More News

It became clear to me at our public hearing on the proposed Rigler property annexation that few people know the facts, as there is a lot of misinformation and lies circulating on all sides.

Here are the facts.

Emmett "Doc" Full has purchased a piece of property between Summit Ridge and Buffalo Road. That land is in Carroll County, not the town, so the county controls its use, though the property is in the Mount Airy Master Plan to be annexed in the future.

He has requested annexation, and that the property be given an R1 zoning classification. This is the classification for low density residential, or houses on large lots. Therefore, he could put at most eight houses on the property. This is what our master plan calls for at that location.

Carroll County has requested that we make the property R4 (a higher density than R1), or even higher, which would start to push the property toward townhouses. Could the county do that on its own? Who knows, but it does indicate the use it sees for the land.

The R1 zone allows for a community center as a special exception, meaning you can ask and get permission. This is not unusual, as many communities have, and want, community centers their midst.

Can Doc Full build houses on this property without the town? Probably not as of now, as he needs water and sewer because the land does not have the well to carry itself.

Might he somehow solve that in the future and build townhouses or even a sports complex in the county? Maybe, who knows what the future holds. He might manage to solve the water issue some way.

Doc Full has requested that he be allowed to build a community center, not houses, based on a special exception. He has shown a large plan that has approximately 80,000 square feet under roof.

Now, I would like to clarify some misconceptions.

"This is bigger than Super Wal-Mart."

In truth, the average Super Wal-Mart is 186,000 square feet, according to the company's 2008 annual report. At 80,000 square feet, it is not even in the ballpark. The average regular Wal-Mart is 108,000 square feet, still much larger than what Doc Full is proposing.

"The council is voting on the community/sports center."

In truth, we are not. The only thing on the council's plate is an annexation for R1 zoning. At our public hearing, everyone who spoke out against the annexation agreed there should be houses on this land. The only way to do that is to vote yes for the annexation and then no on the special exception after the town controls the property. This seems to be the biggest misconception I have heard.

"If the annexation passes the big center on the plans will be built."

In truth, anyone who says that has never been through the town's planning process. In my opinion, I can't imagine a center that size getting built. If anything is build, I bet it would be much reduced in size.

"Why doesn't he build it elsewhere?"

In truth, that is a possibility, and he has said so himself. But he has paid for this land, and without an annexation he can't do much with it right now, so he would take a sizeable loss. That is money that could perhaps go to a center built elsewhere.

"The vote is already set 3 to 2 against."

In truth, I don't know that. I would guess I am considered one of the two, as I am always independent. People who regularly attend our meetings have actually asked if I am a registered independent, so I know people see me that way.

I can tell you I have not decided, and I hope the rest of my colleagues have not yet either. Keep sending your letters arguing for and against. I am listening. "The people in Summit Ridge should have known something would go there when they bought their houses." Yes, they should have, but based on the town's master plan, which they should be able to rely on, it is planned for low-density residential. That is what they should have expected.

"This sports complex this size is not the same as a community center/recreational facilities as listed in the R1 zone rules."

Maybe, but do we want to litigate that issue?

I hope I have cleared up at least a few things. As you can see, there is certainly not a clear and obvious single choice as proponents of each side would have you believe. This is a complex matter with positives and negatives on each side.

The writer is a member of the Mount Airy Town Council.