I Love Deep Creek Blog

Thursday, December 21, 2006

Petitioners Win Appeal To Stall Thousand Acres Development Clubhouse

More information on the community of Thosand Acres can be found at:
Thousand Acres Community Real Estate Deep Creek Lake &
Deep Creek Lake Real Estate Communities - Thousand Acres

Nine Deep Creek Lake property owners won their appeal in Garrett County Circuit Court this week to temporarily halt the construction of a golf course clubhouse in the Thousand Acres area.

In the civil case, Thomas Goubeaux et al. vs. the Deep Creek Watershed Board of Zoning Appeals, the property owners asked Judge Jim Sherbin to reverse an earlier decision made by the board that allowed Thousand Acres Development (TAD) to construct the facility. The five board members unanimously approved a special exception application for the project following a public hearing on the issue in June.

“The Circuit Court reversed the decision of the zoning appeals board and essentially overruled the board’s decision on the application,” said Director John Nelson, Garrett County Department of Planning and Land Development.

The clubhouse was to include a restaurant, lounge, meeting rooms, pro shop, and other facilities, and was to be located adjacent to the 18-hole golf course currently being constructed on the north shore of Green Glade Cove, Nelson said. The golf course did not require a special exception.

The petitioners’ attorney, John Coyle Jr., said not enough consideration had been given to the potential noise levels emitting across the lake from the clubhouse, which would operate year-round and include outdoor events. Plans called for the clubhouse to be located about 400 feet from the Deep Creek Lake shoreline.

Defending the board’s decision was county attorney Mike Getty, who said while noise was not addressed in the board’s opinion, it had been a major factor in the application hearing.

TAD’s lawyer, Leonard Eiswert, entered a motion to remand the board’s decision back to its members in order to clarify the noise issue.

Sherbin, however, said the board’s decision in granting TAD the clubhouse application “was wrong for any number of reasons,” but most prominently because of the noise factor. He said the quality of the neighborhood would be impacted.

“This decision is reversed, and the application denied,” the judge ruled Monday morning.

He commended TAD’s efforts in planning the golf course, but noted that during the public hearing, several people suggested that the company move more slowly with the project and reconsider the location of the clubhouse. TAD will now have to do that since Sherbin has denied its application.

The nine property owners who filed the appeal against the zoning board were Thomas Goubeaux, Anna Bishop, William Eggbeer, Robin Wilson, Nick and Judy DeGregorio, Patrick Button, Brian Raher, and Constance Smith.

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Building Permits Down Slightly In Garrett County

Building permit numbers are down, but not drastically, the county’s permits and inspection chief, Jim Torrington, reported to the Garrett County commissioners this week. But the total builder declared value and square footage have increased, he added.

Between January and November last year, the Garrett County Department of Planning and Land Development issued a total of 697 building permits, which includes single family stick-built homes, modular homes, duplexes, town houses, and commercial buildings. The declared val-ue of those projects was $106.4 million, and the square footage was about 1.61 million.

For the same period this year, 650 permits have been issued for buildings with a total declared value of $116.1 million and a total square footage of about 1.68 million. The chief noted that the value increase could be attributed in part to multi-million dollar projects such as the proposed Garrett College dormitory.

Slated to open in the fall 2007 semester, the new dorm will have 72 bathrooms and more than 80 bedrooms. “It’s a pretty big building,” Torrington said.

He also reported that his office recently issued an occupancy permit for a new building at the Adventure Sports Center International site on Marsh Hill. The center’s grand opening is scheduled for April 1.

“We’re also close to issuing a temporary occupancy for ClosetMaid,” Torrington said. That manufacturing facility will open early next year in the Northern Garrett County Industrial Park in Grantsville.

Torrington noted that building permits for the Deep Creek Lake area still make up a large percentage of the number issued in the county. So far this year, 38.5 percent, or 250, have been issued for construction projects in the lake watershed. Last year for this period, 36.9 percent of the permits were issued for the lake. In 2002, of the 721 permits issued, 44.2 percent were for the watershed.

Mobile Home Fire Ruled Arson; Past Deep Creek Lake Volunteer Fire Chief Dies En Route

A fire that was allegedly set intentionally by a pair of juveniles destroyed a mobile home in the Friendsville area Saturday afternoon, and the president and past fire chief of the Deep Creek Volunteer Fire Company died while responding to the alarm.

Edward D. Wilburn, 64, McHenry, apparently suffered some sort of medical problem while en route to the Deep Creek fire hall in response to the 4:23 p.m. structure-fire alarm. According to a report from the Maryland State Police, Wilburn lost control of his 2003 Dodge Ram pickup along U.S. Rt. 219 at Sang Run Road. The southbound vehicle crossed the northbound lanes of Rt. 219 and traveled approximately 150 yards into a ravine.

Wilburn was transported by the Maryland State Police Medevac helicopter to Garrett County Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. According to the report, his death appeared to be a result of a medical problem and not the crash, as damage to the vehicle was minimal. The report said that his death is being handled as a “line of duty” death.

Meanwhile, firefighters from both Deep Creek VFC and the Friendsville VFD responded to the scene of the fire, which was at 2139 White Rock Road. Ablaze was a 10’-by-30’ vacant mobile home owned by Wayne Vansickle of Fletcher, Ky. The structure was virtually “on the ground” when firefighters arrived, according to a spokesperson from the Friendsville VFD.

The fire was brought under control in about 15 minutes. According to a report from the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office, the fire originated in the interior of the home. Investigation further revealed that two youths were inside the vacant home and had allegedly ignited structural materials.

One 14-year-old youth was arrested and charged with arson in the second degree and related charges. A search was under way for the other boy.

According to the report, after allegedly setting the fire, the boys left the home and the fire spread quickly. Information found at the scene led investigators to the home of the 14-year-old from Friendsville who was arrested. The age of the oth-er youth had not yet been determined.

The 14-year-old was remanded to the custody of his parents pending further action.

It has not been determined if any additional action will be taken against the juveniles because of the death of Mr. Wilburn, who had just retired one week earlier. He was a well-known builder/developer in the McHenry area.

A long-time member of the Deep Creek VFC, Wilburn had served as chief for at least 10 years, primarily during the 1990s. According to assistant chief Jason King, Wilburn was still a very active member of the company, currently serving as its president.

“Ed was a pillar of the community and of the fire department,” King said. “We all went to him for guidance and insight. He will be greatly missed.”

Prior to his recent retirement, Wilburn owned and operated his own construction firm, which had built a number of new homes and renovated others, primarily in the Deep Creek Lake area.

Scores of Garrett County volunteer firefighters and other emergency medical personnel were among hundreds of people who filed through the Newman Funeral Home in Grantsville Monday and Tuesday to pay their respects to Wilburn’s family members. A procession from the funeral home to the Hoyes United Methodist Church yesterday included fire apparatus from every department in Garrett County.