Thursday, April 26, 2007
Workshop To Plan McHenry’s Future Slated
The public is invited to a workshop to plan for the future of McHenry on Friday, May 4, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 5, beginning at 9 a.m. in the Garrett College auditorium. The purpose of the workshop is to explore ways that McHenry can be made a better place for residents, businesses, and visitors.
Property owners, residents, businesses, and anyone else who cares about the future of McHenry are encouraged to attend.
The workshop will be led by the Garrett County Department of Planning and Land Development as part of the 2008 update of the Garrett County Comprehensive Plan. The need to plan the future of McHenry was identified in a 2004 planning study. That study noted that McHenry is important as the gateway and major retail center for the Deep Creek Lake area, and also has important public uses such as the fairgrounds, Garrett College, the Visitors Center, and post office. The study added, however, that McHenry does not function well, especially at peak periods. For example:
1. Some left turn traffic movements are problematic.
2. There are few safe places to walk.
3. There is no park or public open space.
4. There is almost no public access to the lakefront (without crossing private property) and no facilities such as parking.
5. Parking overflows at some commercial sites.
A number of new developments are proposed that will have a significant effect on McHenry including the county’s new exhibition center and the Adventure Sports Center, noted Director John Nelson, Planning and Land Development
The workshop will focus on “downtown McHenry,” the area roughly bounded by Sang Run Road to the north, Marsh Hill Road to the west, Timber Ridge Road to the south, and Garrett College to the east. The workshop will also consider the McHenry “influence area,” including Point View and the Wisp Resort.
The workshop will be participatory and hands-on. Detailed maps will be available, and participants will have the opportunity to mark up the maps and identify specific ways in which McHenry can be made a better place regarding land use, traffic and circulation, parking, open space, sidewalks, trails and bicycle routes, signage, and landscaping.
The two-day workshop will begin with a presentation at 7 p.m. on Friday evening. The Saturday session will begin at 9 a.m. in the auditorium and then break into small working groups led by facilitators.
“While we strongly recommend the public attend the Friday evening session, persons can participate on Saturday even if they cannot come on Friday,” Nelson said.
If persons cannot attend the workshop but wish to comment, or if they have questions or need more information, they may contact Nelson at 301-334-1920 or by e-mail at .
Posted by
Jay on 04/26 at 02:07 PM
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Blaze Causes Major Damage To Lake House
Damages to a summer house and contents at Deep Creek Lake as a result of a fire Wednesday have been estimated by fire investigators to be $190,000.
Volunteers from the Deep Creek, Oakland, Deer park, Accident, and Bittinger fire departments were summoned to 2799 Lake Shore Drive at 10:29 a.m.
According to information released by Captain Dave Hook of the Deep Creek VFC, the fire originated in the first-floor living room area of the two-story wood-frame house. The cause is believed to have been electrical in nature, but that is being investigated by Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office personnel.
Damage to the house was estimated to be $140,000, and loss of contents was set at $50,000.
No one was present at the house when the fire began, and there were no injuries reported. The identity of the owner was not available at presstime.
Also responding to the scene was the Northern Rescue Squad.
Original Article Courtesy of the Republican News
Posted by
Jay on 04/26 at 09:44 AM
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Thursday, April 19, 2007
Commissioners, Oakland Officials Still Supportive Of Bypass Project
View maps of the bypass project here:
Map A: US219a.pdf
Map B: US219b.pdf
“The board of county commissioners and the Oakland mayor and town council continue to support the Route 219 Realignment-Oakland Bypass Project.”
This is the “bottom line” of a press release issued by the county commissioners and town of Oakland following last Thursday’s public meeting concerning the proposed Oakland bypass, a meeting that drew nearly 150 people, the great majority of whom voiced opposition to the project. Because of the size of the crowd, the meeting had to be held at St. Peter’s Catholic Church parish hall.
The meeting was held at the request of the Garrett Countians for Smart Growth, an organization that was formed specifically to try to stop construction of the bypass.
The statement went on to say that at the regular meeting of the Oakland mayor and town council held Feb. 5, a vote was taken and endorsed by the county commissioners “to support and move forward with this project.”
That meeting was held a month prior to the Oakland municipal election, by which two new council members were elected, both of whom are opposed to the project.
