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Former Hoffman Used Cars lot at Edgewood Drive and U.S. 40 is scheduled for development. State Highway Administration delays have set the project back. (By Kevin G. Gilbert/Staff Photographer) |
Two state lawmakers have crafted a bill aimed at the Maryland State Highway Administration, alleging that the agency’s bureaucracy has held up some local development projects.
The bill would force SHA to act within 90 days after getting a request for a permit to access a state road. Otherwise, the permit would have to be granted.
The agency can request, in writing, a 60-day extension to make a decision.
Sen. Christopher B. Shank and Del. Andrew A. Serafini, who cross-filed bills in the Senate and House, said they heard stories about unreasonable delays to projects in Washington County.
However, Shank said Thursday that he’s withdrawing his bill after hearing from Steven D. Foster, chief of SHA’s Access Management Division, that the agency has improved recently.
In a letter to Shank, Foster promised “to become personally involved in (complex) cases or on any issues brought to my attention.”
“I interpret his commitment to be sincere,” Shank said, explaining why he’ll pull his bill back for now.
Serafini wasn’t sure on Friday if he’ll pursue his bill or withdraw it.
He said he wants to make sure SHA, as an agency, is responsive, regardless of the individual employees.
“Good departments come and go,” he said. “I want a situation with accountability because time is business to the business community.”
Foster wasn’t available Friday afternoon for an interview, but sent a statement through SHA spokesman David Buck that said the agency has worked to improve what can be a complicated review process and hopes to do even better.
According to a Department of Legislative Services analysis of the bill, SHA decides whether to allow access from a commercial or industrial property to a state highway carrying an average of more than 2,000 vehicles a day.
A multistep process includes traffic impact studies and detailed engineering plans, the analysis says. The agency reported that it sometimes takes applicants “a year or longer” to address SHA’s comments.
The average time for pre-permit review of a traffic impact study is 27 days, the analysis says. Pre-permit engineering reviews take an average of 22.9 days.
Ninety-eight percent of the permits were issued within 45 days in 2011.
“SHA advises that the time required to complete permit application review depends on the quality, accuracy, and completeness of the application,” the analysis says.
Local projects delayed
Jason Divelbiss — a Hagerstown attorney who attended a Feb. 8 meeting with Shank, Foster and others — gave two examples of SHA problems he experienced.
Both involved lots where Walgreens drug store branches are proposed. Divelbiss represents the developers.
The bill would force SHA to act within 90 days after getting a request for a permit to access a state road. Otherwise, the permit would have to be granted.
The agency can request, in writing, a 60-day extension to make a decision.
Sen. Christopher B. Shank and Del. Andrew A. Serafini, who cross-filed bills in the Senate and House, said they heard stories about unreasonable delays to projects in Washington County.
However, Shank said Thursday that he’s withdrawing his bill after hearing from Steven D. Foster, chief of SHA’s Access Management Division, that the agency has improved recently.
In a letter to Shank, Foster promised “to become personally involved in (complex) cases or on any issues brought to my attention.”
“I interpret his commitment to be sincere,” Shank said, explaining why he’ll pull his bill back for now.
Serafini wasn’t sure on Friday if he’ll pursue his bill or withdraw it.
He said he wants to make sure SHA, as an agency, is responsive, regardless of the individual employees.
“Good departments come and go,” he said. “I want a situation with accountability because time is business to the business community.”
Foster wasn’t available Friday afternoon for an interview, but sent a statement through SHA spokesman David Buck that said the agency has worked to improve what can be a complicated review process and hopes to do even better.
According to a Department of Legislative Services analysis of the bill, SHA decides whether to allow access from a commercial or industrial property to a state highway carrying an average of more than 2,000 vehicles a day.
A multistep process includes traffic impact studies and detailed engineering plans, the analysis says. The agency reported that it sometimes takes applicants “a year or longer” to address SHA’s comments.
The average time for pre-permit review of a traffic impact study is 27 days, the analysis says. Pre-permit engineering reviews take an average of 22.9 days.
Ninety-eight percent of the permits were issued within 45 days in 2011.
“SHA advises that the time required to complete permit application review depends on the quality, accuracy, and completeness of the application,” the analysis says.
Local projects delayed
Jason Divelbiss — a Hagerstown attorney who attended a Feb. 8 meeting with Shank, Foster and others — gave two examples of SHA problems he experienced.
Both involved lots where Walgreens drug store branches are proposed. Divelbiss represents the developers.
