The proper balance between environment and economic development is a perennial topic in discussions about western Charles County, and a public meeting Dec. 1 was no exception.

About 20 people met with commissioners’ President Candice Quinn Kelly (D) at the Indian Head Village Green Pavilion that evening, ostensibly to ask questions about the county’s annual report, a summary of its finances and activities. But for the most part, attendees opted to discuss their sometimes-clashing visions for the future of Indian Head and its environs instead.

Jim Long, president of the Mattawoman Watershed Society, made an impassioned plea for saving the creek.

“Until recently, the Mattawoman was heralded as the most productive tributary to the Chesapeake Bay. That is no longer the case,” he said. “There is a real need for an economic impact” assessment of the area that takes into account the value of the ecosystem, not just immediate economic development, he said.

He called on the county to make expert opinions available to members of the public to help them understand environmental issues.

“Experts know their business, and when they talk about their business, you see some heads nodding this way [yes] and some heads nodding this way [no], and some are just like, ‘Arrgh,’” Long said, clutching his head in a pantomime of frustration.

Failed Democratic county commissioner candidate Vincent Ippolito said land preservation would directly benefit humans as well, and warned against overdevelopment of rural areas.

“Being from Waldorf, I know real estate agents up there, I don’t believe they have the same vision as the rest of us” and are seeking untrammeled building, Ippolito said.

Kelly disagreed, saying she was not hearing many calls for more construction, considering the number of existing residential and commercial vacancies, but that “pragmatic” real estate agents and developers “are concerned that if we’re not careful, we could create impossible scenarios in the future” if zoning laws become too restrictive and construction demand picks up.

Developer and housing activist Cornell Posey called for new construction to provide better homes and jobs.

“We need balance. It can’t be all one way,” Posey said. “If you educate someone to be an electrician, where is he going to work if the environmentalists shut everything down?”

Vince Hungerford, president of the Western Charles County Business Association, was also in favor of new development, criticizing resistance to the expansion of Maryland Airport in Pomonkey, and saying “drama” surrounding plans to develop the Indian Head Science and Technology Park could endanger the Navy base, on which the town of Indian Head depends.

“I look at where we are today, 20 miles south of the Beltway, of the capital. [Route] 210 is a nice highway. We have a reasonable airport. A dedicated tech park … [and] a proposed water taxi here. We have good economic development. There is no reason we can’t have growth” but care for the environment, Hungerford said.

PlanMaryland

Discussion also turned to PlanMaryland, a controversial proposed growth plan for the entire state.

Kelly, who has spoken in favor of the idea in the past, said that “I think a lot of this [opposition] is politically motivated by party affiliation, unfortunately,” noting that a GOP county commissioner in Carroll County, Richard Rothschild, recently stirred controversy by saying the plan would make the entire state resemble Prince George’s County in having high crime rates and bad schools, according to news reports.

“I will tell you if you have read PlanMaryland … it is a plan, a road map, a blueprint. It is very clear that it is only a plan. Anything in that plan cannot come to pass unless the state legislature approves it,” Kelly said.

Del. Peter F. Murphy (D-Charles), who attended the meeting, said PlanMaryland was also necessary to protect the Chesapeake Bay in the absence of serious efforts by neighboring states.

“As a state, Maryland was struggling to clean up the bay. It’s a struggle because adjacent states are not as committed as we are,” Murphy said. “PlanMaryland is a look at what we can do within our borders.”

Caboose

Mike Jones, a member of the Indian Head Economic Development Commission, and Edward R. Joell of Indian Head, both called for a railway caboose, which the commissioners voted to purchase in September, to be installed at the Indian Head end of the Indian Head Rail Trail biking and walking path.

Previously, the commissioners had discussed placing it at the White Plains end to entice visitors.

“You really do want the caboose here?” Kelly said.

“In no uncertain terms,” Jones replied.

Joell suggested it be turned into a museum, rather than the commissioners’ tentative plan of using it for a small shop.

The town needs to market itself as a destination in itself, Jones said, “a place to go to because you can’t go through.”

emitrano@somdnews.com