A joint statement released by new council members Terry Helbig and Jack Riley says that the statement issued by the commissioners and the town “conveys the idea that we, the undersigned, were part of the decision-making process to release this press statement and that we were in favor of the Oakland bypass project as currently presented. We were elected and sworn in on April 2, there was no discussion of the bypass project at that meeting, and we have not met as a body since that meeting… We happen to be in opposition to the proposed Oakland bypass.”
The commissioners/council statement also said, “The time period ended for final public information and comment after a public meeting conducted by the State Highway Administration was held on July 19, 2006,” and that the commissioners and council “believe that all information and questions presented during the July 19, 2006, and April 12, 2007, meetings have been sufficiently addressed by the State Highway Administration, the Garrett County Department of Planning and Land Development, and other responsible entities.”
Further, the statement said that the bodies “feel there has been more than adequate opportunity for public comment on the project,” and that they “do not plan to conduct additional public meetings on the planning, design, and construction of the project.”
The statement also noted that at the conclusion of last Thursday’s meeting, Robert Fisher, district engineer with the State Highway Administration, announced that, based on recent discussion with the secretary of transportation and as a result of funding approval by the Maryland General Assembly during the 2007 Legislative Session, the State Highway Administration will “move forward” with the bypass project.
The statement concluded with the current schedule for the project, stating that construction work will be advertised for bid in August 2009, and that “actual construction is planned to begin in the spring of 2010 and open to traffic in 2012.”
In response, the Garrett Countians for Smart Growth issued their own statement, which said in part, “We are once again offended that the ‘time period for public information and content’ is closed. Complaints of apathy amongst our voting public are reinforced by these types of ‘closed session’ decisions.”
The organization’s response reiterated in general why it is opposed to the project. “Questions of economic security for our downtown businesses, irrevocable destruction of beautiful farmland and wetlands, and most of all, safety issues concerning speeding traffic through our towns and resort areas to us have NOT been adequately answered.”
The group’s statement also noted that, in addition to the approximately 150 people at the meeting – “on a work day at 10 a.m.” – it also had a petition bearing almost 900 signatures of persons against the bypass.
The statement, which can be seen in its entirety in ad format in this section, concludes with the question, “Is anyone in the commissioners’ office listening?” and notes that its membership intends to continue to try to stop the project.
When asked about the possibility of the Oakland bypass being detrimental to businesses in downtown Oakland, mayor Asa McCain said in an interview yesterday, “I’m not worried at all about traffic bypassing town to the point that will hurt business. Oakland is a destination place. We’ve got the courthouse, the hospital, and for merchants we have all kinds of occasions to draw people in.
“In fact,” he said, “this will help business by freeing some of the streets of congestive traffic and making it more appealing to shoppers.”
The Garrett Countians for Smart Growth met again last night to consider options on how to continue its quest to stop the project.
Posted by
Jay on 04/19 at 02:13 PM
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Thursday, April 05, 2007
Smart Growth Group To Meet At Deep Creek
Representatives of Garrett Countians for Smart Growth will hold a meeting this evening, April 5, at 7 p.m. at Traders Coffee House, Traders Landing, Deep Creek Lake. The group will be meeting with the Garrett County commissioners on Thursday, April 12, at 10 a.m.
For tonight’s meeting, organizers will show a PowerPoint presentation and discuss the options for growth and development of roadways of Garrett Coun-ty, specifically the impact of the proposed 219 bypass around Oakland and how it impacts the other sections of Route 219.
“Currently, there are plans which call for re-routing parts of 219, making it a more heavily used truck route accessing proposed industrial complexes in the southern part of the county,” a spokesperson said. “Garrett Countians for Smart Growth believes that there are safer, more financially prudent options for the new truck routes.”
In the next few months, using input from Garrett County citizens and study groups, the Planning and Zoning office will prepare the new Comprehensive Plan, which addresses the economic impact of future land use and development.
The commissioners and the State Highway Administration will also decide on a plan for the new truck route.
“The proposed bypass route is not a done deal, and business owners and others who are concerned about increased truck traffic and compromised public safety in McHenry and Accident are encouraged to come to this presentation and learn how to get involved in the planning process,” the spokesperson said.
Posted by
Jay on 04/05 at 02:20 PM
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