KENT COUNTY, MARYLAND
COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S

PUBLIC HEARING - 11/18/2003

 

Application for Agricultural Land Preservation District

A Public Hearing was held on Tuesday, November 18, 2003, at 9:00 a.m. in the County Commissioners' Hearing Room, County Government Center, Chestertown, Maryland on an application filed by Edwin C. and Lorraine Fry to create an agricultural land preservation district on their 404-acre parcel, located on Augustine Herman Highway in the Third Election District.

County Commissioners Roy W. Crow, Scott D. Livie, and William W. Pickrum were in attendance as well as T. Edward Robinson, County Administrator, Carla Martin, Community Planner, Gail Owings, Director of Planning and Zoning Administration, and Lorraine Fry.

Notice of the public hearing was read into the record by Commissioner Pickrum.

Ms. Martin described the parcel in question as inclusive of 250 acres suitable to crops, 85% of the soil being Class 1, 2 and 3, and that it is located along a scenic byway. She also reported that the Agricultural Land Preservation Advisory Board and Planning Commission have recommended approval of the Fry's application.

In response to Commissioner Pickrum's inquiry as to whether or not there was any public comment on the application, Mr. Tyler Campbell was the sole commentator presented and read a letter into the record, requesting that the Board consider postponing their decision on the Fry's application.

Mr. Campbell advised that the postponement was warranted until the Airport Study Committee presents its report, providing, what he described as, thorough research, including updated information on economic impact benefits and cost comparisons. Mr. Campbell also advised the postponement, noting that the Fry's request was not time critical, the deadline for easement requests scheduled for July 1, 2004.

Commissioner Crow asked Mrs. Fry whether she and her husband would be willing to give any consideration to the construction of an airport on their property, to which Mrs. Fry responded in the negative, citing the following reasons: (1) a personal reason: an airport would jeopardize the work in which she and her husband have invested 42 years; (2) her concern for the County: that it not be overly-developed; (3) a moral reason: her moral obligation to the County that she preserve what land exists within her legal rights.

Commissioner Livie asked Mrs. Fry if she would consider making an exception of 35 acres of her property, permitting their conversion to an airport site. He noted that because the Airport Study Committee had not yet made their recommendation, the County should respect their efforts and wait for their recommendation before taking action on the Fry's application. The County, he continued, would greatly benefit economically from the location of an airport on the site of the Fry's property, citing, among other examples, its proximity to an industrial park.

Commissioner Pickrum advised that private property ownership is very important and that the County should honor the owners' wishes. Further, he stated that the use of private property must be consistent with the public interest. He also advised that if there is a viable need for an airport in the County, the County should locate the airport elsewhere.

Commissioner Crow concurred with Commissioner Pickrum.

In response to questions posed by the Commissioners, Ms. Martin recommended that a decision about the Fry's application be made now, rather than postponing it to a future re-evaluation.

Commissioner Livie expressed his concern that by approving the Fry's application, the County may be forfeiting all of its opportunities for the development of an airport, to which Commissioner Pickrum advised that there will be other options in the future. Commissioner Livie indicated that he would support the development of an airport elsewhere if the County was granted federal funding. Given the lack of federal funding, Commissioner Livie expressed his concern that the County would be short-sighted in forfeiting the potential of the Fry property.

Commissioner Crow suggested that the County wait to receive the report of the Airport Study Committee before taking action on the Fry's application.

A motion was made by Commissioner Crow, seconded by Commissioner Livie and passed by the majority to table any action on the application of Edwin and Lorraine Fry until the report of the Airport Study Committee has been received and reviewed. Commissioner Pickrum opposed this motion.


This hearing was taped for reference and adjourned at 9:20 a.m.


THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF KENT COUNTY, MARYLAND

Janice F. Fletcher
Executive Assistant

Approved: William W. Pickrum, President