KENT COUNTY, MARYLAND
COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S

PUBLIC HEARING - 3/27/2001

COMPREHENSIVE WATER & SEWERAGE PLAN UPDATE

A Public Hearing was held on March 27, 2001 at 1:00 p.m. in the County Commissioners' Hearing Room, County Government Center, 400 High Street, Chestertown, Maryland. The purpose of the hearing is to consider the proposed 2001 update to the Kent County Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan.

County Commissioners Ronald H. Fithian, Larry B. Beck and W. Michael Newnam were in attendance as well as Wayne Morris, Director, Department of Water and Wastewater Services, Jim Wright, County Engineer, Gail Owings, Director, Planning and Zoning Administration, Dennis Hager, Mayor, Millington, Ray E. Anderson, Water and Sewerage Planning Section, Maryland Department of the Environment, and citizens E. John Hoagland, and Rex Kershaw.

Notice of the Public Hearing was read into the record by Commissioner Newnam.

Mr. Morris advised of the major changes to the plan which include map amendments reflecting the planned service area according to the Planning and Zoning Administration, and allowing large projects (exceeding 5000 gallons per day)to post a Letter of Credit guaranteeing full payment within three (3) years conditioned on payment of the allocation fees in installments within the three (3) years. The Comprehensive Plan also indicates the transfer of the former Sanitary District to the Kent County Department of Water and Wastewater.

Mr. Wright noted that Planning and Zoning Administration submitted minor changes and Chestertown was the only incorporated town to submit minor updates.

Mr. Hoagland requested his 210 farm on the north side of Route 20 be included in the Planned Service for the Fairlee/Georgetown, water and sewer service area. He presented a map dated 1971 which indicated his farm was located within the service area. He stated that since that time, although the Sanitary District has expanded, his property has been excluded from the service area.

Mrs. Owings advised that the intent was to create a buffer between commercial agriculture and rural residential zoning and that there are poultry houses located near Mr. Hoagland's property.

She noted that farms zoned rural residential, as Mr. Hoagland's is, are usually not included in the water/sewer service area. She also reported that his property is not in the designated Priority Funding Area (PFA) to be included in any service expansion. Mr. Hoagland and indicated sewer service was already present to serve a home adjacent to his property. Mrs. Owings advised that there was a farm between his farm and the village of Fairlee. She reported that a change in zoning to Mr. Hoagland's farm could result in the potential of having four dwellings per acre.

Mr. Hoagland invited the Commissioners to review the location of his farm and the surrounding area.

The Commissioners thanked Mr. Hoagland for his input and advised they would take the matter into consideration.

Mayor Hager advised of his support for water and sewer services in the Town of Millington.

This hearing was taped for reference and adjourned at 1:18 p.m.