ground and decided to put up garden condos - several hundred units.
We were close enough to the elementary school that the kids had to walk, and those who lived on my side of the street were already having a tough time getting across the street, but if they added these condos, it would have increased the traffic flow significantly.
The community went to all of the city council meetings to express how building the condos would negatively affect them; whether it was becuase the kids couldn't get across the street, or that the condos were within 20 feet of some townhouses adjacent to them. This went on for several meetings, and the community did have a good case. In the end, the condos went up.
I went thru my old neighborhood a few months ago; it's nothing like the neighborhood I lived in anymore. I don't know the streets of Hagerstown very well, so I can't compare it to a street to tell you what it was like when I moved onto the street in 1986, but after the condos went up (and they added a few other condo units while they were at it), it is now like Wesel Boulevard, and the elementary kids are still walking to school.
NEVER trust your City Council - all they care about is increasing the Tax Base!
QUOTE (sheash @ Jun 23 2006, 11:07 PM)
Hate to tell y'all this, but my experiences in the City of Fairfax is that they (the City Council) agree with whomever can bring them the most tax dollars.
...
NEVER trust your City Council - all they care about is increasing the Tax Base!
True enough, and sadly what they fail to realize is that those developments always increase the expenditures that they're going to have to cover with those taxes. At least the County avoids that problem somewhat by bringing in rich folks with their McMansions, who will pay enough in taxes to cover the costs that their presence generate....
NEVER trust your City Council - all they care about is increasing the Tax Base!
But developers have big money, and money buys influence, no matter how much the politicians claim otherwise.
"WRONG! They have the right to sell, but subdivision and development are subject to the approval of the local government and ultimately, the community whose interests the government is supposed to be representing. If we don't want the property to be cut up, the landscape denuded and overcrowded housing built, we do NOT have to allow it. Nobody has any "right" to do that to our community without our permission. That's why zoning hearings are held and required. What's unfortunate is when the wishes of the community at large are ignored in favor of rich developers."
Exactly, I agree, I too thought we had a voice, there were many to begin with now just a handful.
Our Nighborhoods 1st group sponsored three forums on the Haven Development. We drummed up citizen imput. Kelly Cromer, Kristen Alshire, Penny Nigh, and Lew Metzger attended some of them during the campaign. My husband and I have taken turns attending the planning commission meetings. So we know the low down on this housing and connector development. We have been involved in the zoning, annexation, and planning hearings to no avail. The connector was the hidden issue behind the Haven annexation. We went to meetings. (That is why when council members say no one is involved I take issue.)
First, we were told if we continued to oppose the Haven annexation by the city that the county could develop it anyway and without as much planning/limits as the city would put into it. We still opposed and the annexation passed by the old city council. We were also told the owner would get something built there eventually, and green space was not one of the choices. We then went to the planning meetings and actually found them to be giving their decisions some care and concern. They actually whittled down part of the development in exchange for the northwest connector going through the property. So that is kind of what I was referring to when I mentioned the owner basically had the right to develop. It was going to happen because the old council and planners knew we would need to get back to our jobs and kids.
In the end it will be a good move for the majority of Hagerstown residents, they will be able to use our neighborhood to better access 81 and rt. 11. The majority will be served.
(Lew, Penny, Kristen, Lyn, and that nice Republican lady composed the old council. The results would be the same with the new council because the only land available for the connector is the Haven parcel. Nothing was stopping the connector. We learned that after our fifth meeting.)
Exactly, I agree, I too thought we had a voice, there were many to begin with now just a handful.
Our Nighborhoods 1st group sponsored three forums on the Haven Development. We drummed up citizen imput. Kelly Cromer, Kristen Alshire, Penny Nigh, and Lew Metzger attended some of them during the campaign. My husband and I have taken turns attending the planning commission meetings. So we know the low down on this housing and connector development. We have been involved in the zoning, annexation, and planning hearings to no avail. The connector was the hidden issue behind the Haven annexation. We went to meetings. (That is why when council members say no one is involved I take issue.)
First, we were told if we continued to oppose the Haven annexation by the city that the county could develop it anyway and without as much planning/limits as the city would put into it. We still opposed and the annexation passed by the old city council. We were also told the owner would get something built there eventually, and green space was not one of the choices. We then went to the planning meetings and actually found them to be giving their decisions some care and concern. They actually whittled down part of the development in exchange for the northwest connector going through the property. So that is kind of what I was referring to when I mentioned the owner basically had the right to develop. It was going to happen because the old council and planners knew we would need to get back to our jobs and kids.
In the end it will be a good move for the majority of Hagerstown residents, they will be able to use our neighborhood to better access 81 and rt. 11. The majority will be served.
(Lew, Penny, Kristen, Lyn, and that nice Republican lady composed the old council. The results would be the same with the new council because the only land available for the connector is the Haven parcel. Nothing was stopping the connector. We learned that after our fifth meeting.)
I believe that “communityhagerstown” is on the right track.
It is just a fact of life nowadays that new development in undeveloped or “green” areas will happen.
There are always more people, needing more housing, and developers are most likely the only entities with enough cash clout to buy up any available large tracts of open properties. And, as most any business, said developers will try to make maximum profit from there investment. It is unrealistic to believe that the developers will limit how much footage/housing they create. Therefore, the only real control of any new development is mostly at the mercy of the Local Governing bodies to try, if they care, to limit how much footage/housing is built in a new development. Hopefully, in our local area these governing officials realize that the majority of long-time locals do not want their community overrun with new development like some of the DC suburbs.
This is why it is VERY IMPORTANT that we as local residents pay very close attention at Election time to those whom we elect to these governing positions, if we want to have some sort of control over the ongoing development of our local community.
It is just a fact of life nowadays that new development in undeveloped or “green” areas will happen.
There are always more people, needing more housing, and developers are most likely the only entities with enough cash clout to buy up any available large tracts of open properties. And, as most any business, said developers will try to make maximum profit from there investment. It is unrealistic to believe that the developers will limit how much footage/housing they create. Therefore, the only real control of any new development is mostly at the mercy of the Local Governing bodies to try, if they care, to limit how much footage/housing is built in a new development. Hopefully, in our local area these governing officials realize that the majority of long-time locals do not want their community overrun with new development like some of the DC suburbs.
This is why it is VERY IMPORTANT that we as local residents pay very close attention at Election time to those whom we elect to these governing positions, if we want to have some sort of control over the ongoing development of our local community.
Of course some people lie to get elected.
QUOTE
This is why it is VERY IMPORTANT that we as local residents pay very close attention at Election time to those whom we elect to these governing positions, if we want to have some sort of control over the ongoing development of our local community.
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